NBD!!! Beautiful Elrick e-volution Fretless 5-string w/ video (and a question about strings)

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Gorgeous. Pink ivorywood with a holly top is an Elrick specialty. Don’t worry about using rounds, particularly if you’re using I said of nickels that aren’t really abrasive. You could go the rest of your life with only needing one or two planes of the board if you’re not an aggressive player.

That pink ebony is awesome. I thought it was purple heart.

It’s pink ivorywood actually. Rob Elrick loves using it as a fretless fingerboard but it’s very rare, and therefore very expensive. It can darken over time with exposure to light which can make it look like purpleheart or padauk.

 

[smtp4me]

I prefer the tension and sounds of rounds on fretless...Though the smoothness of flats makes some of the technique/style of playing fretless easier. I ended up deciding I would work my way through the technique stuff to overcome rather than be less happy about the tone and feel and use flats.

^^^ This. Exactly this...

@tb-player - Use which ever strings sound and feel best to you. There is a difference in string texture, but not enough to cause a problem if you put in the time to develop the technique with rounds. Both string types will eventually leave marks on the fingerboard, and rounds will cause wear faster, but 1) you can have a finish put on the fingerboard to protect it if you so desire, and 2) it may take years for enough wear to develop such that there is an issue, and you can have the fingerboard leveled if/when it does.

 

[PockySteve]

I know this sounds cheesy but I keep coming back to this thread just to look at the pics of that amazingly beautiful fingerboard. It really pops, and is 'perfection' IMO.

 

[tb-player]

Use which ever strings sound and feel best to you.

This is the best advice. I sent Rob Elrick a DM on Instagram asking about the strings. He called me. After a conversation that lasted about an hour and a half and covered pretty much any bass related subject you can think of, his conclusion was, "Play the string that the bass likes and that you like. Let me know what you end up with."

I must say, Rob Elrick knows his basses and has a good feel for the whole music industry. Turns out we know a lot of the same people in the bass world. It was a great conversation. Knowing my bass was made by a guy who puts that much care in his craft gives me even more confidence in his (my) instruments.

 

[tb-player]

That pink ebony is awesome. I thought it was purple heart.

It’s pink ivorywood actually. Rob Elrick loves using it as a fretless fingerboard but it’s very rare, and therefore very expensive.

First of all, while Bryan is technically correct, we must all remember... ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony. So Dr. Cheese is perfectly justified in his response.

Rob shared the story with me of the day he purchased the pink ivory log. He wouldn't tell me what it cost, but he shared that it was a real investment. I'm glad he did. That fingerboard is gorgeous!

 

[dkelley]

I've been looking at this bass for a long while, trying to get to the day where it can be mine. Well, today is that day!!

This is my new Elrick e-volution fretless 5-string. Swamp ash body with a holly top. The neck is maple and the fingerboard is pink ivory with maple lines. This is a ridiculously cool sounding and playing bass. Rob Elrick definitely knows how to build a bass. Right out of the box, the bass played and sounded great (even though it's been a while since I've played fretless). Plus, it's super lightweight at 7.74lb.

Question: I purchased a set of TI Jazz Flats to put on this beauty. But when I unboxed it and plugged it in, the nickel Elrick Fundamental rounds sound REALLY good. Rounds on a fretless? Flats on a fretless? Curious to get the perspective of more experienced fretless players. TIA!

Here's the pics and a quick video of me noodling...
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The Elrick girls. Such nice basses!View attachment 4273003



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Now THAT'S a bass I could sink my fingers into....

 

[tb-player]

I know this sounds cheesy but I keep coming back to this thread just to look at the pics of that amazingly beautiful fingerboard. It really pops, and is 'perfection' IMO.

You sound like me... everyday, from the day I discovered this bass, to the day I purchased it. It's a work of art. Playing it is even more of a joy.

 

[PaulS]

Congrats, enjoy that beauty!

 

[scuzzy]

I've always wanted an elrick, since jr. High. Yours is a stunner!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've been looking at this bass for a long while, trying to get to the day where it can be mine. Well, today is that day!!

