The three Fender fretless basses.....

[Crackle]

The Tony Franklin does indeed look like a beauty, but appears not to have fret lines, which I would need.

Fret lines are hugely overrated. The side dots are where the frets would be - unlike a fretted bass where the side dots are in the middle between frets. It's not hard to figure it out and dial in your intonation with your ear. Personally, I find fret lines to be annoying. But do what's right for you.

 

[jdaunt]

why do people keep hammering on the Tony Franklin? The OP said clearly he wants a jazz and fretlines.

He never said he only wants a Jazz, but other than the Tony Franklin, the only Fenders readily available in fretless are Jazzes. That’s how i took what he posted at least. And the Tony Franklin bass really is a step above any other Fender fretless i’ve tried, they’re just really, really great basses. But i’m sure he’d be happy with his other choices also, although i would caution against the Player. I had one for a short time and did not care for the feel of the Pau Ferro fingerboard. That’s just me, but i did not like it at all.

 

[petermwright]

What is the problem with the trussrod adjustment being at the headstock?
If anything, it makes life easier to tweak the relief.

The problem comes when you’ve maxed out the trussrod, and you still want less relief. You can’t take the nut off and add a washer very easily, as the nut is covered by (typically) a walnut plug, which is glued in.

I have had to add washers to a trussrod before, and was able to do it because it adjusted at the heel end, and the nut could easily be removed.

 

[Jscriv]

I've owned a lot of fenders and the pro am ii is by far the best production built one I've had.

 

[Max7]

Do you mind a slightly wider neck? The Tony Franklin is fantastic.

I love my Tony Franklin also! Plays great and stays in tune.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Am Pro II with lines!
Man those are beautiful!
Yes!

 

[groovepump]

I think the lines make the whole endeavor only slightly easier. Without a good ear and feel for the instrument, you'll suck either way. Lines barely make a difference, in my experience. I say this as someone who sucks either way.

I agree 100%. Besides, unlined also looks better, and if you really need some markers in the beginning, you can make your own with masking tape on the side of the neck. When you decide you don't need the marks, you just peel them off, and you have your cool-looking unlined fingerboard.

 

[GazzBass]

Jaco all the way for me. The neck is much nicer then the ProII. There was something about the Pro II fretboard i couldn't get on with. The TF basses are nice but its a very different beast. It has real fat neck on it.

 

[KYbass]

No experience with fretless, just popping in to say happy birthday!

 

[JProbber]

No experience with fretless, just popping in to say happy birthday!

Why thanks!

 

[juancaminos]

I have that on my Warmoth fretless neck. The side dots are a pearl type of thing and are tiny. I struggle to see them in low light and especially in coloured stage lights.


What is the problem with the trussrod adjustment being at the headstock?
If anything, it makes life easier to tweak the relief.



I agree.
I've not got a great ear so I do rely on the side dots a bit.
Whenever I've played a lined board in stores I found that you can't see the lines much anyway and most lined boards have the side dots at the normal fretted position which throws me off a lot.

Side dot's are important, to me! You can get stick on side dots that are larger. https://www.amazon.com/Inlaysticker...c2a-b05d-e8a95460b06f&pd_rd_i=B00PGQYRFC&th=1

 

[BAG]

The problem comes when you’ve maxed out the trussrod, and you still want less relief. You can’t take the nut off and add a washer very easily, as the nut is covered by (typically) a walnut plug, which is glued in.

I have had to add washers to a trussrod before, and was able to do it because it adjusted at the heel end, and the nut could easily be removed.

Fair call. Not something i've had happen to me....... yet.