oldslapper

Thanks for the estimate cost & yes I'll definitely take to a luthier. I'm just hoping that there's enough to skim. The boards on these are factory unlined, pics added. The 3 I've owned have all been the same.

I'm a massive fan of Maya unlined fretless P basses. I snaffle them up whenever they appear on eBay at a reasonable price. Light, decent pickups & the necks "fit" just right for me. Last one I bought was advertised as having some lines "drawn" on with a marker pen. OK, I'm sure I could get that off? Bass arrived not only with lines drawn on, but some with lines cut in! Seriously! Just buy a lined fretless you numpty! Anyway, I decided not to take it further, if you think it's OK to do this to a lovely board like these, then you're unlikely to see reason on anything else (yes very judgemental I know...but seriously!) Anyway, rant over. Any suggestions here for getting this sorted, before I take it to a luthier? I'd rather not have to get a completely new board made & fitted, but may have to. Can a board be "skimmed" and refinished? The cuts are not deep. A new neck could be an option I guess. But if rather keep the bass as original as possible. Just to say that it's perfectly giggable, & played it yesterday with JBEx. I could leave it as is, but a nice clean board has better esthetics I think. Thanks for any help. John

Part of the "Historic Series" Ltd run made in 1999-2000 by Peerless for Gretsch. Fishman electrics. Lovely player, cool looker, great sound. 44.5mm nut width, so suits my hands for fingerstyle.

Yes to the SE range. Great guitars for very little dough...good call.

I have the same issue. I play double bass & have relatively long fingers/large hands, so it's quite comfy. However I probably play guitar more these days and struggle with the usual 43mm nut width. I've recently purchased a Gretsch acoustic with 44.5 mm nut width and the 1.5 mm difference made a huge errm... difference. It's very comfortable and I find I can play fingerstyle without each finger getting in the way of the other. So don't discount a small increase (every little helps). Apparently, ibanez electrics often have wide but flat necks. Unlike some of their basses which are often skinny. Are there any guitar shops nearby you can try some out?

I think Jack should be renamed Saint Jack. You've got more patience than I have HJ 😀

Blandford 2012 Having played in a swing quartet for a couple of years, I ditch electric bass gigs as upright has taken over &, at the ripe old age of 51, discover Skiffle. Swing quartet won't move away from standards/western swing, so I decide I've got enough free time to find a gigging Skiffle set up alongside the jazz lot. See a "Bull-fiddle" player wanted for established Skiffle band advert on BandMix. Establish that they mean double bass (crazy Skiffle-rs' me thinks) and pop along to local consevative club skittle alley for audition. Turns out established band was an old fella (OF) & a younger (40's) drummer. I'd practiced the list of songs I'd been sent (not particularly difficult, but I'm looking forward to a fun & energetic set). I set up my bass/amp/music stand (forgive me, it was a rehearsal situation) and tall stool which I often use in a rehearsal. We start with obligatory "freight train", which "established" guitarist/ singer has difficulty singing & playing the guitar to, is slowing down & speeding up. However, the drummer is excellent & we quickly establish a nice groove...exchanging nods & smiles. However at the end of the song, OF decides I am at fault for not "keeping up" & starts to comment on the strings on my bass being "wrong kind" for this genre (I clearly hadn't researched)....I ignore, smile politely & we move onto next simple enough song. Same thing happens again, OF can't remember how songs go, but establishes with no lack of confidence that I am at fault. Anyway an hour into the "audition" OF decides it's time for a break. I decide it's time to pack up & go. Whilst he's gone to the loo I speak to the drummer, & ask how long he has been playing with OF, to which he replies "play with him in a band? sod that for a game of soldiers, I'd have killed him by now if I was in a band with him. I only came along as a favour as he knows my family" and laughs. I leave before OF returns, to save myself from life imprisonment. Week later, undeterred, I put an advert on same website as double bass available for Skiffle band. Only to be contacted by OF (using my same email address as before) stating that he thought " they" had found a "bull fiddle" player, but the guy was not up to it as he sat down whilst playing & had the wrong strings on his bass. Would I be interested in coming along for a try out, as there were gig's waiting..... Oh dear.

My first gig was Kiss at Hammersmith Odeon 1976, great show. Simmons was particularly good at being centre of attention. I remember thinking throughout the show "how can he move in those boots?" & "those shoulder pads look very uncomfortable" I know.......all the important stuff.

Blimey! There's quite a bit of "ambitious" pricing going on there.

Oh dear. Rest of the bass looks tidy enough, but why would you do that.