Linus27

One of these is top of my list as well although I also hear really good things about the Keeley Bassist pedal.

I've been playing for 35 years and I still couldn't tell you what the Ampeg sound is and I've even had an Ampeg amp.

My main bass is usually medium to high quality, so an American Fender Jazz/Precision, standard or Vintage Reissue, Music Man Stingray, German Warwick Streamer etc. Then my backup's or others tend to be something that's playable but cheaper, so a nice Mexican or Japanese Fender etc. They are not necessarily poorer in there ability, just financially less but still good enough to be played if I fancy playing something now and again rather than my main bass. My current line up is a Music Man Stingray SR4 Fretless as my main bass and then I have a Mexican Fender Precision 70's Reissue and an Japanese ESP 400 Series Jazz. The Stingray is worth about £2k and he backup's are worth about £700 each. All perfect and all very playable. However, I have been thinking about getting a much cheaper backup bass, something like a Squire Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz as most of the time I play my Stingray and the backup just sits on the side looking pretty. Seems silly dragging a half decent bass out to sit on the side rarely to be played.

My three fretless beauties. Top: Fender Precision 70's ressiue with American Vintage Pickups and custom Shuker maple neck finished in high gloss. Sounds fantastic and is beautiful to play. Middle: ESP 400 Series Jazz with Bartolini pickups and custom Shuker ebony neck. Made in Japan in the mid 80's at the Fender factory and is basically a Japanese 60's Reissue Fender Jazz. Bottom: Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray with Pau Ferro neck.

I quite like that, wouldn't mind it myself actually. I have an ESP 400 Series Jazz from around 86 and it's a great instrument.

I love playing vinyl, I love picking up old original jazz records and listening to them how they were originally intended. They sound absolutely fabulous on my system, warm, rich and full of character. To me this is what vinyl is all about. I don't really buy any new releases as it's a bit pointless but I have bought a few older 80' albums or some of the half speed remaster's and they have sounded great.

That's the amazing Derek Forbes but he was having a bit of an off day at the beginning

It does have a lovely tone. What's with the head movement thing though, it seems odd like its not normal or its some part of the act???

Gorgeous tone though, just everything else about it is so very wrong.

Here you go He just seemed to love playing them and Vigier even made him a few custom models

That's reminded me, I think Derek Forbes also switched to fretless Vigier, possibly when he was playing in Propaganda. I should of remembered, I only interviewed him once and we talked about it and why he chose Vigier and not another manufacturer like Warwick, Ernie Ball etc. hahaha I do remember those basses as well, I think @ped or @Dood on here played one???

Giblin also played an unlined fretless Japanese Fender Power Jazz and an unlined Stingray with Simple Minds. Derek Forbes played an unlined fretless Fender Precision with a maple board and Malcolm Foster played an unlined acoustic fretless bass in his stint with Simple Minds.

That's gorgeous 😍

Seen a few of those for sale on Ebay and been really tempted for a bit of retro fun.

Well, you'll ever know, his most famous bassline after all is classically inspired so who knows where ones inspiration comes from.

Yes, Pino is recognised mostly for his fretless playing but he states that Jamerson is his biggest influence and goes on to say that Motown, R&B and reggae was what he grew up listening to. Even his fretless lines are so heavily influenced by Jamerson if you listen to them.

Yes that's correct, Fender produced the fretless Precision first, I think it was 1970 or around them. It was unlined and available with either a rosewood or maple board. Fretless Jazz basses didn't come till much later, the 80's I think, maybe even later.

Pino has cited that James Jamerson was his biggest influence stemming from his love of Motown. Franklin's biggest influence being Jaco however is correct.

A fretless Ibanez Musician is high on my list of wants. I have the Sting maple Precision with maple board, just need the fretless Ibanez Musician 😁

Thanks Dave, I appreciate it 👍

Little video from last night's gig playing with the Tim Shez Band with some fretless goodness 😁

It is deeply frustrating but what's more frustrating is that Fender do make fretless basses, for example the Squire Jazz and Precision and the Mexican Fender Jazz but they are all lined. The only unlined bass they make is the Tony Franklin signature Precision which is over £2000. So it's not like they are not embracing the fretless bass but they are being incredibly lazy or naive to not cater for the player in the middle who wants a solid workhorse and have the option of an unlined board. Even having it as an option or the option of buying a separate neck from their store like you can with other components would be a start.

Oh dont get me started on this, absolutely boils my blood, partly because I physically can't buy a bass I want as it's not available and especially the whole lined fretless neck thing. I have no issue with people wanting to play a lined fretless bass but c'mon, at least give us the option. Fender back in the 70's released the fretless Precision and can you buy one now, nope, not unless you want a cheaper lined Squire or a super expensive high quality signature model. Absolutely nothing in between. How about Jazz basses, again, nope, not unless you want lined. I grew up listening to Pino, Sting, John Giblin (Kate Bush and Simple Minds), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Derek Forbes (Simple Minds), Paul Webb (Talk Talk), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel), Mick Khan (Japan) to name a few and who all played unlined fretless basses. I adored their unlined fretless Fender Precisions, Stingray's, Wal's and Ibanez Musicians. I'd never even heard of Jaco until the late 90's and lined fretless basses were not even a thing. I gave up in the end and had my own necks made for my Fender's and bought a Stingray when one eventually became available. With the amount of special editions, remakes and models Fender churn out each year, I just wish they would make a bog standard US Jazz and Precision with an unlined fretless neck or at least make it an option to choose lined, unlined or fretted like a few other manufacturers offer. At least be brave and make an FSR fretless Jazz and Precision if you don't want to take too big a risk, just make sure the neck is unlined. I just think its incredibly lazy of Fender and I have predominantly played Fender's for the last 35 years. I'd love to give my money to Fender for an unlined standard fretless Jazz or Precision but sadly they don't make them and haven't for years so my money went to Ernie Ball. Rant over.