Fretless Precision Alternatives?

[jplunara]

I love fretless precisions. John Paul Jones turned me on to them on the song "In My Time of Dying" and since then I have fallen in love. The only thing is, Fender doesn't make a fretless p, only a jazz and a tony franklin. Are there any alternate companies anyone knows of that make fretless precision-style basses?

 

[BassesForTheWin]

buy a MiM P, get a fretless neck on Warmoth, if not ebay fretless Precision bass

 

[eots]

fretless precision is an oxymoron

 

[headstump]

^ yes it is. A righteous sounding one!

 

[RoboChrist]

Fender SHOULD make one.

 

[pandaman37]

i saw unlined fretless precision in a music store in santa cruz, was the heaviest bass ive ever played, but also one of the greatest.

 

[snyderz]

Lots of fretless 70s Ps out there.

 

[P-punk]

Fender Japan makes one:

http://www.kandashokai.co.jp/fj/pb62fl/pb62fl3cs.html

 

[Baird6869]

Lots of fretless 70s Ps out there.

+1... and resale is crappy.

I bought a 1978 with a Basslines PU, no case, replacement PG, tuners and nut for just over $1000.

IMO, the '70s fretless P's sound great and are fairly reasonably priced still.

Nothing better than the original IMO.

 

[J. Crawford]

You could just make one, like I did. Just dont add the J pickup, and youll have a fretless P.

 

[Engine207]

buy a MiM P, get a fretless neck on Warmoth

This...

I just got it back, after having Brian Lewis of Lewis Bass and Guitar epoxy this maple unlined Warmoth. There's a 3/32" layer of shiny, 9-1/2" radius, plastic on that fingerboard.

He gave me all the project photos, which I'll be posting in Luthier's Corner. I'll edit this post with a link when I finish it.

Here's the link to the project photo thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=710064

 

[JohnnyB53]

You could always get a G&L SB-1 and specify fretless for little or no upcharge. I've seen a couple of USA SB-2 fretless go for about $600 shipped on eBay not too long ago.

I own a G&L ASAT fretless and have played some of their others including an L2K fretless and a Climax, which is like an L-1500 with contoured neck heel. G&L makes fabulous fretless basses. I may watch for or order a fretless JB or JB-2 sometime.

 

[los100malditos]

I bought a precision and put a fretless jazz bass neck ... Sweeet ... but i hate the ugly white lines ... now its a p bass special

 

[Arvin]

buy a MiM P, get a fretless neck on Warmoth, if not ebay fretless Precision bass

+1

Warmoth makes a great fretless neck.

However, if you want to save a few bucks, you can buy a Mighty Mite fretless P neck with an ebonol board for about $100. These are very nice -- it just depends on how you feel about ebonol. (I like it a lot).

 

[Nobody]

The Tony Franklin is a P. You just have to solo the P pup.

 

[Dbassmon]

Yes Tony Franklin is a very fine Pbass. The jazz pickup is something you will definitely want for fretless IMO!

 

[Tommygunn]

+1

Warmoth makes a great fretless neck.

However, if you want to save a few bucks, you can buy a Mighty Mite fretless P neck with an ebonol board for about $100. These are very nice -- it just depends on how you feel about ebonol. (I like it a lot).

They offer one w/ EBONY now

 

[Chef]

Set your wayback machine for 1972:

 

[Jim Carr]

I have a '71 fretless P. It's very nice, though it is wearing a '69 fretted P-bass B neck at this time, as my fretless needs are filled by stealth Valenti #19. IMHO, the Tony Franklin is better than a vintage fretless P, as it does fretless P perfectly, and offers a broader tonal pallet.

 

[bassfunk329]

Mighty mite has a fretless neck you slap on a body.