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Fretless P

klaus486

klaus486

Jun 27, 2009
690
37
portland or
Disclosures
sales geek Portland Music co.
#1
So as can be seen by the pic I did a bit of neck swapping. I've been primarily a fretless J bass player for the last ten years. I've also not really been in a band that whole time, just the "shed". I found the Jazz bass not really working for me in my new group. Sounds great by itself when using the bridge pickup but kinda muddy with both pickups on and a bit weak with the neck pickup soloed. Hence the neck swap! Now I have a fretless P bass. Definitely the right sound! Still get all the fun and expression of the fretless but with the supportive bottom and growl of the P. Nice! Still running it with Rotosounds.........good God I may even try some flats. Would be a first for me.
 
#3
Used to have a friend with one.....wish I knew where he was now!
Don't get me wrong my J sounds fantastic just something about it's voice wasn't sitting well with this band. One thing the J does better than the P is work better with the Ebow. So it definitely has a role to play, but the P sounded fantastic! And ok I'll admit it....... I get to pretend I'm Percy Jones!
 
#4
I have always preferred the fretless P... Probably as I was captivated by Stanley Sheldon's sound on "Frampton Comes Alive" before I had ever heard of Jaco... The first fretless that I ever played was a '71 or '72 P that my friend's older brother had... Not to mention the ones that I had and then let 'get away' :(

I recently acquired an unlined maple-board parts bass that I am re-working... While it is sadly lacking in some areas (misplaced marker dots, sub-par hardware, etc.) the neck has a great feel and will eventually be a nice player...

I'm local... Any gigs coming up?

-robert
 
#7
you could just swing both ways...

tf1.jpg
 
#8
Sounds good! I have always liked JJ's in a band, or soapbars or MM's. But there is a whole lot of opinion out there that says the P sounds fantastic in a band setting - and I have to day, Pino + fretless + P tells me that it's gotta be right!
I haven't played fretless in a LONG time, and I've been thinking it over A LOT recently - a fretless PJ (like the photo above) is probably where I'd end up.

Then, a Jazz body with a PJ set up would be cool. But I'm rambling...
 
#10
gus1894 said:
Sounds good! I have always liked JJ's in a band, or soapbars or MM's. But there is a whole lot of opinion out there that says the P sounds fantastic in a band setting - and I have to day, Pino + fretless + P tells me that it's gotta be right!
I haven't played fretless in a LONG time, and I've been thinking it over A LOT recently - a fretless PJ (like the photo above) is probably where I'd end up.

Then, a Jazz body with a PJ set up would be cool. But I'm rambling...
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge, all of Pino's fretless work was done on a Stingray. He only became known for the P when he started doing the neo soul/John Mayer gigs.
 
#12
Those Tony Franklin basses are great. The one at work really made the decision for me as I can't afford it! My P is basically....well it is a J neck on A P body. I prefer the wider beefier P neck and will change it out to a higher quality one when I get the chance. The black J will be fun as I have had no bass to slap on in many years. Used to do it alot! Back to the shed!

Btw if you really want to hear Steve Jordan get the Steve Khan albums Eyewitness & Casa Loco. Plus you get Anthony Jackson. Can't go wrong!
 

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