Where the Fretless Ps at?

[coreyfyfe]

I sold mine when I got an upright. Didn’t really play it enough to justify keeping it, but kind of wish I had just to have it.

78 with a really nice one piece maple neck. Light for a late 70s fender, and the pickup was much more mellow than the fretted P I have from the same year.

 

[BigBadBen67]

That’s really nice! Do you mind me asking what style of neck that was from Warmoth? And was the neck pocket a good/right fit?

sure. It’s just their Warmoth-style tiltback headstock. You can see them here Invalid Link Removed

These actually have the truss rod adjustment at the head, definitely more convenient. The shape of the heel is the same so no issue with fit. Mine has the extended fingerboard which is why it looks a bit different. But you can get them with the normal 20-fret length.
B

 

[Matthew_84]

I sold mine when I got an upright. Didn’t really play it enough to justify keeping it, but kind of wish I had just to have it.

78 with a really nice one piece maple neck. Light for a late 70s fender, and the pickup was much more mellow than the fretted P I have from the same year.

That’s a beauty! I actually had the chance to get a ‘78 just like this about 10 years ago for a great price, but it was a month before my wedding and I didn’t have the spare money at the time to make it happen, which still irks me to do this day (obvious by this thread LOL)!

An upright was a worthy successor though! I’d love an upright one day, but it’s not in the cards yet.

 

[Matthew_84]

sure. It’s just their Warmoth-style tiltback headstock. You can see them here Invalid Link Removed

These actually have the truss rod adjustment at the head, definitely more convenient. The shape of the heel is the same so no issue with fit. Mine has the extended fingerboard which is why it looks a bit different. But you can get them with the normal 20-fret length.
B

Awesome! Thank you for the details!

 

[Bass Viking]

Truthfully, my biggest concern with a Warmoth neck is that the truss rod adjustment is at the heel. I can be really picky (too picky) with my relief and setup, though I do seem to be a bit more relaxed than I used to be, but yeah, having to loosen the strings and neck bolts to get at it used to drive me nuts on my old MIA P

I had to make a truss rod channel on the body, not a big deal, it’s only a Squier. I hear you, no way I’m removing the pickguard and neck every time I have to access the truss rod!

 

[FunkHead]

So nice you bought it twice! I’m still loving your first one. It’s a lifer for me.

Yes sir. It's one of my lifer basses too.

 

[banjackal]

My fretless P started its life as a Crate Electra, from a beginner pack. My dad bought if for me when I was 12 or 13 years old and started learning bass.
Now the only original part on it is the body, which has been refinished with a few cans of Rust-Oleum.
I recently added an allparts fretless P neck and new Hipshot hardware, and it's got an EMG GZR in it. Great bass.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Fretless Jazzes are more popular than fretless P basses so more were made

Possibly, but if so, that happened in the last 25 years.
Fender seemed clueless in the 70s & 80s as to Jaco's influence.

Fender first released the fretless P (circa 1970). They waited years to release a fretless J.

I'm curious what year Fender 1st offered a US production Jazz.
In '94, I picked up a mij fretless Jazz at the Bass Place while in AZ.
That was the 1st time I'd seen any production fretless Jazz.
in '99 or '2000, I became aware of the Jaco Signature & Custom Shop offerings, and I ordered the Custom Shop. IIRC, they still didn't offer a US production Jazz at that time.


Back to "where's all the fretless Ps / where have all the good time gone"?

 

[sgiacomo]

Not cheap but a beautiful bass!
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass - Black

 

[Ghastly]

Is the bottom a Ting Franklin with a new pickguard?

Regardless, that looks great! The fretted P I ordered is a sunburst with a maple neck. I was going to keep the fretted neck until I could afford a fretless one but was debating putting on a gold anodized pickguard for it as I knew it’d look good with the maple neck. I wasn’t sure about it with an ebony neck, but you just sold me

Yes, it's a Tony Franklin, and thanks!

 

[roskuski]

Here is one, A 72

 

[Matthew_84]

My fretless P started its life as a Crate Electra, from a beginner pack. My dad bought if for me when I was 12 or 13 years old and started learning bass.
Now the only original part on it is the body, which has been refinished with a few cans of Rust-Oleum.
I recently added an allparts fretless P neck and new Hipshot hardware, and it's got an EMG GZR in it. Great bass.View attachment 4973575

Nice choices! And I like your refin job!

 

[Acoop]

I've played fretless since 77, when I regretted my 66-P-bass and I've got to admit I never much cared for the sound of a fretless P-bass. ... I think a fretless Stingray is what the best fretless P-bass could sound like.

 

[Matthew_84]

Back to "where's all the fretless Ps / where have all the good time gone"?

View attachment 4973576

I am extremely jealous! Lol. Nice collection!

 

[OldShark]

So, would a P/J do the trick for you?
Sire P7 is not too expensive and gets good reviews... (I do not own one but a Jazzbass V7 Fretless):

 

[swarfrat]

If you think fretless P's are hard to find, add five string to the list. Thats not just rare, I think its like a combination of features that P fans just don't like. Jaco didn't need a five.

But i kinda want one

 

[Matthew_84]

So, would a P/J do the trick for you?
Sire P7 is not too expensive and gets good reviews... (I do not own one but a Jazzbass V7 Fretless):

That is a great value! I'd have to look into getting a Sire into Canada because when I looked several years ago, it wasn't easy, but it does seem like there may be a Canadian dealer now.

I would personally prefer it to only have one P pickup and an unlined neck. Also, with the binding on that neck, I feel like it could drive me nuts, but I'll definitely look into it more as it really does seem like a great bass with lots of versatility. Thanks!

 

[Joshua]

I'll play:

8 pounds of fretless P bass goodness. Lotsa good ones in this thread!

 

[Matthew_84]

I'll play:

8 pounds of fretless P bass goodness. Lotsa good ones in this thread!

That’s a beauty! Who made it? The bridge and headstock shape look somewhat familiar but I can’t put a name to them

 

[OldShark]

I would personally prefer it to only have one P pickup and an unlined neck. Also, with the binding on that neck, I feel like it could drive me nuts, but I'll definitely look into it more as it really does seem like a great bass with lots of versatility. Thanks!

The all passive P5 with just a split PU and a roasted maple neck can be ordered as fretless, too, but they seem harder to get. They do not offer unlined necks. AFAIK, several American members of the "Sire club" have ordered Sire basses and guitars from Thomann/Germany, as that was easier/cheaper than from local distributors. Anderton's/UK are also a huge Sire distributor, so there's that.