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Played The New(?) Fender Fretless @ GC

SurferJoe46

SurferJoe46

Feb 22, 2010
9,057
763
The Bitterroot Mounts, Montana
#1
Not sure how "'new' it is, but it is to me.

GC had one a few weeks ago on the floor stand and I forgot to try it out.

Well - today during a trip there for a few different reasons - I found one hanging and pulled it down and plugged it into the B-450 Acoustic combo, just like I have, for a trial spin.

I was impressed with it - a little odd to not feel frets where they should be and I thought the strings were a little whiz-zy, but overall (and except for the weight) it was impressive.

It made all the right sounds after I figgered the knobs and settings - I must say there was more tone/modeling/intonation in that Fender than I've seen in any other Fender for sounds and tones before - but again I am not a Fender expert.

This bass had four knobs though - so maybe it wasn't anything special - I don't know Fenders all that well - but I generally like it a lot.

I'm still out for advisement and consideration on things Fender - having a pair of Ps (MIJ & MIA) that I don't really like much, but I know that in a bar fight they'd be my weapon of choice. This was to me, my idea of a pretty good buy.

I THINK it was offered at $349.99, but the online ad says more - LOTS more! Very sure it was not a USED price too!

The fret board (can you call it a 'fret board' if there aren't any frets? It only has cheater lines) was a little too wide for my playing comfort, but that could be relearned I guess. However I find it was a lot narrower at the top than my older Ps - so maybe it's an improvement I could live with.

Oh - and it's heavy - but I said that already. I just don't want anyone to forget that it's heavy. .

For the first time in my life I am quite impressed with a Fender. Did I say that? :hmm:

{edit} I forgot to say that there was a big knot on the back of the neck too. It is very likely not a structural problem, but it is sure an aesthetic eyesore. Maybe that's why it's so cheap.
 
#4
Totally dumbfounded - I can't find it on the GC listings. There's nothing like it at all with the four chrome knobs either until you hit a sig-model! :eyebrow:

I for sure know it was a Fender Jazz fretless and was all-over black. Damn! I thought I'd remember the model but maybe because I'm not big into Fenders I messed up.

It absolutely is a Fender, four-knobs but not in a straight line, rather in staggered pairs like the Victor Bailey Jazz - but for sure a J-model without any frets and it had four strings. There were multiple pups. It was also $349.99. Maybe I shoulda bought it just as a conversation piece.

I was lead to believe that it was a mid-entry level guitar by the bass pro there. The guy who adjusts all the guitars was also standing there wearing a shop apron as I played it for a while and he was just smiling. :D

The one thing that hit me was that it was made in Japan. Still, that knot on the back of the neck was strange I thought; pretty in a kinda unique way.

Was it some sortta ringer? They weren't pushing it on the front line since it was hung up on the Fender wall next to a baby blue 4-stringer.
 
#6
Try GC in Murrietta, California.

I checked their store site and they don't even have it listed though.

I wonder what it was that I saw and played in my hands?

Fender
Fretless
Four big chrome knobs, staggered, not in a line
White cheater lines
Black
Thin neck near the top nut
Heavy though
Cheap - mid-entry level price
Very playable
They don't open for another half-hour or so (Cal. time now 09:23)

Take Hwy15 to the Kalmia exit, West and it's behind BevMo.

1. Head east on W 30 Rd toward S 23 Rd
0.1 mi
2. Take the 1st right onto S 23 Rd
1.0 mi
3. Turn left at W 32 Rd
3.9 mi
4. Slight right at MI-115 S
8.5 mi
5. Turn right to merge onto US-131 S
90.2 mi
6. Take exit 86B for I-196 W/G R Ford Fwy toward Holland
0.3 mi
7. Merge onto I-196 W
76.3 mi
8. Continue onto US-31 S (signs for US-31 S/I-94 W/Chicago/Niles)
0.5 mi
9. Merge onto I-94 W
Passing through Indiana
Entering Illinois

80.2 mi
10. Take exit 160 for I-94 W/IL-394 S toward Chicago/Danville
1.6 mi
11. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-80 W/I-294 N and merge onto I-294 N/I-80 W
Continue to follow I-294 N
Partial toll road

29.7 mi
12. Take the I-88 W/East-West Tollway exit toward Aurora
Toll road

1.7 mi
13. Merge onto I-88 W
Partial toll road

137 mi
14. Take exit 1B to merge onto I-80 W toward Des Moines
Entering Iowa

172 mi
15. Take exit 137A on the left to merge onto I-235 W toward Des Moines
14.5 mi
16. Merge onto I-80 W
Entering Nebraska

474 mi
17. Continue onto I-76 W
Entering Colorado

187 mi
18. Merge onto I-70 W
Entering Utah

501 mi
19. Take the exit onto I-15 S toward Las Vegas
Passing through Arizona, Nevada
Entering California

456 mi
20. Slight left at I-215 S
19.4 mi
21. Take the exit onto CA-60 E/I-215 S toward San Diego/Indio
Continue to follow I-215 S

33.3 mi
22. Take exit 2 for Los Alamos Rd
0.3 mi
23. Turn right at Los Alamos Rd
1.8 mi
24. Continue onto Ivy St
0.4 mi
25. Turn right at Plum St
0.3 mi
26. Turn left at Juniper St
0.1 mi

Murrieta, CA
Click to expand...
 
#11
vene-nemesis said:
So, it is 2010 and every sinlge mobile phone comes with an integrated camera! you couldve have taken a pic of it!
Click to expand...

Mobile phone?

Integrated cameras?

What will they think of next?. :rollno:

PS: I refuse to own a cell phone - you may not have noticed in my personal info that I am RETIRED.

Cells are a leash that allows people to find you. I most times do not want to be found.

Funny you mention cameras though - I had a few guys with digital cameras taking pixs of it - even as I played it.

Maybe this is something obscure and just at that store. :ninja: I'd like to know what it was that I was playing too.
 
#12
A-Step-Towards said:
I am guessing a mexican standard fretless fender with a pre-amp.
Click to expand...

barteroo2002 said:
Much better than my suggestion.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I looked on the back and didn't notice a back door for a battery location - but, hey - maybe Fender puts it under the pickguard - which at this time I do not remember it having either. I don't even think it HAD a pickguard.

If I had thought about it, I couldda brought a sketch pad and some crayons and made a drawing of it. My bad.
 
#14
Maybe a used one of these someone pulled the frets on?

57231_l.jpg
 
#15
This is the one I have seen at the local GC's up in Minnesota. This would match your price point too. It is their entry level fretless. It only has 3 knobs though. Could it have been a trade in? Some folks put after market controls on them.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#18
The Lowe Down said:
This is the one I have seen at the local GC's up in Minnesota. This would match your price point too. It is their entry level fretless. It only has 3 knobs though. Could it have been a trade in? Some folks put after market controls on them.

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

I looked at that one too online and although it's close - that ain't it. The price is still a lot higher than what I saw.

I do not believe it was used either - it still had the Fender tag-candy all over it and no signs of mods or even fingerprints or buckle rash.
 

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