Where the Fretless Ps at?

[Matthew_84]

I have been gassing for a fretless P pretty hard for the last few months, but I haven’t seen anything worthwhile on local classifieds for a long time. I recently ordered a fretted P, and will eventually get a fretless neck for it, but I’m still looking for a fretless P just in case and they just do NOT show up - but of course, fretless Jazzes are plentiful. This leads to two conclusions:

1. Fretless Jazzes are more popular than fretless P basses so more were made; or

2. The logical reason, that the people that get their hands on a fretless P do not give it up, no matter the cost.

What are your thoughts?

Also, if you have experience, pics, or audio/video of fretless Ps, please feel free to share

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

I have also been looking for a fretless P bass, prefer, unlined, USA Fender, used. And am not seeing many either, (at least that I can afford).

 

[Matthew_84]

I have also been looking for a fretless P bass, prefer, unlined, USA Fender, used. And am not seeing many either, (at least that I can afford).

Same boat lol. I’d ideally want an unlined 70’s P bass with a rosewood board, but I know I wouldn’t be able to afford that. I’m not even restricting myself to Fenders at this point - I just want an unlined 4 string with a non-reverse P pickup in the sweet spot

 

[Matthew_84]

Also, if anyone knows of any good places to get unlined fretless replacement Fender-style necks, preferably with truss rod access at the headstock, I’d appreciate it!

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

The closest thing I find that matches what I am looking for is a new Fender Tony Franklin. I hear that they are highly regarded by those who own them. I am not really a fan of “signature” instruments, but I may have to check one out.

 

[BioDriver]

The only off the shelf option is the Tony Franklin P and they don't run cheap. To that end I'm assembling my own fretless P bass - I already have an American Performer II body that I plan on mating with a USACG/Warmoth ebony fretless neck.

 

[darwin-bass]

Warmoth P body with a Warmoth unlined neck, plus pickup, electronics, hardware will run you about $1200-$1500 for the finished parts. You'd have to assemble them.

I had a fretless P for a while but swapped some parts around and now it is a fretless MM 'ray (all Warmoth stuff) and I like the sound much better.

YMMV

 

[Matthew_84]

Warmoth P body with a Warmoth unlined neck, plus pickup, electronics, hardware will run you about $1200-$1500 for the finished parts. You'd have to assemble them.

I’ve debated Warmoth a lot, but with shipping to Canada I’d be looking at something closer to $2000-$2300 CAD (+ tax), which is over my budget. At that rate, I might as well save up to get a Tony Franklin P

 

[darwin-bass]

Mid way down this post you'll see my fretless P. Lighter than a Fender TF, much less neck dive, costs less.

I had considered adding a J pickup and selector switch but ended up just going MM which is what I really wanted in the long run.

Part swapping (mod, mod, mod) - A picture story.

 

[dabbler]

I'm not sure why you're having a hard time either, but I'm not letting go of mine.

(Below: the misalignment has been improved since the pic was taken)

(Below: top row left)

(Below: top row 2nd from right end)

 

[bobyoung53]

The closest thing I find that matches what I am looking for is a new Fender Tony Franklin. I hear that they are highly regarded by those who own them. I am not really a fan of “signature” instruments, but I may have to check one out.

I have one and have owned two or three fretless P's in the past, the TF is head and shoulders above them and is well worth the money. The only thing I did was have a luthier throw a second volume control in it and put a side jack on it. With the ebony fretboard you can put any kind of string you want on it, I've have Rotos on mine for the past year with no problems at all. Don't waste your time with rosewood or maple necks unless you always play flats. I've had mine for about 6 years. Got my first fretless P in 1977, rosewood, then a maple, you had to coat them back then if you wanted to use roundwounds for any length of time. The necks also feel smaller to me than a fretted P neck. I think it's more shallow. The DiMarzio J pickup blends very well with the split pickup and is quiet. Mine is not a heavy bass.

Oh, the only signature on the bass is on the neck pate.

Not a very good picture, it's the one on the left.

 

[C Stone]

Yea best bet is to just grab a fretless neck and just put them together, a lot of the fretless basses seem to be P bodied but PJ’s (Tony Franklin) I pulled the frets from a cheapie to see if I liked fretless.

I have put a couple more together since then, one using an unlined Mighty Mite MM2919 P neck on a P bass special body

Also just finished this one using a lined fretless VM Jazz neck on an inexpensive PJ body and then added cream covers…

I do like them all, P and PJ bodies seem easy enough to source (necks too). Here is a link for the unlined P neck I used, (cost twice as much now but ya know how that goes) btw I also painted the headstock on the MM2919 P, they don’t come painted. Hope you find a solution.

