Fret Sprout on a Fretless?

[Dr. Cheese]

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.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Finally got the fretless Squier Classic Vibe Fretless.

Interesting!

 

[bholder]

Yup, I've seen fretless fretlines sprout too, not much to do about it other than what you've already done...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Interesting!

Yes, I posted the wrong video. The right video is up now.

 

[Jeff Scott]

This can happen, even, on high end boutique basses. The platic inserts don't shrink, but the fingerboard wood does, causing this to occur, just as it happens with metal frets.

Wood inserts, ideally, of a similar wood (or, characteristics, anyway) as the fingerboard.

What's even bestest®, is no inserts, at all.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This can happen, even, on high end boutique basses. The platic inserts don't shrink, but the fingerboard wood does, causing this to occur.

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.

 

[Jeff Scott]

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.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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.

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.

 

[Reedt2000]

I think the question this thread raises is why is a man who owns a pentabuzz playing a squier fretless?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think the question this thread raises is why is a man who owns a pentabuzz playing a squier fretless?

The Squier has a different sound that I like a lot. It also gets a good slap tone for a fretless. Finally, it can serve as a backup if need be.

 

[alembicbones]

Fret sprout can happen anywhere I suppose. I tried out a beautiful walnut 4003s/5 here in Seattle that had terrible fret sprout. It really turned me off to the bass.

Bones

 

[bluesblaster]

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.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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.

I think you guys are overlooking the fact that I said the fretboard was less than level in spots.

 

[Flaked Beans]

$200~300 bass? oh it sounds better than I thought. Sorry for the "frett" sprouts though.

 

[levis76]

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.

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.

That's funny, don't think I've seen any footage of Jaco where he doesn't stare at the neck.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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.

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.

 

[fauxtoe]

Aww man...I thought we were going to go with the SpectorCore...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Aww man...I thought we were going to go with the SpectorCore...

Don’t tempt me! The Spectorcore is a great bass, but it pretty much does what my Pedulla does. This Jazz is fretless, but it can sound more fretted when I want it to, if that makes sense to you.

 

[fauxtoe]

Don’t tempt me!

Oh I'm tempting! It sounded amazing!

 

[WillyW]

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.