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Production Fretless, NO LINES

#43
Elias86 said:
I've seen many used Warwick Corvettes online with fretless, unlined ebony fingerboards. The older ones are German made and go for around $700.
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Yes indeed. Mine is one of two unlined fretless basses I own (the other is a 70s Fender P). I hadn't played the Warwick in a while but over the holidays while I had some down time I made it a point to bond with it again. My fretless skills had gotten quite rusty but that aside, the German Corvettes really are nice instruments. I was going to sell mine at one point and my wife talked me out of it. So glad she did!
 
#47
Tune WB4 on Reverb.
TUNE WB4-FM semi-hollow fretless bass
Tune WB4.jpg
WB4.jpg

Tune Guitar Technology - Bass Maniac
 
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#49
I have an unlined B25 fretless ordered from when Carvin before they became Kiesel. You can order an unlined fretless from them at a somewhat reasonable price, as long as you don't mind their electronics and If you don't fall into all the blingy visual options like crazy wood and multiple colors. They get expensive quick but mine is a basic model, does everything I need it to, and, IMHO, was worth the money when I bought it. It's the last Carvin I own from having many.
 
#51
monkeyland said:
It seems that most manufacturers have their token Fretless but they all have lines. Even fender really only makes one, the Tony Franklin. So everyone chime in with any production Fretless I don’t really care about price, however once we start getting toward 2k it might as well be custom to a point.
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1976Rickenbacker4001FLBass47.jpg
 
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#52
monkeyland said:
It seems that most manufacturers have their token Fretless but they all have lines. Even fender really only makes one, the Tony Franklin. So everyone chime in with any production Fretless I don’t really care about price, however once we start getting toward 2k it might as well be custom to a point.
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you can always add a fretless neck to a bolt on neck bass

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#53
monkeyland said:
1. Because thats what I want and thats really all that matters.

2. I've owned a couple of lined fretless over the years(Ibanez ATK and Squier VM Jazz) and two without lines(Corvette Standard and an old Kramer PJ), as well as spent a lot of time on upright. I also currently own an NS Design NXT upright. There is a different mindset that happens with that big open fretboard. For me, the mind goes to a more bass guitar place when the lines are present, but without them I subconsciously end up in a different creative mindset.

3. I feel that the lines present a false sense of security. Just like the creative part of it above, things will be more in tune if you use your ears and play music vs see line and it must be right. It's for this reason that I also would shy away from an unlined fretboard that has little markers at every single note. That part isn't a total deal breaker, but I would prefer to only have the marker on the side at the 3,5,7,9,12 and so on. Either that or something like what NS does with their instruments.

I have a whole list of other things that I do and do not like. I was really just trying to get people to chime in on what is out there and available since searching the online retailers is only turning up a few things, most of which have been mentioned.
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Well said. I always advise, particularly with first time fretless buyers, that a lined board has the opposite effect that they often think it will; "training wheels" can psychologically restrict their advancement in the skills that make fretless unique in a world of mostly fretted basses.
That unmarked slab is like a blank canvas vs the color by number lined neck.

I'll echo the G&L suggestions. I can't stand the "nipple" headstock, however older, fretless, pre nipple headstock examples are out there and they are for the most part a tremendous value for the quality of the instrument.
 
#55
I’m with you. I love the blank plank. The lines throw me off; plus they’ve caused problems for me in the past with the wood changing and aging, to where they will stick up a little bit. I believe the majority of folks are in the lines camp, given the number of lines fretlesses out there.
 
#56
monkeyland said:
I've had my eye open for those. I've been seeing a lot listed higher lately, or in bad shape.
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Hmm. I wouldn't pay more than 700 on a really good day. They aren't worth that much, keep looking.

There was one on the classifieds for cheap the other day, someone had stripped the finish. I would buy it in a second if I was looking.

The one I have is Olympic white with a couple of pretty good dings, but it sounds growly and snarly like a passive jazz should. It also resolves really nicely to dynamics via your hands, something my active jazz doesn't do as well. Definitely a keeper.
 

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