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NBD Lawsuit Bass

sonojono

sonojono

Supporting Member
Feb 13, 2013
5,142
9,027
California
linktr.ee
#1
Scored this from GC online and am ecstatic of how this bass looks!!!

I tried the best I could with these photos to capture the vintage look of this instrument from 1978. It feels and looks old af!!!! It’s honestly one of those instruments that you just have to see in person to appreciate its old age. This will definitely be a keeper for me and will be reviewed sometime in July by me and some other creature on YouTube. So stick around ;):bassist:

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P.S. The strings on the instrument are some kind of flats that I’m not too familiar of and was wondering if someone could help me with that. Unfortunately the 1st string can not tune up to G due to the windings of the string length.

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So I have options of which strings I want to use on this bass and these are the candidates (also open to DR LoRiders nickel or steel):

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#3
Very Nice!!
The bridge doesn't look like any Ibanez bridge I've ever seen so it might be an aftermarket replacement. Even if it's original, it looks like it was mounted a bit too far to the 'E' side, as the strings aren't centered on the neck or the pickups. If it feels and sounds okay to you, don't worry about it.

I don't recall seeing a gold pickguard back then either, but I'm no expert and it sure does look perfect on that bass.
Also noticed that it had a bridge cover--either original or added later--and that might be a nice mod you could do if you can find one with the right hole spacing and with chrome plating of similar aged condition.
 
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#4
That is a nice find. A friend of mine had a silver series jazz bass (fretted). As I recall it was very close to a Fender (hence the Lawsuit nickname). I would agree with a previous post; not the original pickguard or bridge (I dont know if the bridge cover would fit over that bridge).
Doesn't matter though, just play it and enjoy!
 
#7
GtenderG said:
That is a nice find. A friend of mine had a silver series jazz bass (fretted). As I recall it was very close to a Fender (hence the Lawsuit nickname). I would agree with a previous post; not the original pickguard or bridge (I dont know if the bridge cover would fit over that bridge).
Doesn't matter though, just play it and enjoy!
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Not a fan of bridge covers anyway so I don’t mind not having one! But as for the bridge hardware goes, I’m definitely looking into getting a different one for it which I may need help on deciding to get.

As I was setting up this bass, I’ve noticed the saddle on the A string buzzes even before I changed the strings on it. Same goes for the D and G saddles. Nut is perfect so I’m ruling out the bridge may be the problem and since it’s not original, that leaves me to another suspect that the bridge on the current fretless is on its way out to the nearest garbage bin :thumbsdown:
 
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#9
Ive been using GHS Precision Flats on my fretless precison for a long time. They are a bit bright at first for my taste, but use the tone knob to calm them down for thd first month or so. Of course you'll have to replace them every ten or twelve years. Love the plain maple board.
 
#10
sonojono said:
Not a fan of bridge covers anyway so I don’t mind not having one! But as for the bridge hardware goes, I’m definitely looking into getting a different one for it which I may need help on deciding to get.

As I was setting up this bass, I’ve noticed the saddle on the A string buzzes even before I changed the strings on it. Same goes for the D and G saddles. Nut is perfect so I’m ruling out the bridge may be the problem and since it’s not original, that leaves me to another suspect that the bridge on the current fretless is on its way out to the nearest garbage bin :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...
I think that’s a Kahler bridge. Don’t throw it away!! You can sell it. They’re pretty weird bridges, especially for palm muting, but some folks really really like them.


Great looking bass, congrats!
 
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#11
I love my "lawsuit" unlined fretless P as well. Got it because it was a) made in the late '70s (well, '77-'81 Fernandes Stone Logo era) and has a Jazz-width nut, yet it sounds, looks, and plays just like a vintage Fender for much less coin. I've got TI flats on it, which sound amazing.
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#12
Since it appears the bass has the older version of Fender flats on it, how about leaving them as-is? If they are too far gone, lots of choices. Be more specific about your playing style and preferences to narrow the universe of strings to a few viable choices.
 
#13
iiipopes said:
Since it appears the bass has the older version of Fender flats on it, how about leaving them as-is? If they are too far gone, lots of choices. Be more specific about your playing style and preferences to narrow the universe of strings to a few viable choices.
Click to expand...

As much as I’d like to leave them on when I got the bass, everything was detuned when I received it via UPS. So I had to tune them up to pitch but the G string, I couldn’t go passed C# as the tuner was feeling tight when I kept going further.

I didn’t want to break the string so I ended up changing them out to GHS Balanced Nickel.

As for playing style, I’m all over the place so I don’t really have a specific goal in mind. I just like the sound of fretless bass
 
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#20
PennyroyalWe said:
HNBD! I always think it so odd that unlined fretless P basses were so popular by the 70’s, just seems a bit ahead of its time.
Click to expand...

I bought a new Fender unlined fretless P in '79... Wal fretless basses (unlined) were around 2nd half of the 70s. Not sure when production lines fretless basses came along?
 

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