Shaggy

It's horses for courses like so many bass-related matters - personal preference. I prefer passive, two pick-ups is a must, and I like the clear, glassy response of a single coil. But then probably the "holy grail" fretless tone is a Wal custom, and those are active humbuckers........and then strings are an even bigger factor than for fretted....... You've just got to try as many as you can really, see what the common "wow" factor is!

[quote name='Bassmingo' post='650191' date='Nov 9 2009, 10:31 PM']thats a magnum??[/quote] Yup. Not sure what Ross Vallory is playing now, but then it was a Magnum 1, live & studio.

[quote name='solo4652' post='649922' date='Nov 9 2009, 06:21 PM']Aha! That's what I'm looking for - only cheaper. My unlined fretless 'Ray has side dots where the 3/5/7/9/12 "frets" would be - i.e. where the notes are, unlike where they are on a normal fretted fingerboard. This means I struggle to switch between fretted and fretless boards, so I'm looking for a back-up for the 'Ray that ticks all these boxes - fretless, unlined, side dots where the "frets" would be (unlike many unlined fingerboards that have position dots in the same places as fretted boards), wide P-style neck, costs no more than £350. All suggestions gratefully received. Steve[/quote] Buy this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-style-carbon-graphite-fretless-bass-neck_W0QQitemZ280417758642QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item414a336db2"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-style-carbon-...=item414a336db2[/url] - put your own dots on, fit it on a donor Squier (have to be black), and you've got the coolest fretless around for norra lorra cash!

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='648454' date='Nov 7 2009, 11:59 PM']I'll never be a fretless-only player, so I need to be able to switch between fretted and fretless really easily. My Ibanez fretless (a 2366 P-bass from 1972) has "fret-edges", i.e. partial frets about a millimetre long set into the side of the fretboard, exactly where the frets would end on a fretted bass, plus the usual side dots you'd expect. When I'm playing, and glance down at the (side of the) neck, it looks like a fretted bass. To the audience, it's an uninterrupted expanse of (stained) rosewood. [url="http://tinypic.com/a/z8zs/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/z8zs/3[/url] Brilliantly simply, and simply brilliant. I'd recommend that to any fretted player looking to start playing fretless. The only thing I'd change (magic wand at the ready) is that I'd prefer a maple board. Rosewood doesn't have quite the sound I'm after.[/quote] Got exactly the same on my Ovation Magnum 1. TBH it throws me a bit, as my preference is for 1/3/5/7/9/12 dot markers [b]on[/b] the "virtual" fret-lines, whereas with this system they're of course in the usual "between the fret" positions, but after a couple of minutes I'm fine.

[quote name='richrips' post='645404' date='Nov 4 2009, 04:15 PM']and i'm checking out barry adamson as soon as i get home! Thanks, Rich[/quote] Magazine ('78 - '81-ish) Listen to "Permafrost", "Back to Nature" and "The light pours out of me" - any track's a goodie though, superb band. Gotta hear "don't stop beleiving" (Journey) too of course! [quote name='richrips' post='645811' date='Nov 4 2009, 10:47 PM']NO WAY!!! that blue (white?) magnum with the metal scratchplate is pretty much the sweetest looking bass i have seen in ages! it's like a prop out of some 70's sci-fi! i saw it archived on some website and thought damn thats tasty.....[/quote] That was on ebay a couple of years back - definitely a refin, but a tasty one. Original finishes were only natural mahogany, a "sunburst" mahogany (like a T-bird), and possibly translucent cherry, with black pickguard. The first production bass to use graphite in the neck I think , along with Alembic. [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='645858' date='Nov 4 2009, 11:45 PM'][/quote] Damn, where did you dig that old pic of me from! I'm sure I've still got those strides somewhere.........

I've got a Magnum 1 (fretless), and it's a keeper. I'd say £500 for this is a good buy, especially with the case (made by Samsonite I think) - these used to be very unloved and cheap as chips, but recently seem to have acquired the classic status they deserve - V&R have one for around the £950 mark. Pickguard definitely a replacement (mines got a crack running from one of the jack sockets), but you can get replacement identuical to the originals on US ebay for £40. The aluminium bridge / pickup frame was painted black and most (as here) are stripped and polished. Barry Adamson, Jah Wobble, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Ross Vallory (???spelling -Journey) all used these - Barry Adamsons sound with it is one of the all time greatest bass tones IMO. Go for it! Edit 2 posts got in while I was typing that!

[quote name='jonthebass' post='642404' date='Nov 1 2009, 11:12 AM']Now there's an offer and a cab! I had the Mesa Boogie Diesel 800W 2x15" once upon a time and it is an awesome bit of kit. The only down side is that it's a 2 person lift so beware of that. Regards, Jon[/quote] Nah......only if there's stairs! On castors too

Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15: Road-ready (flightcased) model, EV loaded, 800W, 4ohm mono or 2x8ohm stereo. Tightest sounding 2x15 I've tried, but rather surplus now I'm DI-ing. £300 if you're interested.

I always thought string-thru improved sustain - my RD Artist can be strung either through or top, and my impression is it definitely sustains better when strung thru (but needs extra-long strings!) Compliance? Sounds like the bass version of cellulite.........

Stunning bass - that finish looks superb with the maple board. I've always modded old basses, in fact it's half the fun of playing bass, but with the vintage market being driven by collectors it's a criminal offence these days. This bass has history, character, the personality of its owner, and is far sweeter than when it left Kalamazoo. Respect!

Good thread! Must admit I tend to stick to the John Entwhistle / Wilko Johnson school of showmanship as there’s sufficient on-stage mayhem with the other guys. Generally focus on something towards the back of the venue just over the audience, and try to avoid slipping into doing the “chicken-neck” during the funkier numbers. Until a couple of years back we always had female lead vocals , and sad though is I definitely I miss the rear view……….

[quote name='stunbass' post='633250' date='Oct 22 2009, 10:45 AM'][ overwater.... Sean Connery Fender.... Roger Moore Gibson... George Lazenby[/quote] Shurely not, Miss Moneypenny………. Fender……Sean Connery Wal………..Roger Moore Alembic….Pierce Brosnan Warwick…Daniel Craig Gibson……Pussy Galore Ibanez……Austin Powers

Lorne's the man for this.........

That was the tour ("Black and White") that I saw them on as my very first gig - Cambridge Corn Exchange. Gobbed on, gob-smacked - awesome Edit: "Hanging around" my fave!

Definitely not as common as f/less Jazzes, which is a shame as the plummy "P" sound is [b]so[/b] suited to it. Only Sting and Tony Frankin I can really recall as players (did Pino move from fretless Stingray to fretted P?) Mine still available BTW ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73[/url] ), although it's returned to the back-line recently! Must try some flats one of these days......