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Getting a new fretless

R

ReganSkatKat

Feb 27, 2008
8
0
#1
So my 17th birthday is coming up and my parents agreed to help me out with buying a new fretless. I've been playing on a fender special fretless jazz for some time now, and I'm looking to get a really nice fretless to replace it. I'm most interested in the fender jaco, and the fender american deluxe jazz. I'm not looking for a fender in particular, it just happens that both of my preferences right now are fenders. I don't really care whether or not it has brail lines. They would help, but I have decent intonation so they wouldn't be completely necessary.

Let me know what you think. I've got about $1000-$2000 to spend.

Thanks, and happy Easter.
 
#4
The thing with the Fenders is that IIRC, they have unfinished rosewood fingerboards. I remember seeing somewhere a Jaco sig with a chewed up board from using roundwounds, so if that's the road you're planning on taking, I'd recommend getting the board coated (a good luthier should be able to do this).

Or, you could build a parts bass. Warmoth body, your own choice in electronics and hardware and get a modern graphite/phenolic neck like the ones Status and a few other companies sell. The only thing I think you'll get with using rounds on those necks are a few marks over time.
 
#6
here's something to think about. the absolute most important factor in great fretless tone
is your setup, it has to be consistent. i've toured with fretless jazz bass, SR5 fretless, and also F-bass BNF5, when the climate changes as your location changes, its like walking on stage with a different bass every other night. save yourself alot of time, money and frustration. get yourself a graphite neck fretless
 
#8
While I agree with the poster who said "get an rob allen"

I've been quite impressed by my Tom Clement.

tomclem4.jpg


I know its quite personal but you should be giving thought to fingerboard material. On a fretted it makes quite a difference. I have ten fretless basses and to date I'm most pleased with ebony. I had mainly rosewood and pau ferro but I find my three with ebony feel the best under my fingers.

Other players swear by maple or even stabilzed exotic woods.

Try to play a few before you settle on a particular bass.
 
#10
I have had (both) an epoxy board (over rosewood) - using Roto-sound roundwounds - and currently uncoated rosewood - using Sadowsky flatwounds - happy with both - what type of string are you cinsidering? I agree that SETUP is super important! It is worth keeping it up - find a good tech.

Fretless IS fun! enjoy :) and Happy Birthday!
 
#13
ReganSkatKat said:
So my 17th birthday is coming up and my parents agreed to help me out with buying a new fretless. I've been playing on a fender special fretless jazz for some time now, and I'm looking to get a really nice fretless to replace it. I'm most interested in the fender jaco, and the fender american deluxe jazz. I'm not looking for a fender in particular, it just happens that both of my preferences right now are fenders. I don't really care whether or not it has brail lines. They would help, but I have decent intonation so they wouldn't be completely necessary.

Let me know what you think. I've got about $1000-$2000 to spend.

Thanks, and happy Easter.
Click to expand...


Buy from Talkbass classifieds... You can get almost anything you want for $2000

I see Roscoe, an occasional MTD, Lakland, Benavente, Skjold, Stambaugh, zon and all kinds of other goodies go in that price range.
 

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