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Fretless Pup Configurations

pasta4lnch

pasta4lnch

Apr 24, 2008
3,937
29
Farmingville(NOT FarmVille),NY
myspace.com
#1
So I'm starting to get the scratch together to buy, or assemble a Fender style fretless. I'm curious about which pup configurations will work best?

I'm typically a P guy, but I've curiously noticed that most P fretlesses are P/J. Having both a P and a P/J I well know the difference in tone, but having never owned them (or anything else) in a fretless I'm wondering if there is a reason for this?

(due to $$ I haven't ruled out a MIM J fretless either :D)
 
#2
The soloed bridge J pickup sound is almost synonymous on a fretless thanks to Jaco, so most people want that sound on their bass; adding a J at the bridge will likely bring in more customers than having a P alone.
 
#5
I'm a P bass guy too, but when I decided to build myself a new fretless I really wanted to try single coil jazz pickups...these are Fralins, the bass sounds awesome. Very simple, no preamp, though I routed a back contraol cavity just in case....
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#6
As you can see, you are going to get multiple answers on this. I play fretless only, and use Js, Ps, and combinations of both. Active vs passive can be a factor too. Since you live in the city, play them all and decide which YOU like.
 
#9
Fender made a large number of P-bass fretlesses in the 70s, so I wouldn't say that most P FLs are P/J in terms of PU configuration. I love my '76 vintage stock split P-bass sound in its original FL state. Tons of mids and a strong fundamental. Of course, I also have a '97 CIJ Jazz FL so I can afford to switch basses. SO, you might do well with the versatility of a P/J configuration.

As to passive/active, I would recommend passive. I get the sense that active gives more diversity, but passive seems to give me the sound of fretless I like.

Another thing you should give consideration to is the fingerboard wood. Maple requires a finish and you get a more treble zing with sympathy in the high mids. An oil-finished rosewood will give you more wood and sympathy in the low mids. Ebony is a compromise between the two; you can get wood from an oil finish, but it's brighter than rosewood for the most part. I only mention this because it plays into the PU configuration you choose to get the tonal range you're looking for.
 
#10
Kwesi said:
Two soapbars as close to the bridge as possible with coil-tap switches i the way to go for me but PJ is a nice second :). That's the setup that my Pentabuzz has and it sounds great.
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P/J isn't the only way to go (not everyone wants to sound like Jaco). What he said (Zon has setups like this with J pups):

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And adding a variation: two soapbars that aren't totally jammed towards the bridge. Something like this:

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#11
nostatic said:
P/J isn't the only way to go (not everyone wants to sound like Jaco). What he said, adding a variation: two soapbars that aren't totally jammed towards the bridge. Something like this:

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I know that was just, my opinion. I dig the jaco tone but that's not normally the vibe I go for. I like Hadrien Ferauds sound on fretless (think he used a F-Bass AC5 on his album) and that's what I try to emulate. I don't have much use for a neck pickup and the so I'm happy with the bridge hugger deal :). actually gonna have my Clement routed for a second pickup right up on the bridge, should be awesome, lol.

Edit: I dig the configuration on that Zon!
 
#12
You should try embracing your inner neck pup ;)

I'm waiting on my Roscoe fretless (had one briefly), but find that with the fretted I end up favoring the neck pup more than the bridge. It all sounds good - very different sounds. One issue I had with my Zon (that was two soapbars tight towards the bridge) was that I couldn't really dial up a fatter "p-type" tone since the neck pup was so far back. But ymmv.
 
#13
nostatic said:
You should try embracing your inner neck pup ;)

I'm waiting on my Roscoe fretless (had one briefly), but find that with the fretted I end up favoring the neck pup more than the bridge. It all sounds good - very different sounds. One issue I had with my Zon (that was two soapbars tight towards the bridge) was that I couldn't really dial up a fatter "p-type" tone since the neck pup was so far back. But ymmv.
Click to expand...

Haha, there's the difference, when I play a fretless im never after a phase like tone. It just isnt for me. My sound is closer to the bridge ;)
 
#14
I'm the same way about the Jaco sound. It'd be cool to have, but it'll be more a novelty than anything else.

I was mainly wondering if being a fretless made any difference to the tone of the typical pup configurations. The fretted tones I know well . . .

I want to stay passive - if I go stock, it'll be a jazz (MIM or used MIA). If I assemble, then it'll be a toss up between a P or a P/J
 

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