curious. Why does Fender sell the Jaco Pastorius bass with flatwound strings?

[Flaked Beans]

True, and we here at Talkbass know better. If you're trying to sound like Jaco you can just get a regular production fretless Jazz. Jaco didn't have no Custom Shop!

+1.
And here's the real deal. But Mike and Jonas don't sound like Jaco at all.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Here are some of the details:
What it comes with:
Comes with Original style chrome hardware, including reverse tuning machines and bridge, Rotosound RS66 Swing Bass strings- the same set used by Jaco, original style brown hardshell case, engraved neckplate with Jaco's signature and serial number, certificate of authenticity signed by John Page of the Fender Custom Shop (see picture), original leather strap and cable, cleaning cloth and tags.

Here is the neckplate of mine, which came with two certificates. One of them included the name of the original owner. I also own a great '97 FCS fretless -which is the one I use the most-, but the Kevin Kaufman bass sounds more mellow and with more sustain.

 

[packhowitzer]

I have no pictures but I got my first fretless bass second hand in 1977, it was a rosewood Fender precision factory fretless, early 70's. I put Rotosounds on it which is what Jaco (and just about everyone back then) used and within one month I completely ruined the neck by using sideways vibrato. I played hard and had no idea round wound strings could do that to a fretless. I ended up putting two part epoxy on several fretless basses after that. Rotos are particularly rough on fretless basses. Ric fretlesses also don't like round wound strings, whatever they used on the neck would very quickly show divots on notes you played a lot, I superglued one. I now have the same strings on a TF fretless with a bare ebony neck. The reason Jaco was able to get away with using Rotos was because he put marine epoxy on the neck which is hard as nails. I like the bare wood ebony much better than any other fretless bass I've ever played.

Wow that's pretty wild! Thanks for offering your experience. It definitely seems like there's quite a bit of potential for issue with RW strings. And it's sounding like ebony is where it's at for durability. incidentally my fretless is an NS Design CR5 radius. It's my first foray into the "boutique" bass world, but I really enjoy its features and sound.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have no pictures but I got my first fretless bass second hand in 1977, it was a rosewood Fender precision factory fretless, early 70's. I put Rotosounds on it which is what Jaco (and just about everyone back then) used and within one month I completely ruined the neck by using sideways vibrato. I played hard and had no idea round wound strings could do that to a fretless. I ended up putting two part epoxy on several fretless basses after that. Rotos are particularly rough on fretless basses. Ric fretlesses also don't like round wound strings, whatever they used on the neck would very quickly show divots on notes you played a lot, I superglued one. I now have the same strings on a TF fretless with a bare ebony neck. The reason Jaco was able to get away with using Rotos was because he put marine epoxy on the neck which is hard as nails. I like the bare wood ebony much better than any other fretless bass I've ever played.

On the other hand, I have a 62 P bass that I defretted in the early 70s. Play it with Rotosounds from my time in the Reef Aires until today.
This is the wear, it needs a cleaning, raw rosewood...

It looks bad cause it needs to be cleaned and oiled but there are no grooves, just surface scratches.

It's this old thing I've paraded around TB...

 

[bobyoung53]

Wow that's pretty wild! Thanks for offering your experience. It definitely seems like there's quite a bit of potential for issue with RW strings. And it's sounding ebony is where it's at for durability. incidentally my fretless is an NS Design CR5 radius. It's my first foray into the "boutique" bass world, but I really enjoy its features and sound.

It was most likely the way i played it and DJ Bebop above just confirmed it.

 

[bobyoung53]

On the other hand, I have a 62 P bass that I defretted in the early 70s play it with Rotosounds from my time in the Reef Aires until today.
This is the ware, it needs a cleaning, raw rosewood...
View attachment 4555196 View attachment 4555197
It looks bad cause it needs to be cleaned and oiled but there are no grooves, just surface scratches.

It's this old thing I've paraded around TB...
View attachment 4555198

That's Rosewood right? Now I know it was user error. I was never a light player but back in those day I'm lucky I didn't break the neck . I like that bass you have and it sounds great. I never realized that it was defretted until now.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That's Rosewood right? Now I know it was user error. I was never a light player but back in those day I'm lucky I didn't break the neck . I like that bass you have and it sounds great. I never realized that that was a defretted until now.

Yeah rosewood. You can see in the picture where my nippers dug in to the wood when I was pulling the frets, that's a gouge

 

[bobyoung53]

Yeah rosewood. You can see in the picture where my nippers dug in to the wood when I was pulling the frets, that's a gouge

I had to have known it was defretted because I watched your video before, great playing and sound. Our own DJ Bebop:

"Other than that it's stock"

 

[DJ Bebop]

I had to have known it was defretted because I watched your video before, great playing and sound. Our own DJ Bebop:

Oh, you found that thing

Well I guess it's out in the open so nobody can use it to blackmail me (why does it have to be black?)


I had too much Tequila that night and I was home alone. Had someone been home, better minds would have prevailed and this would have never seen the light of day

 

[bobyoung53]

Oh, you found that thing

Well I guess it's out in the open so nobody can use it to blackmail (why does it have to be black?) me.


