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Fretless Bass! Which type is the best? [POLL]

Which style of pickup configuration is ideal for the best fretless tone?

  • Jazz

  • Precision

  • P/J

  • Stingray (MM)

  • Other... (describe)

Results are only viewable after voting.
#101
Ballin'bass said:
Ok, guys, I'm trying to establish a general consensus of what the popular opinions are on TB, concerning fretless basses.

Which pickup configuration is the best for capturing the sound of a fretless bass, in your opinion? This isn't about particular brands, necessarily, nor is it about which fretless is most easy or comfortable to play. It's not about necks or tone woods. This thread is just about pickup types/placements and how they sound with a fretless.

Share your personal preferences with us and say a little bit about why you feel that configuration is best. What kind of touch/technique/playing style do you employ that led you to your preference? Do you like it because of its versatility? It's simplicity? It's singularity or uniqueness? It's ability to cut through mixes? Really anything you care to go into.

Another good thing to mention might be how you like your fretless bass to be set up, as the action/string height drastically effects the sound of the instrument and thus, what the pickups capture.

And yes, there is a poll. :thumbsup:

Let's have it!
Click to expand...
This is my favorite fretless bass, a Fender Victor Bailey Fretless.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#103
So, okay, I'll play. I have 17 or 18 high end FL EBs. Fodera, Sadowsky, custom archtop, original factory FL '75 P, Basslines Worp, etc., etc.

Guess what I've fallen totally in love with again? A legit confirmed '68/'69 J. Not a collector original pups, caps, PG, tuners but way back when (probably Jaco era) someone did an awesome job removing frets (I think a replaced FB) with binding and perfectly done inlaid lines. I put new LaBella white gold wraps on a few months ago and can't believe the warmth and punch. Unreal truly. More pop than my active Sad with soapbars.

I'm lovin it!
 
#104
My personal favorite is a Swiss made Levinson Blade from the 80s that I found with a broken truss rod. I replaced it with a modern dual action rod, then defretted, re-radiused and filled the fingerboard with glue and ebony dust. I then polished it to a high luster.

I left the neck lightly sanded, and rubbed in a lot of boiled linseed oil.

It plays like a dream, and has dual active soap bars. The pickups are marked as Levinson.
 
#105
Gilmourisgod said:
Ive literally never seen or heard a Ric fretless "in the wild", they are rare birds!.
Click to expand...
Here is the one I had back in the mid '00s.

Jeff-1200_03.jpg


And, it's sound, Super Soft set of Chromes with the .060 D string changed to a .055, using just the bridge toaster into the preamp section of an Ampeg PB250 to the recorder.

 
#112
I've got several fretlesses: a 5 string Spector with twin humbuckers, an alembic with MXY pickups, a Tony Franklin Fender P/J, and a Rickenbacker 4001S. Each is very different. The Spector is deep and thunderous. The Alembic is the most tonally neutral of the bunch. The Tony Franklin does a fantastic job of getting that great P sound. I never use the jazz pup, because I hate how they sound. The Rick sounds like a Rick, albeit less clanky. I appreciate each for their unique flavor. IMO there is no "best", only "what works for what I'm trying to do today".
 
#113
I voted "OTHER" - my current fretless is a Roscoe with soapbars and it sounds amazing. I have previously had fretless basses (fretli?) with JJ, PJ and soapbars. I like the soapbars the best and don't have any more Pentabuzz or F-Bass AC GAS since I got the Roscoe.

Dan
 
#115
Watchootognbout said:
My "no slapping on a fretless" statement was in reference to ME.Not to anyone else.
I was describing MY preferences.
Previous post is edited.
Click to expand...

I don't like my slapping on a fretless, either! Of course, I don't like my slapping on a fretted but the intonation is really difficult for me when I am slapping. Count me into the "I don't slap on fretless club."

Dan
 
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#116
Ballin'bass said:
Ok, guys, I'm trying to establish a general consensus of what the popular opinions are on TB, concerning fretless basses.

Which pickup configuration is the best for capturing the sound of a fretless bass, in your opinion? This isn't about particular brands, necessarily, nor is it about which fretless is most easy or comfortable to play. It's not about necks or tone woods. This thread is just about pickup types/placements and how they sound with a fretless.

Share your personal preferences with us and say a little bit about why you feel that configuration is best. What kind of touch/technique/playing style do you employ that led you to your preference? Do you like it because of its versatility? It's simplicity? It's singularity or uniqueness? It's ability to cut through mixes? Really anything you care to go into.

Another good thing to mention might be how you like your fretless bass to be set up, as the action/string height drastically effects the sound of the instrument and thus, what the pickups capture.

And yes, there is a poll. :thumbsup:

Let's have it!
Click to expand...
The squier modified Jazz fretless is a stunning bass, the one that looks like jaco's. it sounds different than any other squier jazz and it's got great tone and versatility, and for 300 bucks. but if you've got a little more money you can find and bass body you want and order a fretless bass neck on fenders website
 
#117
brendanbassix said:
What year is your Mexican I recently got a squier vm fretless jazz and absolutely love fretless, it feels like a should have been playing one this whole time (15 years ) and now I have an opportunity to trade one of my other basses for a 2006 mim any thoughts?.
Click to expand...

keep the fretless! that bass is awesome, coming from the owner of 3 fender jazzs and a p bass
 
#119
Forgive the bump.

But I would like to find out if there is a fretless club or some such like that? I've been aloof my whole life, and as I approach 40, I feel like joining fraternal organizations. Give back a little, you know?

I play a Jazz fretless, but my favorite was my old five string. It was an SX-5, I think? Just an imitation Fender Jazz bass, but I really miss how it played.

My MiM is solid and a great instrument and I've really enjoyed our six months together so far. But there is something noisy about the string / neck action that wasn't an issue on the fiver. It's nothing the amp picks up and I'm getting used to it. Still. OK. That's all.
 
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