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Guitar Center used site

#941
I don't know if this is a good price, but the Victor Bailey is one of the prettiest basses Fender's ever made as far as I'm concerned.
USED FENDER VICTOR BAILEY JAZZ 5 NC
Guitar Center Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
702-450-2260
$1,399.99

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#946
It is absolutely beautiful, sounds closer to an upright than any other fretless I've come across. However, the tone knob is broken and the string height is very high. I'm headed to a guitar builder's place on Friday to see if it's simply saddle height(pitch looks fine to me, neck is almost flat...to compensate for the height probably). Also it does not sit well, if you do not have your hands on it it'll go straight down. Last, kinda weird thing, is the current strings are...rubbery...like they bend way more than you'd ever want, makes it tough to play.
 
#947
dave79 said:
It is absolutely beautiful, sounds closer to an upright than any other fretless I've come across. However, the tone knob is broken and the string height is very high. I'm headed to a guitar builder's place on Friday to see if it's simply saddle height(pitch looks fine to me, neck is almost flat...to compensate for the height probably). Also it does not sit well, if you do not have your hands on it it'll go straight down. Last, kinda weird thing, is the current strings are...rubbery...like they bend way more than you'd ever want, makes it tough to play.
Click to expand...

Congrats Dave! You got a GREAT deal on the Turner Ren. I have 2 of them, a 4 fretless and a 5 fretless, and I absolutely love them. Regarding the strings, I hated the TI Acousticore strings that came on mine, although some really like them. I believe that is what you have on yours. You might try TI Jazz Flats, the JF365 set fits perfect. I have those on my Ren 5 and they sound and feel great on that bass. I have Status-Graphite tapewounds on the Ren 4 and I'm equally as pleased with those. Let me know if I can help you out with any other info, etc on strings for yours.

Regarding the string height, as long as the neck is good, (never heard of a bad one), then it is just a saddle height adjustment by shaving down the existing saddle. Both of mine have pretty low action. Perhaps the previous owner liked higher action so he installed a taller saddle.

Finally, regarding the fit, etc, if you are going to use it with a strap, you will need to get a "dingus" from Rick Turner's shop in California. It is a wood bar, usually made of rosewood or ebony, that screws to the bass via the existing neck screws and puts the strap button out over the 12th fret. I find the balance is fine then. I also found that I got used to sitting with mine pretty quickly...I actually find it pretty comfortable now. ...but I'm also used to flamenco/classical guitars.

Let me know if you need any other info....and congrats again! Great bass to have in the stable.
 
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#948
porterbass said:
Congrats Dave! You got a GREAT deal on the Turner Ren. I have 2 of them, a 4 fretless and a 5 fretless, and I absolutely love them. Regarding the strings, I hated the TI Acousticore strings that came on mine, although some really like them. I believe that is what you have on yours. You might try TI Jazz Flats, the JF365 set fits perfect. I have those on my Ren 5 and they sound and feel great on that bass. I have Status-Graphite tapewounds on the Ren 4 and I'm equally as pleased with those. Let me know if I can help you out with any other info, etc on strings for yours.

Regarding the string height, as long as the neck is good, (never heard of a bad one), then it is just a saddle height adjustment by shaving down the existing saddle. Both of mine have pretty low action. Perhaps the previous owner liked higher action so he installed a taller saddle.

Finally, regarding the fit, etc, if you are going to use it with a strap, you will need to get a "dingus" from Rick Turner's shop in California. It is a wood bar, usually made of rosewood or ebony, that screws to the bass via the existing neck screws and puts the strap button out over the 12th fret. I find the balance is fine then. I also found that I got used to sitting with mine pretty quickly...I actually find it pretty comfortable now. ...but I'm also used to flamenco/classical guitars.

Let me know if you need any other info....and congrats again! Great bass to have in the stable.
Click to expand...

I read your post and then decided to take off the bridge and look for a shim under it, no shim but the bridge does not have grooves for the strings. Is that normal? Also it has a strap button attached to one of the neck screws, matches the bottom one so I'd assume that it is stock. Man, playing a 35" fretless at 1/2 position is brutal, too much of a stretch to use all fingers and play in tune and then when I try 3 finger technique my middle finger is off being crammed back by the two in front.
 
#949
By the way, regarding those TI Acousticore strings....Rick Turner developed them with TI, specifically for the Turner Ren basses.

There should not be any grooves in the saddle at the bridge. It is the same concept as a flamenco/classical guitar. If it has a taller saddle and you want to lower the action, just shave down the underside of the saddle, not the top of it. Although.....When you say the bridge doesn't have grooves, do you mean the bridge or the saddle? Both of my bridges have grooves for the strings, cut nicely into the bridge rosewood behind the saddle where it curves around and the string go through the body.

Yes, that button should be attached to the neck screw, but the dingus replaces that and extends the button out over the 12th fret which helps immensely with the balance to reduce neck dive on these.

Rather than hijack this thread, e-mail me at [email protected] and we can continue. I can also send you photos of the bridge and dingus, etc.

35" fretless is fun, yes? ;-) You'll get used to it. I have two 34" and one 35" fretless and go back and forth fine between them now. It will help once you get the action lowered.
 
#950
People haven't voiced care about discussion on this thread, it's not the Amazon thread :) I'm posting this just to fill in the blanks for anyone who comes across this using Google looking into this model, I'll email you later and thank you so much for your info. I haven't used it with a strap, it dives horribly when sitting down, you have to hold it up, dramatically more than any other instrument I have played. I did mean the saddle, sorry I get caught up in UB terminology. One last note, the dots on the side are not located at the note positions but between them, not ideal. Love the bass though, I've never sat and played an instrument so long unplugged before even thinking...oh yeah I can plug this in too.
 
#951
I don't know if this is a piece of crap or not, but pickguardless jazz basses look cool and it's 90 bucks.
Used TRADITION 5 STRING Blue Electric Bass Guitar
Guitar Center Ft. Wayne
Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46805
260-483-7770
Now Only
$89.99
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#954
I agree. I called and asked about it. The guy on the phone said "it could use a setup, the electronics are a little noisy, and it's in fairly good cosmetic shape". If I had to guess, that translates to a badly bowed neck with a maxed out truss rod, scratchy and hissy electronics and severe dings throughout......though I'm just guessing. If they fessed up to that, it's gotta be much worse.

But it's entirely possible it might be completely awesome.
 
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#960
A Kingman without electronics....I'd get this for couch noodling if I didn't have a ubass.
Used Fender 2013 Kingman Natural Acoustic Bass Guitar
Structurally this bass is in great shape, however, the preamp and electronics have been removed (pictured)
Guitar Center Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40207
502-894-6286
$149.99
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