I had too much Tequila that night and I was home alone. Had someone been home, better minds would have rule the day and this would have never seen the light of day

Yeah, I saw it before, it's a great video. "Other that that it's stock"

 

[DJ Bebop]

I had to have known it was defretted because I watched your video before, great playing and sound. Our own DJ Bebop:

"Other than that it's stock"

Yeah, I was high...

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

Have you played one?

Exactly my thought. I own the Jaco sig and have owned 20 top of the line Fender Jazz basses and this bass is absolutely the highest quality Jazz I had my hands on. Lacquer finish is beautiful and my copy has the side dots where the "fret" lines are. I had rounds on it for years but due to current gig, now has flats and sounds great. Still has muaaw all day.

 

[packhowitzer]

On the other hand, I have a 62 P bass that I defretted in the early 70s. Play it with Rotosounds from my time in the Reef Aires until today.
This is the wear, it needs a cleaning, raw rosewood...
View attachment 4555196 View attachment 4555197
It looks bad cause it needs to be cleaned and oiled but there are no grooves, just surface scratches.

It's this old thing I've paraded around TB...
View attachment 4555198

thanks for the pics and the description!

 

[packhowitzer]

It was most likely the way i played it and DJ Bebop above just confirmed it.

I feel like I do a fair amount of vibrato - sort of a similar technique to what you'd see a cello player do, but of course adapted for electric bass. But I don't know that I'd characterize it as heavy or excessive. In fact, a big part of why I play fretless is that it's easier on my hands. The CR5 is a 35" scale and while it's a very manageable and comfortable bass due to its design, it's fretted brother gets a little fatiguing to play on long sets (at least compared to the fretless). I like the slinky feel of the fretless and it feels like my left hand is much more efficient (I suppose at the cost of having to pay a little bit more attention to where my fingers land).

 

[bobyoung53]

I feel like I do a fair amount of vibrato - sort of a similar technique to what you'd see a cello player do, but of course adapted for electric bass. But I don't know that I'd characterize it as heavy or excessive. In fact, a big part of why I play fretless is that it's easier on my hands. The CR5 is a 35" scale and while it's a very manageable and comfortable bass due to its design, it's fretted brother gets a little fatiguing to play on long sets (at least compared to the fretless). I like the slinky feel of the fretless and it feels like my left hand is much more efficient (I suppose at the cost of having to pay a little bit more attention to where my fingers land).

I used a lot of sideways vibrato, that, a heavy touch and Rotos were a lethal combination! I was playing hard rock with it.

 

[packhowitzer]

I used a lot of sideways vibrato, that, a heavy touch and Rotos were a lethal combination! I was playing hard rock with it.

This is about how I play my fretless. In fact, this video was one that finally inspired me to take the fretless plunge. As a side note, my playing has some similarities to this gent (who is a TB'er, but I don't know his name). He's better than me and I'd kill to have hands as big as his, but I'd like to think I do a reasonable homage. And as another aside, I've found that doing a controlled thumb/finger pluck with a hint of palm mute, gets me an almost syncopated slap sound while being more refined and controlled. But anyway, this is pretty much how I attack my fretless - plenty of spank and vibrato, but I don't know if it counts as heavy handed. I can see this bass has a pretty thick shell on the fingerboard that my ebony board does not have.

 

[trickyric]

Exactly my thought. I own the Jaco sig and have owned 20 top of the line Fender Jazz basses and this bass is absolutely the highest quality Jazz I had my hands on. Lacquer finish is beautiful and my copy has the side dots where the "fret" lines are. I had rounds on it for years but due to current gig, now has flats and sounds great. Still has muaaw all day.

did you see any damage from the round wound strings?

 

[bobyoung53]

This is about how I play my fretless. In fact, this video was one that finally inspired me to take the fretless plunge. As a side note, my playing has some similarities to this gent (who is a TB'er, but I don't know his name). He's better than me and I'd kill to have hands as big as his, but I'd like to think I do a reasonable homage. And as another aside, I've found that doing a controlled thumb/finger pluck with a hint of palm mute, gets me an almost syncopated slap sound while being more refined and controlled. But anyway, this is pretty much how I attack my fretless - plenty of spank and vibrato, but I don't know if it counts as heavy handed. I can see this bass has a pretty thick shell on the fingerboard that my ebony board does not have.

Wow! That is a really cool technique. Thanks for posting this, I always like new ideas.

 

[bobyoung53]

I feel like I do a fair amount of vibrato - sort of a similar technique to what you'd see a cello player do, but of course adapted for electric bass. But I don't know that I'd characterize it as heavy or excessive. In fact, a big part of why I play fretless is that it's easier on my hands. The CR5 is a 35" scale and while it's a very manageable and comfortable bass due to its design, it's fretted brother gets a little fatiguing to play on long sets (at least compared to the fretless). I like the slinky feel of the fretless and it feels like my left hand is much more efficient (I suppose at the cost of having to pay a little bit more attention to where my fingers land).

Cello vibrato is correct for fretless bass, using sideways vibrato like on a fretted bass is a no no, I had no idea when I was a kid. I used a lot of vibrato back then too. I find fretlesses easier to play too.

 

[nonohmic]

did you see any damage from the round wound strings?

I've been playing rounds on mine for a year, and I def see some marks. But not enough to concern me. If you want remind me via PM and I can try and take some photos.