On a quest for a fretless

[JonathanF]

Lately I've been struck with the idea of getting a fretless, and since my budget is rather limited I realized a few options lay in front of me:

Buying a cheap bass (lowest I could find here is probably ~$150 for a "Dragon" or a "Legend" or some other "unheard of" company, might find a used SX for that price but these don't pop up as often) and defretting it (probably another $100?)

Defretting my current bass (Cort SP-PJ), save a little money and get a better fretted one...

Buy a cheap-o fretless, though these usually cost more than buying a cheap one and defretting it.


Aesthetically I prefer the unlined boards' clean look.


Yesterday, I found this ad on a local deal- a "Yamato/CMI" MIJ P-knockoff with a lipstick single-coil pickup, fretless unlined with a maple board:

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Browsing some old threads led me to believe that this one is an early 70's bass (natural finish was quite common in the US at that time and somewhere around the mid 70's it was almost completely replaced with sunburst, so I've heard), one-piece-body of what might look like ash? and a maple board...

I might be able to score it for ~$200-250, but I've no idea about the quality of these knockoffs. I read great stuff here on TB regarding Tokais, Grecos, Arias but nothing about this "Yamato". What would be the max price you guys would buy this bass for?



Any input's appreciated
-Jonathan

 

[pringlw]

Haven't heard about Yamato. One piece of advice: Unless you really know what you're doing, I would not try to de-fret your one and only bass. Most times that people try to do this its a disaster.

 

[phatbass]

Squier Vintage Modified Jazz - lots of love on TB for this baby. I've got one and it's great bang for the buck; but it does have a lined fingerboard

 

[Doublefunk]

Rondo does sell Fretless Sx basses for somewhere between $100-150.

 

[JonathanF]

The LPB+maple and the pseudo-Jaguar fretless SXes sure look great. Also, the 51' P Squier VM is also an eye candy.

Unfortunately I don't live in the states, so prices increase dramatically. I haven't seen a fretless SX here so it's not much of an option. Regarding the Squier VM I've no idea but I guess they would be somewhere ~$400?

 

[HogieWan]

Rondo does sell Fretless Sx basses for somewhere between $100-150.

+1

 

[AndreasBassman]

Certainbass

Custom Builder, good basses cheap. Check it out, you can customise the sound your after.

 

[JonathanF]

These basses look cool, Andreas, especially the pink jazzes!
But alas, I don't live in the states so shipping would be an extra ~$200...

 

[Bob DiGiacomo]

If I can offer one small piece of advice about fretless. Spend the money on a quality set of strings, when you do get one. I highly recommend a set of taper-wound or exposed core strings. In my experience they make all the difference in the world on fretless. Hope this helps you out.

 

[chroma601]

Bob, could you point out a manufacturer and model number of taper wound/exposed core strings? In Googling them, I found out what they were but did not find out who makes them. Sounds very interesting.

 

[HogieWan]

If I can offer one small piece of advice about fretless. Spend the money on a quality set of strings, when you do get one. I highly recommend a set of taper-wound or exposed core strings. In my experience they make all the difference in the world on fretless. Hope this helps you out.

does anyone make taper-wound flats?

 

[basspraiser]

if you want "reasonable" I would try a Squire Vintage Modified jazz...it has fretlines but is extreemly nice for the price.....

I have a thing against de-fretting basses.....just a personal thing.....kind a like pulling teeth!!!

 

[JonathanF]

Is the squier VM really that good? I doubt I can get a fretless here though, maybe I could get one for the US price + shipping to here through talkbass (which would be ~$150-200 extra), does it still worth it or should I look for an alternative?

Also, no comments on this MIJ knockoff?