BrunoBass Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I read a thing recently where Joe Hubbard said he had a Squier Jazz that had the frets flattened so the instrument played like a fretless but still had enough metal in the board for slapping. I'm intrigued - has anybody tried this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Yes, but not intentionally, and possibly not to the extent Joe Hubbard is talking about! I expect he means flattened VERY close to the fingerboard, which might work just fine if the frets are well seated... The bass I had with flat frets had SHOCKINGLY bad intonation as the witness point (think that's the right term) was effectively on the edge of the fret instead of the center... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Not quite the same thing, but I'm sure I've seen a fretless with a single fret right up at the dusty end to give that 'clank' when slapping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Wilkes used to do slap plate at the end of a fretless fingerboard. I need to get out more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Not quite the same thing but i have an old precision with really low frets from years of use, and it feels way better to play than my other 2 precisions. Don't quite know why, perhaps the low frets get you a bit closer to the board which makes it all a bit more responsive. Not at a stage where i'm having intonation issues but they're pretty low compared to the other basses I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 (edited) I remember reading in a bass tuition book, probably coming on for 25 years ago about a fretless with brass fret markers. Can't for the life of me remember the make/model. Edited July 20, 2017 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1500565605' post='3338756'] Not quite the same thing but i have an old precision with really low frets from years of use, and it feels way better to play than my other 2 precisions. Don't quite know why, perhaps the low frets get you a bit closer to the board which makes it all a bit more responsive. Not at a stage where i'm having intonation issues but they're pretty low compared to the other basses I have. [/quote] My '73 P has alarmingly worn frets but it plays beautifully. I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted July 20, 2017 Author Share Posted July 20, 2017 [quote name='Jakester' timestamp='1500538174' post='3338489'] Not quite the same thing, but I'm sure I've seen a fretless with a single fret right up at the dusty end to give that 'clank' when slapping. [/quote] Yes, I seem to recall Warwick offered that as an option on fretless models in the '80s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 [quote name='Jakester' timestamp='1500538174' post='3338489'] Not quite the same thing, but I'm sure I've seen a fretless with a single fret right up at the dusty end to give that 'clank' when slapping. [/quote] I've heard of these too. Rather than a fret I thought it was just a metal plate set in at the end of the fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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