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Recommend a fretless...
- Thread starter Pennydreadful
- Start date
The "mwaaahh" is from roundwound strings. The Jaco tone is a combination of that and the bridge pickup on a Jazz Bass. Put some flats on and don't favor the bridge pickup and you have a nice fretless sound. Any fretless bass, even Jaco's bass in his hands, can give this kind of sound.
My first fretless was a $450 Dean Edge, it was fantastic. Being the first generation of Edge, it had a passive jazz bass style EQ with two EMG-HZ humbucking soapbars. GREAT sound.
If by "uprightish" you mean quick-sustaining "plunk" you'll want an acoustic or acoustic-style bass. Otherwise, in the 400-600 range there are about ten zillion great options.
My first fretless was a $450 Dean Edge, it was fantastic. Being the first generation of Edge, it had a passive jazz bass style EQ with two EMG-HZ humbucking soapbars. GREAT sound.
With all the talk about fretless P-bass, I'm surprised no one has mentioned a SX fretless P or one of the P/J fretless models they sell.
http://www.rondomusic.net/spb57fretless.html
http://www.rondomusic.net/spb57fretless.html
I own a Rob Allen Deep 4 which I suspect is close to the tone you want (with LaBella Deep Talkin' flats ... strings are a major contributor to fretless sound). This is uprightish, but with more sustain. To back off on the sustain, you can go with Rotosound88s. But I think this may (at $4500) be out of your price range.
I also own a Dean Edge Fretless 4 ($300 purchase) with some upgrades (Badass II bridge; DC4 pickups; Aguilar OBP-1) that improve the sound (the original sound was adequate). I have heavy GHS Boomers on this, which give very little 'mwahh' (I think because they are heavy) but more a Fenderish fretted tone.
I like fretless a lot, because I feel a lot freeer on the fretboard ... less mechanical.
I also own a Dean Edge Fretless 4 ($300 purchase) with some upgrades (Badass II bridge; DC4 pickups; Aguilar OBP-1) that improve the sound (the original sound was adequate). I have heavy GHS Boomers on this, which give very little 'mwahh' (I think because they are heavy) but more a Fenderish fretted tone.
I like fretless a lot, because I feel a lot freeer on the fretboard ... less mechanical.
Not being a real J style bass player ... well normally anyway, and I do own one, I dig the Lakland JO fretless. I have also owned a 70s fretless P (not to my liking) I really think my Lakland JO fretless is the bomb! I have previously owned a Pedulla and a Modulus, but the rosewood board Lakland wins hands down! It's all in the setup.
... That said ... I can see that a fretlless P style bass with a J taper lined rosewood neck XL chromes flats and a Darkstar pickup may be "THE" fretless to own! ... note to self call Dan Lakin.
... That said ... I can see that a fretlless P style bass with a J taper lined rosewood neck XL chromes flats and a Darkstar pickup may be "THE" fretless to own! ... note to self call Dan Lakin.Have you thought about defretting that Ibanez you're selling? Just a thought - it's hollowbody, has a sweet-spot pickup, you could easily fit felt or sponge mutes if that's what you're after... If I had one and was interested in thuddy fretless, I'd be very tempted. And it'd cost you next to nothing except a bit of time and a radiused sanding block from stewmac.
Even though it's just about everything you've said or been advised here you don't want, I've gotten compliments from my brother on the upright-ness of my Ibanez ATK defret, which is strung with Fender flats. Of course, it has a bridge pickup only, and active EQ, so make of that what you will. I have to say that flats make a huge difference. I have played a few fretli with rounds, and I much prefer the sound and feel of flats on fretless. I use fretteds if I want edge and clank. Fretless is more about thud for me (no offense, Jaco).
Good luck,
Steve
Even though it's just about everything you've said or been advised here you don't want, I've gotten compliments from my brother on the upright-ness of my Ibanez ATK defret, which is strung with Fender flats. Of course, it has a bridge pickup only, and active EQ, so make of that what you will. I have to say that flats make a huge difference. I have played a few fretli with rounds, and I much prefer the sound and feel of flats on fretless. I use fretteds if I want edge and clank. Fretless is more about thud for me (no offense, Jaco).
Good luck,
Steve
