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Is the Tony Franklin Fretless really worth $2000+?
- Thread starter Thom Fioriglio
- Start date
Hey, thanks all for your input, thoughts, opinion and sharing your experiences with this bass. And special thanks to 5ForFretless for his generosity and inviting me over to try his Tony Franklin fretless.
So after trying it, that has cured my interest and I will not be getting one. There really is no substitute for picking up an instrument and playing it to get a real feel. All the reviews, sound bites and pictures don't mean much, once you get to play what you are looking for.
As for the TF Fretless, here are my thoughts. It is definitely a high quality, well made top of the line bass that I can see commanding a $1500 plus price. The sunburst was quite beautiful and the ebony neck is simply gorgeous. The electronics are quiet. The selector switch works smoothly. Is it better than two volume knobs? Not sure. As for the unlined fretboard, hahaha, I am not as good on it as I used to be. I have gotten used to the fret lines on my Lakland fretless, especially higher up on the neck.
Some things I didn't like. I didn't like the gloss finish on the back of the neck. The gloss is a bit sticky. It also had a bit of neck dive.
Thanks everyone!
Thom
So after trying it, that has cured my interest and I will not be getting one. There really is no substitute for picking up an instrument and playing it to get a real feel. All the reviews, sound bites and pictures don't mean much, once you get to play what you are looking for.
As for the TF Fretless, here are my thoughts. It is definitely a high quality, well made top of the line bass that I can see commanding a $1500 plus price. The sunburst was quite beautiful and the ebony neck is simply gorgeous. The electronics are quiet. The selector switch works smoothly. Is it better than two volume knobs? Not sure. As for the unlined fretboard, hahaha, I am not as good on it as I used to be. I have gotten used to the fret lines on my Lakland fretless, especially higher up on the neck.
Some things I didn't like. I didn't like the gloss finish on the back of the neck. The gloss is a bit sticky. It also had a bit of neck dive.
Thanks everyone!
Thom
To this day, I still pronounce it Lon GIsland, even then I haven't lived in the NYC area for two decades plus…
I think it is, I've had one for 6 or 7 years, a really nice nitro sunburst, the neck is tough as nails and does not feel like a P neck to me, the two pickups blend very well together, the only thing I did was have another volume control installed and a side jack. It also stands up to Swing bass 66's and sounds great. I paid about $1500 for mine new, inflation, the whole world's got it. I bought mine online like I have the majority of new basses over the past ten or so years.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Yeah, humble brag I suppose. What I have is great, but I still want a LPB TF.Are you complaining or bragging? The basses you have are probably quite good already.
Well it's easily as good as any mid to late 70s P basses people are paying crazy money for. So, yeah.
I have owned loads of Fenders and more than a few fretless ones and it is the ONLY Fender I feel I would keep. After decades of trying to find a Fender I liked past the honeymoon, I find myself with too many that I would sell. As for the Tony Franklin fretless, I would sell the one I own to someone with a real passion for the instrument and quite probably regret it. Too many Fenders have gone through my hands and I am happy to let them all go to someone that will PLAY them, they're just not great basses FOR ME. The TF is the only one I have ever owned that I felt was worth the price, to answer the question~
Glad I could help you out, and apparently save you some coin.
The bass you played has about 1000 hours on, I'm guessing. I played double bass in college in the jazz band so my technique is probably different from most bass players. My thumb rests lightly on the center of the neck. The rest of my left hand doesn't touch, other than my finger tips. I assume the coating you find sticky (I've never noticed it) is nitro like the rest of the bass and would wear off quickly, or could be easily removed. Mine is still like it was the day I removed the bubble wrap.
Regardless, it was nice meeting you. Good luck finding, or possibly figuring out, what you are looking for.
TF is one of few basses that are worth the price.
I agree with most who say yes, I have one (got it just before the last price hike, so was a bit less than the $2k it runs for now) and it really is a great bass. I dressed mine up a little bit just for fun not long ago, I just used double sided adhesive instead of putting new screw holes in, but I may someday just because I never plan on getting rid of this bass.
I don't get saying the Tony Franklin is a $1,500 bass. Mexican and Indonesian, Chinese, and Korean, basses are often $1,500 and even $2K+ these days. Regular production American Fenders are all well over $1,500 except one, I believe. Inflation has hit Fender like everyone else.
I had one I got blemished from zzounds back in 2019 for $1489.00. It was worth that price maybe. The issue I had with it was a weak G string. I had it adjusted once and a year later had the same issue. Not to mention the notorious dead spot on the High D note on the G string. I messaged Tony Franklin himself and he said that's the way it's supposed to be. Well a skilled player like Tony franklin can make a flawed bass sound like gold and I'm no Tony Franklin. But if your lucky you can find a used one for $1400 bucks. It'll most likely be the sunburst color though
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I would say yes. When i was in the market for a Fretless it was either the TF or a Stingray. It was the year EBMM stopped making Fretless basses so I jumped on the last one L&M had in stock across Canada. I don't regret it but I still Jones for a LPB TF bass often haha
- Apr 18, 2008
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- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
The TF is just a normal Fender with a few customizations.
So no, it's not worth $2 grand.
So no, it's not worth $2 grand.
Normal American Precisions have a MAP price of $1,799. Throw in an extra noiseless Jazz pickup, and ebony fingerboard, a Hipshot Bass Extender and three other Hipshot tuners, and you are easily over $2,000.
If you can spend $2k on a bass, it's worth it. Long time lurker here on TB, but I had to pipe in on this one. I own American P's & J's as well as others over the years and my LPB TF is awesome. It's a custom bass w/o the custom cost. Nitro finish, custom pickups, and an amazing ebony fretboard. The neck is very comfortable, and I can get all the sounds I want. I hadn't played DR Sunbeams before, but they fit this bass perfectly. Fret lines are not needed and in fact they can be confusing on a fretless. A glance at the side markers and you are all set. I've not regretted buying my TF. I am not affiliated with Fender or TF. Just a fan.
I just can't get past the irony of a fretless p-bass, given the history of the name.
I think it's worth it, given the current costs in the modern environment (I remember it being just under $2k less than 2 years ago). I'd be more inclined to do a Warmoth build, personally as there are more features I don't care about (ebony fretboard) and it's missing some I do (glowy side dots).
I think it's worth it, given the current costs in the modern environment (I remember it being just under $2k less than 2 years ago). I'd be more inclined to do a Warmoth build, personally as there are more features I don't care about (ebony fretboard) and it's missing some I do (glowy side dots).
