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NBD: Fender PBAC fretless

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If I'd wired this it would be a lot neater.

If I'd wired that you would have trouble closing the cover again because wires would be pushing up everywhere like weeds in a lawn.

On my own instruments, when I get something working right, I'm always so bloody excited that I close it up and forget about zip ties and nice alignment like I do for other people.

I guess it's like my friend who's a cabinet maker - his own family's kitchen had no flooring, falling apart cupboards, missing wall sections, for YEARS, while he was charging big bucks and finishing paid work all the time. LoL... they say not to buy a mechanic's used card, because a mechanic will keep it going in ways that work for him easily, where as for paying customers he (or she) will use new parts and finish the job to warranty spec.
 
There's obviously an art to setting these basses up, you can't adjust the bridge so you have neck tilt and neck relief as your only parameters. Nearly there...

If you have lots of time, and patience, you can replace the bridge and/or nut to get some more adjustments. I don't like to shim under-saddle piezos, but I'm not against making a new, higher one to raise the action, or sanding down one to lower the action.

I haven't gone so far as trying to make a compensating saddle (most often seen on acoustic guitars), but that's an option, too, but maybe not necessary for a fretless?
 
If you have lots of time, and patience, you can replace the bridge and/or nut to get some more adjustments. I don't like to shim under-saddle piezos, but I'm not against making a new, higher one to raise the action, or sanding down one to lower the action.

I haven't gone so far as trying to make a compensating saddle (most often seen on acoustic guitars), but that's an option, too, but maybe not necessary for a fretless?

In theory the neck tilt screw should be enough to adjust the action along with truss rod adjustment, but it's a finicky procedure...
 
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I've been tweaking and playing the PBAC for a few days now... the sound from this bass is huge! It still has that P character especially if using purely the Lace Sensor mag pickup but it's not that warm mid-focused sound my '77 fretless P has and my old '62 P had, it's a bigger and more even sound but still with the P character. Amazingly it still manages to sound like a P when using only the piezo pickup. Still some things to fix but I am loving the sound and feel of this bass, only question is why don't Fender USA make it now?
 
I've had quite a run of NBDs so far this year in my search for lighter weight basses but this is probably last or maybe last but one... an 89/90 fretless PBAC to replace my '70s fretless P-bass which is now in the out tray. Wasn't sure if I'd like the PBAC but it's a great bass! Needs some luthier attention as the fingerboard has a little hump around 3-5 on the treble side interestingly just like the '70s one had but other than that it's pretty good for 30+ years. Lots of tone options with active Lace Sensor mag and piezo bridge and that is such a great look, I think it's a keeper :)

[Edit] black nylon tapewounds and chrome dome knobs are my additions.

I don't play fretless nor Ps, but this is a gorgeous piece of low-end notes machine !
 
I've had quite a run of NBDs so far this year in my search for lighter weight basses but this is probably last or maybe last but one... an 89/90 fretless PBAC to replace my '70s fretless P-bass which is now in the out tray. Wasn't sure if I'd like the PBAC but it's a great bass! Needs some luthier attention as the fingerboard has a little hump around 3-5 on the treble side interestingly just like the '70s one had but other than that it's pretty good for 30+ years. Lots of tone options with active Lace Sensor mag and piezo bridge and that is such a great look, I think it's a keeper :)

[Edit] black nylon tapewounds and chrome dome knobs are my additions.
That's a great looking bass!

Can you discuss the tone compared to a "regular" P bass a little? Is it s completely different bass altogether? Thanks.
 
That's a great looking bass!

Can you discuss the tone compared to a "regular" P bass a little? Is it s completely different bass altogether? Thanks.

You can dial out the piezo bridge and just use the magnetic pickup but it is an active bass so eq is quite different, to my ears it doesn't have that warm sound of a classic passive P but it definitely has the P character. The piezo on its own is quite different of course but blended with the magnetic still has the P sound. It imagine a P purist wouldn't think of active lace sensors as being a classic P sound...
 
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Mine arrived today, so thought you might like to see it on our rug :-)
WhatsApp Image 2021-04-15 at 10.12.50.jpeg
 
That is a really interesting bass actually, I was also in the market for one before. I love these oddball japanese Fenders. They're the only ones who dare to make something non-traditional.

There's also very few information on it. It sometimes goes by the name of PBAC-100. Sometimes PBAC-950. No one really knows the difference. It also came under the name of HMT, but with a tilted hockey stick headstock.

Did you check if the battery is hanging loose inside? Seems to be a common problem on these.

Nice bass. I recently purchased a PBAC-950 and my understanding is that the 100s are the 'sunburst' finish while 950s are maple top.
 
I've had quite a run of NBDs so far this year in my search for lighter weight basses but this is probably last or maybe last but one... an 89/90 fretless PBAC to replace my '70s fretless P-bass which is now in the out tray. Wasn't sure if I'd like the PBAC but it's a great bass! Needs some luthier attention as the fingerboard has a little hump around 3-5 on the treble side interestingly just like the '70s one had but other than that it's pretty good for 30+ years. Lots of tone options with active Lace Sensor mag and piezo bridge and that is such a great look, I think it's a keeper :)

[Edit] black nylon tapewounds and chrome dome knobs are my additions.
I recently purchased a PBAC 950. I already have a J Bass and thought I would look for a P Bass (well. . .do I need a reason???) and that's when I came across the PBAC's and was able to purchase the 950.

From an instrument point of view I love the way it plays but the electronics were a bit of a let down. One of the pots was on the way out and the Lace Sensors sounded pretty lame. The piezo was great by comparison.So while my guitar guy was giving it a look over and checking the setup, I thought I would look at upgrading the p/ups and electronics.

I contacted the Fender tech dept and they had no info on the PBAC's in their archives (and Heartfield are no longer in business so I knew I would run in to a dead end there). At this point I decided to replace all the electronics and p/ups. I wanted a different sound to my J Bass (passive Fender Custom Shop p/ups) and it was time to look at my options. Now the fun started.

I read a lot of threads here on the PBAC's and watched a lot of vids on p/ups. I decided I would go for the EMG PAX p/ups. Bartolini preamp/buffer and the LR Baggs AB4 piezo.

At this stage I just want to say how helpful all the manufacturers were. Fender, EMG, Bartolini and LR Baggs were all quick to respond to emails, offered a bunch of info and seemed genuinely interested in my little project. I cant tell you how relieved I was to find that you can still get that level of service. I was impressed.

I have now had the bass back for a couple of weeks and I am really happy with the new set up. I put flat wounds on it as I was looking for that classic P Bass tone. I can go all the way from 'fat and warm' to 'bright and barky (?)'. I am really impressed. I think it now has great tone too.

While I will admit to being a Fender guy, I think these basses are under rated. They are light, play well, look great and are really only let down by the original p/ups and electronics (plenty of options for an upgrade there). I can see me playing this bass a lot (now if I could just find a fretless 100 :) )
 
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