Mighty Mite MM2919 P Bass Replacement Neck With a Fretless Ebonol Fingerboard

 

[Matthew_84]

Yea best bet is to just grab a fretless neck and just put them together, a lot of the fretless basses seem to be P bodied but PJ’s (Tony Franklin) I pulled the frets from a cheapie to see if I liked fretless.
View attachment 4973090 I have put a couple more together since, then, one using an unlined Mighty Mite MM2919 P neck on a P bass special body
View attachment 4973092
Also just finished this one using a lined fretless VM Jazz neck on an inexpensive PJ body and then added cream covers…
View attachment 4973098
I do like them all, P and PJ bodies seem easy enough to source (necks too). Here is a link for the unlined P neck I used, (cost twice as much now but ya know how that goes) btw I also painted the headstock on the MM2919 P, they don’t come painted. Hope you find a solution.

Mighty Mite MM2919 P Bass Replacement Neck With a Fretless Ebonol Fingerboard

Nice! Yeah, I had one of those MM necks too years ago. I actually really liked it. Very good quality, played well, and the neck never moved. It’s definitely a contender for my future neck.

Quick question, does yours have white scratches under the strings? I never found a way to combat that other than re-sanding, though I never tried just buffing it out with car compound or something.

Also, what’s the tone like on that one with the unlined MM neck? I’d prefer to just have a P pickup and would want a somewhat round tone (I’d play with flats). My MM neck was pretty bright with a quick attack, but I was also using a jazz with rounds lol

 

[Brich]

Posted this in another thread today, this is my fretless reverse p I built

 

[Matthew_84]

Posted this in another thread today, this is my fretless reverse p I built View attachment 4973223

Ooh, I like that colour!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Those Tony Franklins are worth the $$$. Smart thing is to buy used if possible.

 

[C Stone]

Nice! Yeah, I had one of those MM necks too years ago. I actually really liked it. Very good quality, played well, and the neck never moved. It’s definitely a contender for my future neck.

Quick question, does yours have white scratches under the strings? I never found a way to combat that other than re-sanding, though I never tried just buffing it out with car compound or something.

Also, what’s the tone like on that one with the unlined MM neck? I’d prefer to just have a P pickup and would want a somewhat round tone (I’d play with flats). My MM neck was pretty bright with a quick attack, but I was also using a jazz with rounds lol

Thanks and yep there are marks from bends and I also on occasion slap it (I use round-wounds) but I can tell it will take me a very very long time before I need to hit that board, really is a good quality neck and as stable a neck I have come across.

As far as tone with the PJ and Ebonol I would say yes brighter but It is still very versatile, I can coax quite a lot of useable tones on this depending on how/where I play, if I want a more rounded tone I just roll off the bridge p/u completely (solo the P) and play directly over the end of the board.

I should add these are ceramic pickups not AlNico’s, slappin on the Ebonol I can get an old-school vibe with heavier mids and high mids (usually more scooped with ceramics) so there’s that just might not be an apples to apples comparison.

 

[Matthew_84]

Thanks and yep there are marks from bends and I also on occasion slap it (I use round-wounds) but I can tell it will take me a very very long time before I need to hit that board, really is a good quality neck and as stable a neck I have come across.

As far as tone with the PJ and Ebonol I would say yes brighter but It is still very versatile, I can coax quite a lot of useable tones on this depending on how/where I play, if I want a more rounded tone I just roll off the bridge p/u completely (solo the P) and play directly over the end of the board.

I should add these are ceramic pickups not AlNico’s, slappin on the Ebonol I can get an old-school vibe with heavier mids and high mids (usually more scooped with ceramics) so there’s that just might not be an apples to apples comparison.

Awesome. I appreciate the details. Thanks!

 

[Fernando Costa]

1. Fretless Jazzes are more popular than fretless P basses so more were made; or

2. The logical reason, that the people that get their hands on a fretless P do not give it up, no matter the cost.

What are your thoughts?

I think the Jazz Bass is a bass more suitable for jazz or fusion, that is, more suitable for those who like fretless. Precisions got the reputation of being simple basses, for rock, I don't agree, I've played in great P-Bass fretless, but bassists really prefer Jazz fretless. I think there are few fretless P-Bass because there is little demand.

 

[jamro217]

Build a mutt. If you want a nice neck, the Mighty Mite fretless ebonal Jazz neck is a good deal. 1.5" nut width (a Jazz Bass spec "A" neck), with dots on the side where the frets would be, not where the dots are on a fretted neck. Blank on the board. Usually can be found for a little over $100. They hold up well. I've had one with round wound strings on it for over twenty years with little wear. Hope this helps.