Got a New Fretless!

[Dr. Cheese]

I picked up my new G&L L-1505 fretless within the hour and played it for 15 minutes on an Eden rig at a store. This bass absolutely kills! It is Belair green with a matching headstock. It has an ebony fingerboard and ghostlines. The tone is gorgeous! It can get some serious booty, and the b string sounds great. The mwah is effortless, and this bass can get a Jaco sound without really trying.
I was having strong second thoughts about ordering a fretless since I mainly play Urban Gospel, and I know intonation takes time to master. Now that I have played this bass, it sounds so wonderful, that I will woodshed as much as I need to for reliable intonation. I will find a way to work this bass into playing at chruch or anywhere else I play. I really love my fretted five string, my USA Peavey Millennium, and this bass is the perfect fretless counterpart.

i know it's not real until I have pictures. I hope to get some up by the weekend.

 

[Vinny D]

Congrats on the bass! and post pic's ASAP i want too see that color

I picked up a G&L SB-2 fretless back in November and love it, I just wish I had more time to get used too it

 

[Chef]

"Fretli"

Niiice!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

After half an hour or so of playing at home, I am really glad I made this move. Certain aspects of my fingerstyle always seemed to lean towards a fretless tone, and this bass really brings that out. I am happy to say that at least initially, intonation doesn't seem like a big issue. I played along with that Jamiroquai link that has Paul Turner on a Avella-Coppolo, and I had no problem staying in tune playing "Cosmic Girl" and "Space Cowboy." I jammed along with several other tunes quite nicely also.

Another point is that the fretless seems to make it easier to play some songs than before. I could really nail Jaco's "Come On, Come Over" much more cleanly than before. I had no problem playing that tune at full Jaco speed either. I don't think I'll be going all fretless, but I can sure see me going close to 50/50.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

BTW, wait until I post pics. Major Metal will love that Belair green body and headstock!

 

[Chef]

tease

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here are some pics of my new fretless:

 

[PunkerTrav]

Cool. Great find!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This is a mysterious fat guy with my bass.

 

[avid]

Congrats Dr. Cheese! I hope it looks as good on you as it does on the mysterious guy!

 

[fake-bass]

Nice Bass!
Love the colour and pickup config, would be rad with a Jazz pickup IMO.

But nonethe less beautiful bass!

 

[Chef]

Love the color, I was thinking I ought to paint my A/E project that one...sweeet!

 

[PocketGroove82]

how many smurfs had to die to make that finish?
OH THE HUMANITY!

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Very nice!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Congrats Dr. Cheese! I hope it looks as good on you as it does on the mysterious guy!

He could pass for a cousin.

Seriously, I took it to pratice last night. Fretless really sounds great with a choir, and it cuts through like crazy. playing uptempo stuff is a little more tricky, but manageable. This bass is going to see alot of playing time.

 

[Chef]

Yessir, I bet that bass blows right thru a mix...how's it do at "classic Jaco tone?"

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yessir, I bet that bass blows right thru a mix...how's it do at "classic Jaco tone?"

I don't even have to try to get the Jaco tone; it's just there. Fortunately, I can get a lot of bottom out of this bass too.

 

[Chef]

That's perfect far as I'm concerned; that's my one "nit" with a J bass. I know some will disagree, and you're welcome to your opinion of course, but I don't feel there's enough latent big phat lows...Sounds like you have that solved

 

[lefty007]

Very nice, Dr. Queso.

Beautiful bass and color - matching headstock. . .what!

Welcome to the beautiful world of fretless.

 

[Mr_Dave]

If that bass sounds as good as it looks, it must be an absolute cracker!!!