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Fretless Jazz vs. Fretless P

RyanJD

RyanJD

Apr 19, 2011
1,828
1,232
Iowa
#1
Yes, I did a search. I saw one similar thread with few replies.

I just wanted to see some opinions and hopefully hear a sound clip or two.
Which do you (or would you rather) play and why?
Who are some famous artists that play a fretless P or Jazz?

Some trades are in the works for me, but in a few days, I should hopefully have 2 Jazz necks (one fretted and one fretless), a P body (Squier VM) and a Jazz body (MIM Fender).
I'm just trying do decide what to do.
My original inclination is to put the fretless neck on the P bass, because the other neck is already paired with Jazz bass. But I might try it out both ways.
In the mean time, I thought I would seek out some TB advice. :smug:


(All of this is under the assumption that these Fender style bodies will have the right size pockets for these Fender style necks.
Guess I'll find out one way or another.)
 
#2
There is no garantee that a neck from one will work on the body of another. You have to expect that substantial work and fitting would be required. And then, you won't know how it plays until it is actually completed.


Best is to buy a complete instrument that you can check out on the front end.

Fretless P... Sting. Fretless J Jaco.
 
#3
To me a P bass needs frets and only 4 strings but like opinions and (a-holes) everybody has one.

Resale might be better on a J if you are looking at high end since there is more fretless work in the jazz world than in rock or blues.
 
#4
Why is a j bass associated with jazz? just as many rockers play j basses. I vote fretless p just because you dont see as many fretless p basses. Theres a pretty good chance that if the fretless neck is recent like 2000 or newer it should fit the vm p neck pocket. I have a vm p that i swapped with a mighty mite j neck its a fun bass.
 
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#5
Even if the necks don't fit perfectly, a little routing or shimming isn't very hard to do.

I've played fretless J's and fretless P's and it's really just personal preference. The J has a few more tones available, but the P also sounds great as a fretless. Personally, I find jazz bodies to be more comfortable, so that may be a defining factor. You could always do a PJ with either body (depending on which you like better). That way you get that warm P-bass pickups for some Double Bass thump and the bridge jazz pickup for that nasally Jaco growl and for more focused harmonics.
 
#7
You have the opportunity to try both
ways.

It boils down to what you like.

The necks will interchange. But expect
the holes not to line up and sometimes
the pocket is a little small. It's easy to
take the neck down with sand paper to
fit the pocket. Plug the holes and drill
new pilot holes. No biggie.

Go for it,

Tabdog
 
#10
mp40smg said:
Fretless P... Sting. Fretless J Jaco.
Click to expand...

This.

Personally, I've played both, and would have kept one of the fretless Ps had I been able to afford it. I like the way they sound, the way they feel, the way they look, their simplicity, etc. The ones I almost bought were a 1952 with de-fretted neck, and a 1975 all original and stock.
 
#12
Stealth said:
Didn't sting use a fretless SCPB (single-coil Precision bass)? Whole different ballgame from a fretless TBPB (tetris-block Precision bass :D).
Click to expand...

He used both, actually (a 1954 and a 1975). He also used fretted Ps, and a few others. He seems to be a fan of using the right tool for the specific job at hand. Either that, or he's a gear whore like the rest of us.
 
#13
Having owned a fretless P, I think I'll weigh in on this. I had a SX LPB-62 fretless P-Bass. It was $110. I loved the look of it (Lake Placid Blue/Rosewood/White PG). The sound was meh. With a new pickup, a good set of strings, and a decent setup, it would have been one killer bass. I wish I'd given it the time of day.

That being said, if I were to own just one fretless, it would be a Jazz. I like the sound of a fretless P, but I find a Jazz to be a little more versatile when it comes to the fretless realm.
 
#14
Thanks for all the opinions and replies guys.

spaz21387 said:
Theres a pretty good chance that if the fretless neck is recent like 2000 or newer it should fit the vm p neck pocket. I have a vm p that i swapped with a mighty mite j neck its a fun bass.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that the fretless neck is Mighty Mite, so it's good to know it will fit my VM P. Thanks.
 
#15
bassist4dalord said:
Having owned a fretless P, I think I'll weigh in on this. I had a SX LPB-62 fretless P-Bass. It was $110. I loved the look of it (Lake Placid Blue/Rosewood/White PG). The sound was meh. With a new pickup, a good set of strings, and a decent setup, it would have been one killer bass. I wish I'd given it the time of day.

That being said, if I were to own just one fretless, it would be a Jazz. I like the sound of a fretless P, but I find a Jazz to be a little more versatile when it comes to the fretless realm.
Click to expand...

My first fretless was a rosewood/ sunburst 70s Fender (nobody cared what year it was in those days) 80s, weighing in at probably 13-15lbs..

It had one tone. But that one tone was the right tone and it was all that was ever needed from it.

Versatile, no.

But I'd take one GREAT tone and a one trick pony over a whole palette of meh any day.
 
#17
I had a fretless P and felt like it lacked a little. Then I found a nice sunburst Squier P Special (basically a PJ) and put my unlined fretless neck on it (yes...it did require a bit of adjusting) but now I have the sound I was looking for. I also changed the pots from VVT to VBT. Everything a P-Bass should sound like with the versatility of a J-Bass.

I kept the Squier neck around to spank my children with. :hiding:
 
#19
Mojo-Man said:
:cool:
Sting used a late 70's trans red, black pickguard fretless P-Bass.
Click to expand...

He also used a mid 70's natural ash with maple fretless board too. I think he was pictured the most with this one.

But with all that said, I don't really like fretless P's, to tubby and lacks alot of definition *to me*. They are way different sounds, I really think a fretless needs a rear pickup (again *to me*). I far prefer the sounds of those fretless wizards who had dual pickup basses, or in the case of Pino a StingRay. The mwah and harmonics just leaps right out better.
 
#20
angrydad said:
Fretless P:
Invalid Link Removed

Fretless J:
Short mess on fretless bass in E Majorish - YouTube
Click to expand...

Thank you! I love both of these sounds. I'm torn.

I think I will try my fretless neck on my P first because whichever instrument is fretted will be the one I will use more often.
The Jazz works great for the band I'm in, but my P probably would too...
I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Again, thanks for all the replies guys.
This is why I love TB. :D
 

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