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The Fretless Club (Part 2!)

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#901
(repeating what I said last week about this)

After months and months of looking for a Tony Franklin fretless in good condition at a price that I could handle ... I did it!

It came in last week, and I've already played it a bunch. The feel and the sound are absolutely terrific -- the neck every bit as smooth and fast, and the tone every bit as Mwah and distinctive as it's hyped to be.

I had tried a friend's, and was completely sold on it. And this one is just as nice - great quality control, I guess.

I can't believe what great condition this one is in. Got it from the Guitar Center used site (kudos, GC) - at a price WAY below the new price, but it's practically straight from the factory. Plastic still on the pick guard, not a single mark on it, all the case candy, original hard case all shiny and clean. Such a deal!
 

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#903
May I join the Fretless Club with an Ashbory bass?

I ordered a DeArmond Ashbory bass from Large Sound in January. It arrived yesterday. It is a fantastic little instrument.

It took a few minutes to get used to narrow string spacing and the silicon strings. It has a very distinctive tone and plays quite nicely. The sound is similar to an upright.

It came with a instructional sheet on getting the most out of the Ashbory, which includes various tips on playing and maximizing the life of the strings. The info sheet was included by the vendor.

The Ashbory is fretless with painted lines. But make sure to use your ears because the pained lines are not accurate. (We're supposed to use our ears with all fretless basses anyway.)

Sorry for the grainy iPhone pic...
DeArmondAshbory.jpg


I like the "club" thing. I could have sworn I saw an Ashbory Club in TalkBass once but I just performed a search with no results. If anyone finds it, let me know.
 
#915
I tried my first Fretless bass ever today.........Fender Vintage Modified..........I plugged it in at the store and just kept playing it......there are no fretwire to get in the way so no buzzing.....and I could probably get the action really low...........I'm tempted to buy it tomorrow....only one problem.....it's a long scale.........I have small hands and short fingers and I only play shortscales......now I didn't have as much trouble playing this long scale bass as I do when I try fretted basses.......but it's a little too heavy and I found the pups didn't have much output, though I'll go back tomorrow and give it another try............I'm thinking that maybe I should take one of my shortscales and defret it.....I have a custom build with swamp ash body and maple top with ebony board, Aguilar preamp and Kent Armstrong MM pickup which I haven't used in a while but it's a $2500 bass and I'm not sure if I should do it..............

So what are the best reasons to get a fretless? A more proper intonation since no fretwire to make it buzz?

I play mostly Rock, Blues, Classic Rock.......I don't really see a fretless fitting in but....if I did use a fretless, then I guess I'd be "different" and it might add a little "je ne s'ais quoi" to the band.......all this just to say that I think I'm hooked to "fretless basses"......

I haven't had a chance to read all the fretless forums, it might take me weeks....lol.....So does anyone here play Rock, Blues and Pop with a fretless?
 
#916
I recently became a fretless player upon my purchase of a Wishbass (see avatar pic). I know they catch a lot of grief in certain circles, but for me it's been a great bass. Here's a little clip of it pre/post refinish.



I'm very new to playing fretless, so please take it easy on me!

BTW, I'd love to join the club. How do I get a number?
 
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