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Fret Sprout on a Fretless?

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,308
120,517
Metro St. Louis
#1


Finally got the fretless Squier Classic Vibe Fretless. In short, the bass is craptastic. The tone is very good, but I am very disappointed that the position markers have sprouted like frets in a few positions. Looking at them, I don’t think they were ever glued in at all. I cannot lower the bridge very much or the notes choke out past the 15th fret. The lower fingerboard is a bit too high; my teacher suspects the bass was made from green wood.

After a week, it has settled somewhat and the action is not so high. I glued the loose fret spacers in myself and sanded down the glue with 220 grit sandpaper and the high G# on the E string plays much more cleanly now. At the end of the day, I think it is a great sounding bass, and is easy to play, especially considering the price.

My experience with this Fretless and a Sixties Classic Vibe Jazz I played that was about 11lbs. with fret issues is making me think that Squier is getting a bit too comfortable lately.
 
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#6
Jeff Scott said:
This can happen, even, on high end boutique basses. The platic inserts don't shrink, but the fingerboard wood does, causing this to occur.
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These inserts are light wood, not plastic, and I do not think the loose ones were ever glued into the fingerboard. The high fingerboard is an indication that construction was lax on this bass even though it is very good looking.
 
#8
Jeff Scott said:
I hope things improve with the more fully invested majority owners of FMIC.

How do the MIUSA fretless models fare in regard to their lined fretless basses.
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Once you get around $1K, Fender quality gets very good. The Vintera series are great. The American made basses are wonderful too. That said, Fender makes a lot basses, and there are some duds out there.
 
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#15
What can I say doc, sometimes the Squiers need a bit of love to get them in line, but once it's done they seem to be fine players. Curiously, this is the second time today I've come across someone referencing 'green' wood with regard to instrument manufacture, not that it would surprise me if it was found to be common practice with mass produced entry level gear like Squier.

bluesblaster said:
just get a bass with a blank FB, problem solved. You dont need those silly little fret markers anyway. I doubt Jaco spent much time looking at his.
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That's funny, don't think I've seen any footage of Jaco where he doesn't stare at the neck.
 
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#16
levis76 said:
What can I say doc, sometimes the Squiers need a bit of love to get them in line, but once it's done they seem to be fine players. Curiously, this is the second time today I've come across someone referencing 'green' wood with regard to instrument manufacture, not that it would surprise me if it was found to be common practice with mass produced entry level gear like Squier.



That's funny, don't think I've seen any footage of Jaco where he doesn't stare at the neck.
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I was watching a video of a Paul McCartney playing and singing “Coming Up” live. He was constantly looking at the neck on a fretted bass. The idea is to get it done. Looking cool is for poseurs.
 
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#20
I very much enjoy lower end instruments, but a local shop had a Squier fretless Pbass and as much as I wanted to love it, the truss rod didn’t have enough adjustment to it so I had to return it.

I did trade up to a MIM Pbass (fretted) and was very pleased with it.
 

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