This is my new Elrick e-volution fretless 5-string. Swamp ash body with a holly top. The neck is maple and the fingerboard is pink ivory with maple lines. This is a ridiculously cool sounding and playing bass. Rob Elrick definitely knows how to build a bass. Right out of the box, the bass played and sounded great (even though it's been a while since I've played fretless). Plus, it's super lightweight at 7.74lb.

Question: I purchased a set of TI Jazz Flats to put on this beauty. But when I unboxed it and plugged it in, the nickel Elrick Fundamental rounds sound REALLY good. Rounds on a fretless? Flats on a fretless? Curious to get the perspective of more experienced fretless players. TIA!

Here's the pics and a quick video of me noodling...
View attachment 4272989 View attachment 4272990 View attachment 4272992 View attachment 4272993 View attachment 4273000

The Elrick girls. Such nice basses!View attachment 4273003



View attachment 4272989 View attachment 4272990 View attachment 4272992 View attachment 4272993 View attachment 4273000

‘What a gorgeous bass. Congrats.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I predict that you and that bass will be spending a lot of time together for some time to come.
Strings?
Play what gives you what you want from this bass.

 

[two fingers]

I've been looking at this bass for a long while, trying to get to the day where it can be mine. Well, today is that day!!

This is my new Elrick e-volution fretless 5-string. Swamp ash body with a holly top. The neck is maple and the fingerboard is pink ivory with maple lines. This is a ridiculously cool sounding and playing bass. Rob Elrick definitely knows how to build a bass. Right out of the box, the bass played and sounded great (even though it's been a while since I've played fretless). Plus, it's super lightweight at 7.74lb.

Question: I purchased a set of TI Jazz Flats to put on this beauty. But when I unboxed it and plugged it in, the nickel Elrick Fundamental rounds sound REALLY good. Rounds on a fretless? Flats on a fretless? Curious to get the perspective of more experienced fretless players. TIA!

Here's the pics and a quick video of me noodling...
View attachment 4272989 View attachment 4272990 View attachment 4272992 View attachment 4272993 View attachment 4273000

The Elrick girls. Such nice basses!View attachment 4273003



View attachment 4272989 View attachment 4272990 View attachment 4272992 View attachment 4272993 View attachment 4273000

Dang! It's like a Steinway and a jazz bass got together and shared their tone! Sounds as good as it looks!

 

[blowinblue]

This is the best advice. I sent Rob Elrick a DM on Instagram asking about the strings. He called me. After a conversation that lasted about an hour and a half and covered pretty much any bass related subject you can think of, his conclusion was, "Play the string that the bass likes and that you like. Let me know what you end up with."

My experience with Rob is similar. He’s very generous with his phone time. He’s been that way with me since 2003. But I’m careful to call him only with really, really important questions. Don’t want to slow down anyone’s build. Although, he’s very good at multitasking. Lol.

M. M.

 

[Manticore]

Absolutely, positively keep the nickel rounds on it. It sounds wonderful. Fretboards can be refinished if and when needed. I used rounds on my fretless over a 20 year span. (I've since switched back to fretted basses, but I played fretless exclusively for quite a long time.) I refinished the fingerboard a few times as needed and still have plenty of room for more wear.

 

[mmon77]

I don't have much to say on strings other than to use whichever you like and don't sweat it. The fingerboard, especially that fingerboard, will do just fine.

Oh my though, that is a gorgeous bass! And that fingerboard is is off the charts! Congrats and enjoy!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

That makes sense. I considered restringing with the flats just to do a side-by-side comparison. But with TIs costing $130+ a pop, that's an expensive roll of the dice.

I'm also curious how rounds will affect that fretless neck. Seems like they might increase the wear over the years. I guess time will tell.

Where are you at? Ti flats cost 70 dollars in america.

 

[ahbradot]

Fantastic bass. Thank you for posting a video so that I could hear your cool bass.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Wow that thing looks so good...!

Personally I use DR Sunbeams for fretless, sound and feel great.

Nickel rounds are the way to go imo

But do some experimentation and see what you like!

Congrats on that beauty

 

[tb-player]

Where are you at? Ti flats cost 70 dollars in america.

I live in the U.S. A 5-string set plus sales tax is roughly $130.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I live in the U.S. A 5-string set plus sales tax is roughly $130.

Oh, 5 set.

Gimmesomestrings.com

They're 100 bucks.