• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

OMG Fretless Are Awesome

#42
static0verdrive said:
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

Modified Squier VM Fretless closeup

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!
Click to expand...
How much did replacing the pots better the sound on this bass because the electronics seem sorta cheap on this bass compared to the MIM STD
 
#45
i took the pickguard off mine to make it look more like Jaco's too...

20141111_022321.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: fretless19, Rayjay, Qlanq and 1 other person
#46
Kaden Daniels said:
How much did replacing the pots better the sound on this bass because the electronics seem sorta cheap on this bass compared to the MIM STD
Click to expand...
I'll be honest... I didn't hear the tiniest bit of difference with the exception being the new pots have a much better (more usable) taper. i.e. rather than go from on to off (or for tone, bright to total mud) there's a range of usable tones now. Not huge for me considering most of the time all 3 are all the way up!

Can't say the pickups sounded all that different either, but maybe it's as simple as the bass itself isn't "tone wood" /shrug. I've loved every bass I tried that had Nordstrands so I don't regret the upgrade, I am just no longer convinced swapping pickups makes as much of a difference as I was led to believe. After all, they're all period-correct style, hand-wound, AlNico 5 pups with the same gauge of pup wire and number of windings for the most part, unless you purposely seek different ones. I swapped with the same type spec expecting the name to make an audible difference and didn't find that was the case. YMMV
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kaden Daniels
#50
Kragnorak said:
I wish more people agreed. It's getting boring walking into guitar shops because there is usually only one or two fretless basses. And really good ones only seem to be custom jobs as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Sort of depends on luck I guess. I would point out that my main fretless 5er is a G&L USA blueburst L2500 that I got used at GC (of all places) for a mere $600. It is positively a MOST awesome bass. (though I'd prefer it didn't have a lined neck, but it wasn't my call).
 
#53
That's mine!:)
20150526_003445.jpg
rps20150727_230223.jpg
IT has cracked body..but i've rectified the fretboard and i love it..so i've decided to get the paint off and repaint in sonic blue..
rps20150727_230532_370.jpg

I'm still waiting to get it back, there is a lot of hot for painting, it's a very warm summer in italy this year..i miss it so much! :D
 
#54
I agree. The VM Fretless is a great modding platform and fretless is a ton more fun than I had ever hoped. As such, here's a couple pics of my VM Fretless with a white pearloid 3-ply guard, Babicz bridge, and Fender Super 55 pickups (the first pic still has the Duncan Designed pups). The former owner added a Fender slide to the headstock so don't hate on me for it. I love the sound of the 55s so much, I've also purchased a rosewood/block/fretted VM Jazz neck to swap on here for those times when I need frets...again, don't hate me.

Regarding which pickguard I sourced, I bought a standard Fender Jazz pickguard and shaved down the control plate area as the Squier control plate has a much sharper point than a standard Jazz control plate.

IMG_0285.JPG
IMG_2783.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marial, Kaden Daniels and LowEndWooly
#56
Jamvan said:
I agree. The VM Fretless is a great modding platform and fretless is a ton more fun than I had ever hoped. As such, here's a couple pics of my VM Fretless with a white pearloid 3-ply guard, Babicz bridge, and Fender Super 55 pickups (the first pic still has the Duncan Designed pups). The former owner added a Fender slide to the headstock so don't hate on me for it. I love the sound of the 55s so much, I've also purchased a rosewood/block/fretted VM Jazz neck to swap on here for those times when I need frets...again, don't hate me.

Regarding which pickguard I sourced, I bought a standard Fender Jazz pickguard and shaved down the control plate area as the Squier control plate has a much sharper point than a standard Jazz control plate.

View attachment 659839 View attachment 659840
Click to expand...
I get the cheap ebay pickguard so I always have to somewhat shape them
 
#57
Congratulations on your first fretless! It really is a whole new world of tones. I prefer rosewood, but the use of ebanol on the Squire Precision and Jazz fretless basses has put stable and sturdy fretless bases in reach of the masses and it's great to see more folks continue to discover them. As some have pointed out, it's a shame there aren't more choices in the "budget" fretless market, but there are quite a few options if you know where to look.

I agree with those who have suggested a tort guard with a sunburst body and dark (rosewood, ebanol, etc) board. My LTD 214 came with real (albeit thin) tort and I love it. Pearloid and black are nice too, but I'm not a fan of white.

m9btsywroyw0mpmhmitm_zpsiryzjnq1.jpg

There are a number of chinese Ebay sellers offering real Tort (not a print) for less than $15 shipped. I ordered one for my MIM P and it was nearly a perfect fit. It had a really thick tort layer as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kaden Daniels
#60
Speaking of Fretless basses... today I just happened to be over at Music-Go-Round. I was looking at this used SR406 (not fretless) bass they have over there with the idea of buying it and converting it to fretless to match my SR 506 fretted bass. Anyway, I was having trouble getting the cable to work right (turns out was a TRS cable) so without looking I just grab a near bass and plug in. Was a passive Squier jazz bass so I figured that would test the amp. So I plug in and it works and then suddenly I'm like WHOA! This is a fretless! So I do a couple fretless licks on it and I'm like: WHOA! This thing sounds and plays AWESOME! I immediately thought of this thread! And now I'm wondering which model Squier it was? I wasn't interested because it only had 4 strings, but cripes what an awesome fretless. I'm gonna have to go back and see just what Squier that was! I sure wish my Squier (PJ 5er fretted) played like that BEFORE I dumped all the mod money into it! Now I see what TBers have been saying about certain Squiers! And fretless too! Just WOW!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kaden Daniels

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back