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Nice bass!
And put whatever strings you want on it. You have an ebony fingerboard--it can handle it.
Sweet bass! What pickup is at the bridge. Looks like a Model J?
I've got Model J's in my jazz and love them, but it's definitely a darker (maybe a bit P-ish) sound.
No worries I really appreciate you letting me know. I'll do a full review, etc when I get it.
Earthy, organic, and upright-like are pretty much my goals for a fretless too.
It's some sort of modified (hotter, I think) J pup to Tony's specs... the older models look like normal Fender pups but apparently now they have DiMazio branding on them and the pole pieces are black.
Number please!
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Hi Fretless folks,
Considering picking up a fretless to learn. Seems the gary willis is a reasonable price and i could pick up a five string with lines. I like the ibanez portamento but alas i dont think it comes lined, which several folks strongly recommend for my first frettless bass. The $750 seems like a price point where i should get good enough quality so the guitar doesnt get in the way of playing.
I would love a status or zon but dont think it is prudent to spend that much until i see how much i enjoy.
Other suggestions?
Considering picking up a fretless to learn. Seems the gary willis is a reasonable price and i could pick up a five string with lines. I like the ibanez portamento but alas i dont think it comes lined, which several folks strongly recommend for my first frettless bass. The $750 seems like a price point where i should get good enough quality so the guitar doesnt get in the way of playing.
I would love a status or zon but dont think it is prudent to spend that much until i see how much i enjoy.
Other suggestions?
The Portamento has tiny lines along the edge of the fingerboard, if that helps you decide.
Would it be silly to suggest drawing them on with pencil? By the time the lines are gone you may be used to it. it's what I did when I learned to play the violin long time ago 
Yap.... Portamento has side lines which is all you ever need.
there's even a club for Portamento:
Ibanez Portamento Club
lots of YouTube reviews if you'd like to know that much about its Piezo.
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They could have cut that lower horn a bit lower... it seems like you can only fret the 24th "fret" comfortably.
It's not cut deeper cause it seems Ibanez wants to keep the SR profile body. And if you have tried it, then you'd know it's not that hassle to access above 24th "fret".
I look at the extension of the fingerboard above 24th "fret" just like an extra which sometimes is needed to have that kind of upright sound which can only be produced if you slap/pluck the strings against/on top of the fingerboard (not the kind of thumb slap, but using the rest of plucking fingers).
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The GWB35 and the Portamento are both excellent basses. I have a GWB35 and did a little mod to it. Changed the pickup out for a real bart and put a 3 way bartollini pre in it. Will be the last bass standing if I ever have sell them all off one at a time. And my cheapest bass.
Played quite a bit with a 4 string Portamento at the guitar shop. I really like it. With my belly, the lines on the side and the lined fretboard are about the same because I can't see the lines on the fretboard when I am standing.
Portamento has some really cool things to it that make it seem a lot like a GWB, but extra. I will probably end up with one someday. Need to sell off a fretted bass first.
The GWB35's come up quite often in the classifieds here. I think I paid $500 for mine.
