Glarry Fretless vs. Fender Tony Franklin Precision

[nonohmic]

Seems the Glarry was a good expt and test case.

Now time to get the TF.

Don't upgrade the Glarry imo, that's money that could go towards what you really want.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Seems the Glarry was a good expt and test case.

Now time to get the TF.

Don't upgrade the Glarry imo, that's money that could go towards what you really want.

All I need to do to the Glarry is place accurate dots on the side of the neck.

 

[gregouille23]

This was interesting. Obviously, the Tony Franklin costs 17x as much as the Glarry, but both are P-basses and P-basses sound like P-basses. The Fender has a deeper and richer sound, but that was exacerbated by the fact that I did not check the Fender's tone knob and the Fender had the tone rolled off while the Glarry was full on. Still, regardless of tone control position, the Fender had a more full tone. The Glarry is super light, so it feels almost like an acoustic guitar compared to the Fender. The other major factor is that it was just easier to navigate on the Fender because the dots are in the proper position. For instance, I learned the melody of Miles Davis' Freddie Freeloader today, and although I learned it on the Glarry, it was easier to play in tune on the Fender because of accurate position markers. Putting markers in the right place is my next project for my a Glarry. One plus for the Glarry is the tuners. They are just as accurate as the a Fender tuners. I will say that I may just go against my word and get that Tony Franklin because I can't leave it alone, and the store will let me take a long time. That would give me more than a view fretless basses. The Missus may have something to say about that.

The TF is a beast, I sold mine couple of years ago and I miss the wonderful neck of the TF. But I should survive without it (for now): I have another fretless P with a Warmoth neck and I just got an amazing ACG 5 string fretless

 

[GretschWretch]

I kind of wish someone would just buy it. I know I would totally love the Tony Franklin, but it is definitely a want and not a need.

I personally would not have enough Benjamin Franklins to be able to buy a Tony Franklin.

 

[GretschWretch]

All I need to do to the Glarry is place accurate dots on the side of the neck.

And maybe shim the neck to get the action a bit lower?

 

[40Hz]

I have three years experience with an even more expensive PJ, a Pedulla Pentabuzz. I went into the comparison knowing the basses were not equal. Frankly, I think the $99 Glarry looks pretty good compared to the Tony Franklin.

Despite the obvious differences in tone between the two I still find the sound you were getting with the Glary pretty amazing for the price. Obviously a better pickup and electronics would make for a major tonal improvement and is something I'd guess most Glary players would end up doing eventually as their fretless skills and interest increased. But for the money, that Glary ain't bad. And considering the high dropout rate in the school of fretless bass playing, it's probably wise to limit your initial financial exposure. A friend of mine who teaches concert level string bass said he likes things like Glarys. Because they're an inexpensive way to get a person into fretless playing. After which they either decide they're really into it and go out and purchase something better; or decide fretless really isn't for them and put it in the back of a closet and never look at it again - with minimal financial pain.

But all that said…man! The sound of that Tony Frankin!

I'm glad it's where it is and I'm where I am. I absolutely don't need that kind of temptation right now.

 

[JRA]

the fretless glarry i purchased needed these 3 items to be competent:
- neck shim
- a fretless-style 'nut job'
- side-dot relocation

if those 3 issues are attended = competent player as a fretless instrument!

that said: i upgraded parts and modded my glarry fretless before i considered making the factory instrument a competent piece, in and of itself.

 

[GretschWretch]

the fretless glarry i purchased needed these 3 items to be competent:
- neck shim
- a fretless-style 'nut job'
- side-dot relocation

if those 3 issues are attended = competent player as a fretless instrument!

that said: i upgraded parts and modded my glarry fretless before i considered making the factory instrument a competent piece, in and of itself.

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Man, look at that body grain. You can't really get that with alder or maple. You sometimes can with ash, but you will pay a price for it in tonnage.

 

[JRA]

you will pay a price for it in tonnage.

yeah, it's a beautiful piece --- at 6.2 lbs! it's a real pleasure.

The best bass for you isn't the best looking, or the most expensive, or the one with the best provenance. It's the one you can't you keep thinking about, the one that takes you somewhere different and amazing, the one that brings out the best in your playing and that just feels and sounds right in your hands.

 

[Pazelaya93]

Lol doc my sunburst GLARRY fretless came in yesterday. For what it cost I dig it. But I def needs new strings. Those rounds it has now suck. Now I just gotta learn how to play it

Just mentioning this cuz your previous post about them gave me a good enough reason to give it a try.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

the fretless glarry i purchased needed these 3 items to be competent:
- neck shim
- a fretless-style 'nut job'
- side-dot relocation

if those 3 issues are attended = competent player as a fretless instrument!

that said: i upgraded parts and modded my glarry fretless before i considered making the factory instrument a competent piece, in and of itself.

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I am jealous because I love maple fingerboard fretlesses! As for my nut, it is a bit high, but I find it comfortable to play.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I'm thinking before it's all said and done ..... that Doc will have this Tony Franklin on layaway.

 

[1960jbass]

Always enjoy your videos Dr. Cheese. Might cost me in the long run!!

 

[JRA]

I love maple fingerboard fretlesses!

me too, doc! this is my first one!

nut, it is a bit high, but I find it comfortable to play.

you know what you like --- and your limits and boundaries --- i posted that for any others who might stumble onto the thread.


also: your 'endorsement' (playing and comparing) has yielded a lot more 'positive regard' for these cheapies than they seem to get elsewhere on TB!

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

I'm thinking before it's all said and done ..... that Doc will have this Tony Franklin on layaway.

It's like watching a romantic comedy movie where we all know that the guy and the girl are going to wind up together in the end. THEY just don't know it yet.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'm thinking before it's all said and done ..... that Doc will have this Tony Franklin on layaway.

Maybe, I do truly love that bass. I think I like that model in general. The red one I played at Bass Central when I met you was really nice too.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

The Glarry doesn't have a J pickup and that's a deal breaker. You can't get the Jaco like bridge tone or the Franklin and Bakithi Kumalo PJ tone.
Although for the price you can have one professionally routed and still save money! But nah, go for the Tony

 

[Pings Bass]

The cheap basses these days are wild. I now own two bass guitars (an SBMM ray4 and a Douglas 6-string fretless) that cost less than a pack of strings for my Kay. What a great way for people to jump into trying something without much financial risk.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The Glarry doesn't have a J pickup and that's a deal breaker. You can't get the Jaco like bridge tone or the Franklin and Bakithi Kumalo PJ tone.
Although for the price you can have one professionally routed and still save money! But nah, go for the Tony

I love the Jaco tone, but I am happy not sounding like him since he was probably better in two weeks than i am after many decades of playing.

 

[Altitude]

I learned the melody of Miles Davis' Freddie Freeloader today, and although I learned it on the Glarry, it was easier to play in tune on the Fender because of accurate position markers.