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How many fretless basses?
- Thread starter Matthew_84
- Start date
Two main ones:
early 2000's Fender Jaco -Labella Tapes
mid 80's Yamaha BB200F -GHS flats
Also a Dean Pace, and a NSDesign CRM4, which I don't play anymore due to shoulder issues.
early 2000's Fender Jaco -Labella Tapes
mid 80's Yamaha BB200F -GHS flats
Also a Dean Pace, and a NSDesign CRM4, which I don't play anymore due to shoulder issues.
The Dean probably gave you the shoulder issues...the NS is much better as I'm sure you know.
As of today, just one (sold one yesterday)
A new Musicman Sterling I just pickup from Bass Central.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
A new Musicman Sterling I just pickup from Bass Central.
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One. A '77 Gibson Ripper 4 string, ebony neck. I bought new. Still play it every day and use it out.
I use GHS Brite Flat halfies on her. Flats were a little too thumpy. Really had to pull for any attack.
Would like another - some kind of active fretless 5 with two pups with a two octave ebony board.
Wish Fender would put out a Deluxe Jazz 5 fretless two octave ebony. I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
Have been looking at MTDs. I like the feel of the wenge neck, but a little pricey.
I use GHS Brite Flat halfies on her. Flats were a little too thumpy. Really had to pull for any attack.
Would like another - some kind of active fretless 5 with two pups with a two octave ebony board.
Wish Fender would put out a Deluxe Jazz 5 fretless two octave ebony. I'd buy it in a heartbeat!
Have been looking at MTDs. I like the feel of the wenge neck, but a little pricey.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Defretted Thunderbird and an upright. Why? The 'Bird has a thin neck that just needed to be fretless. The upright because I play it. Are those reasons? Close enough for me.
I moved to fretless in about 2000. Haven't looked back. I've had about 40 basses in that time span. Just wanted to try anything I could get my hands on. Went from modern basses like Fodera, Modulus, Warwick, and Stambaugh to a retro period playing mid-70s basses like Fender, Guild, Gibson and RIC. Started playing actives like Stingrays and Sterlings and G&L L2000s, but then started going passive with Ps, Js, and PJs. I'm now strictly passive with my go-to SB-2 and L-1000, plus some parts-bass PJs.
I am down to one a Sadowsky PJ4
I'v had fenders, a Clement, a GWB105, and have a brubaker that is on its way out. For me fretless playing is more about muscle memory, and it helps to use the same fretless all the time. I have owned up to 4 at the same time in the past, but always seem to play only one for a majority of the time. I am trying to simplify my gear right now too.
I'v had fenders, a Clement, a GWB105, and have a brubaker that is on its way out. For me fretless playing is more about muscle memory, and it helps to use the same fretless all the time. I have owned up to 4 at the same time in the past, but always seem to play only one for a majority of the time. I am trying to simplify my gear right now too.
Hah! No! Mountain biking down ski hills 25 years ago gave me the shoulder issue. I was playing the NS when it flared up. Not worth getting surgery for
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Out of my six bass's only one of them is fretted. I have my fretles P with flats, I go to this only with certain projects, has a DB kind of tone. I have my Area five string, that I love, but some what out grew, I rarely play it at all, but can't bare to sell it. My fretles six that is my main player, very versatile. and my fretles urge, which I use for a funky, modern tone, also I have a fretless acoustic bass guitar that is out on loan to a friend.
Out of my six bass's only one of them is fretted. I have my fretles P with flats, I go to this only with certain projects, has a DB kind of tone. I have my Area five string, that I love, but some what out grew, I rarely play it at all, but can't bare to sell it. My fretles six that is my main player, very versatile. and my fretles urge, which I use for a funky, modern tone, also I have a fretless acoustic bass guitar that is out on loan to a friend.
I just found an '82 Ibanez Musician bass that i have on loan checking out. It has a great neck,and i don't find it excessively heavy. It sounds pretty good with what appears to be old GHS flatwounds on it.
Wal Mark II 5-String
Wal Mark III 5-String
Zon TJ5
1976 Fender Jazz Extra Neck
Custom 4-String NT Chambered
Sounds....the Wals are pretty self-explanatory...it is the Wal sound and performance. The Zon is again a unique fretless sound...and a bit single-coily. It is the most growly of the fretlesses I have. I haven't used the 4-strings in years and years, thus not much need for them. Actually, I need to covert my Jazz back to total stock...more useful then.
Wal Mark III 5-String
Zon TJ5
1976 Fender Jazz Extra Neck
Custom 4-String NT Chambered
Sounds....the Wals are pretty self-explanatory...it is the Wal sound and performance. The Zon is again a unique fretless sound...and a bit single-coily. It is the most growly of the fretlesses I have. I haven't used the 4-strings in years and years, thus not much need for them. Actually, I need to covert my Jazz back to total stock...more useful then.
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
Had a Pbass copy that I ripped the frets out of... sold it and got a '97 MIJ Fender J Fretless unlined... had that for 15+ years... just found a MIK Fender J Fretless ( with P Bass neck defretted ) in the fall in classified ad and got it and hardshell for $150.. after setup and TLC it plays like a dream!!!! My #1 fretless now.
Just traded my MIJ fretless for a Peavey Grind 6 string that was defretted ...
https://plus.google.com/105664729346804117947/posts/FT57wXMjtjd
Just traded my MIJ fretless for a Peavey Grind 6 string that was defretted ...
https://plus.google.com/105664729346804117947/posts/FT57wXMjtjd
Two. A defretted Pedulla MVP5, with the ebony having been treated with the special sauce of a talented guitar tech - I LOVE the feel of this axe, strung with R. Cocco nickelrounds. An amazing axe. And an old Yamaha BB2000F, unlined, strung with flats. The board is a bit rough, from having sat dry for decades before I picked this up, but rejuvenation is in process. Also a very cool axe. I believe that neckthrough and fretless are a match made in heaven.
Five
That includes my upright
A sixth one on the way
I have a call out for a Fretless Birdsong Cortobass
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f11/wanted-birdsong-cortobass-964731/
That includes my upright
A sixth one on the way
I have a call out for a Fretless Birdsong Cortobass
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f11/wanted-birdsong-cortobass-964731/
Sorry for the late reply, but I just had to say "hey" to another Steiny XL-UF owner! There aren't many of us, I'm guessing.
Mine is my main player, and I enjoy the questions and confusion I get when I play it. (Non bass-player) people often fail to recognize it as a bass; its black LaBella tapewounds make the strings essentially invisible against the black unlined fingerboard.
To answer the OP, I'm converting my other bass, a MIJ Jazz, to fretless, so I'll soon have two, and will be completely fretless at that point.
I am currently being dogged by producers of Hoarding: Buried Alive - Fretless Bassophile. 'nuff said. 
