OMG Fretless Are Awesome

[Jeff K]

I just bought the exact same! I'm swapping the pups with some noiseless split coil nordstrand. I'll probably swap the neck out for something lineless, as well.

The Nordys will probably sound great. I have their NJ-4s on my fretless, and they sound killer.

 

[Dan Bass]

Yeah, you'll enjoy it, Kaden. Like you, I don't care for the no-pickguard look. I think a pickguard sets everything off perfectly on a Fender-styled bass. On yours, I'd go with a 3-ply (black/white/black) black pickguard.

Here's my black/tort '94 MIJ:

Is that a white wire on a black Bass going from the pickup to the bridge?

 

[winterburn69]

Is that a white wire on a black Bass going from the pickup to the bridge?

That's a (copper?) grounding strip. Fairly common (especially older) on Jazz basses.

 

[Jeff K]

Yeah, winterburn's right. Copper grounding strip.

 

[Kim Jong Funk]

Congrats! Be sure to check out Pino Palladino, Tony Franklin, Gary Willis, and Michael Manring for a hefty dose of fretless inspiration..

What he said. He nailed some great players there, especially Pino. The greatest tone and taste as far as I'm concerned.

There's also some guy named Jaco something or other you should check out. He's not bad, either.

 

[Sixgunn]

Congrats!! Fretless opens up a whole new world. I use 'em for a lot of songs that were done fretted. Here's one of mine

 

[silvertone]

 

[silvertone]

 

[silvertone]

Above is my renovated Modulus Bassstar (early 80's) rebuilt by Rich Hoeg with a new flame top body.

I play this extensively with my new SF based original Rock Band: Fog Swamp.

 

[CrUiSeR]

So let me guess the guitarist wanted to call the band Fog and ghe singer wanted to call the band Swamp, and someone else was like(Hank Hill voice) hey how 'bout Fog Swamp!!!!!

 

[CatSquare]

Yup, fretless is awesome.

And so is your antique radio. And playing bass in shorts.

Yeah. That radio is stone cold cool.

 

[pingvuiini]

I've always been envious of the VM Squier Fretless, such great value. If I were a righty I'd have had one a long time ago, although I am definitely not a fan of fret lines. I'd say no to the pickguard since there are no holes. I added a black pickguard to my MIJ Jazz to hide the holes and I didn't like the original tortoise pickguard.

Here are my other two basses:

 

[Kaden Daniels]

I appreciate the love for my radio its a RCA Victor Tube Radio If anyone cared not sure the year we got it for free

 

[Tom Howland]

Fretless was my first bass. I still play fretless about 70% of all my gigs.
The real test with a fretless is playing in a band context. Intonation will raise it's ugly head.

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Ive been playing with records to test my intonation luckily Ive found it pretty natural always room for improvement

 

[Kaden Daniels]

I've always been envious of the VM Squier Fretless, such great value. If I were a righty I'd have had one a long time ago, although I am definitely not a fan of fret lines. I'd say no to the pickguard since there are no holes. I added a black pickguard to my MIJ Jazz to hide the holes and I didn't like the original tortoise pickguard.

View attachment 659636

Here are my other two basses:
View attachment 659637 View attachment 659639

Beautiful basses I dont know how good I would do with no fret lines

 

[Thumper19605]

I have two, never play them out as yet.
Intonation is not just a good idea.

 

[nostatic]

I take fretted and fretless to every gig. Depending on the band and the night, I will play the fretless between 50-95% of the time.

 

[static0verdrive]

Congrats!! I got the same one just after xmas and it turned out to be great for modding... there aren't enough without PG's though so I'm keeping mine without...

Modified Squier VM Fretless closeup

• static0verdrive
• Feb 14, 2015

Hipshot high-mass bridge
Black control plate
Rotosound 55 Solo Bass light pressure-wounds

So far I replaced the pickups with Nordstrand NJ4's, all the pots/cap with CTS stuff, swapped the control plate for a black one, and swapped the bridge for a hipshot A-style high-mass. I love this bass, and yes fretless is awesome!

 

[Kim Jong Funk]

Congrats!! I got the same one just after xmas and it turned out to be great for modding... there aren't enough without PG's though so I'm keeping mine without...

Modified Squier VM Fretless closeup

• static0verdrive
• Feb 14, 2015

Hipshot high-mass bridge
Black control plate
Rotosound 55 Solo Bass light pressure-wounds

When you have a J Bass that looks like Jaco's, it is your DUTY to take off the pick guard.