Fretless Porn

[Stingray5]

6 hours ago, AngelDeVille said:

I don't want to open the set of pyramid flats unless I'm sure...  They are quite pricey on this side of the pond. And if I don't use them I will have to buy another bass to go with them.

Mmmmmm...... another bass! 👍🤑👍

[LowMoFo]

On 06/10/2019 at 08:50, peted said:

The fretboard on the bass is open-grain Wenge and, having just turned it fretless, I didn't want to start chewing up the fretboard with roundwound strings.  Was also interested in what people were saying about flatwounds making a bass naturally sound a bit more like an upright in tonality, which is what I was after with this one.  The roundwounds sounded just fine, but wanted to experiment.

Happy to say I've had a set of D'Addario Chromes on there now for a week and they sound perfect.  Another benefit I've noticed is a complete loss of string noise when sliding notes.  Everything is just so buttery smooth I'm one happy bassist with how this instrument has now changed and turned out.  Inspired to practice my fretless a lot more.

Hi Pete,

skimming through this glorious porn thread, paused by chance to read your post, am part way through a fretless 5 build, and have bought a set of D'Addario Chromes for it, so was particularly pleased to read your impression of these strings. I now have even less patience regarding finishing this beast!

[AngelDeVille]

My neck finally arrived!

 

I spent the entire evening setting it up.

 

I ended up putting roundwounds on all 3 fretlesses... fretlessi...?

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by AngelDeVille

[Soledad]

14 hours ago, LowMoFo said:

Happy to say I've had a set of D'Addario Chromes on there now for a week and they sound perfect.  Another benefit I've noticed is a complete loss of string noise when sliding notes.  Everything is just so buttery smooth

The D'A chromes are the next for me to try. I use EB Cobalts on my fretted P, and recently acquired a '99 USA Jazz fretless with some new Fender flats on. I'd never rated the Fender flats (I know quite a few here do) but really like them on the Jazz.

I'll post a pic of the Jazz but it's teaching me a couple of things - Fender flats just might be good; and lined fingerboards aren't such an annoyance - just ignore the lines
Though I really do think Fender should give the option of unlined - they just seem to always put lines on without any thought (I know some MIJ were unlined but all the US ones seem to have them.
Loving my Jazz, I'll sort a pic - it isn't porn though, more just a nice workingman's bass.

[knirirr]

3 minutes ago, Soledad said:

 

I'll post a pic of the Jazz but it's teaching me a couple of things - Fender flats just might be good; and lined fingerboards aren't such an annoyance - just ignore the lines
Though I really do think Fender should give the option of unlined - they just seem to always put lines on without any thought (I know some MIJ were unlined but all the US ones seem to have them.
 

I agree about the Fender flats - actually quite nice. I have them on one Freless Jazz with TI flats on the other.

The problem with the lined boards they use is that the side dots are in the wrong place - too confusing for me, even if I were to ignore the lines. Whoever runs their Twitter account has no interest in my complaints about it though. ;-)

 

[JakeBrownBass]

NBD  

 

 

 

[AngelDeVille]

Since I was converting her, I got rid of the hideous sunburst finish.... and lineless  as well...

 

I didn’t get the Hohner out for a group pic, but I already had these other two out.

Hohner..

 

 

 

[wombatboter]

Although I prefer the Zon fretless these days I took the Wal again for some of the recordings of a new bass-cd with ten covers of songs I love.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Maya,  probably about 8/10 years old when I got it, over thirty years ago.

 

[BassAgent]

I'm considering doing a Facebook live Q&A about fretless playing, featuring these two animals. Would you guys tune in?

[Pandastylebass]

Some Fretless basses I have had the honor of owning over the years 

 

[Lunatique]

[AngelDeVille]

[Skinner]

On 23/04/2019 at 14:56, Stingray5 said:

One more from the archives - not an exact replica, this is a 'tribute to Jaco' Jazz Bass made by a British luthier which I acquired about 10 or so years ago. Action and pups needed a bit of sorting for live work which I never did get around to doing. I eventually sold it on to a non-playing Jaco fan who wanted to hang it on his wall.

Wow, would love to take that off the wall and have a play on it!

[MM Stingray 62]

My latest bass 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2020 by marleaux62
Wrong photo

[MM Stingray 62]

My 68 jazz  bass 

Edited February 16, 2021 by marleaux62
New pictures

[BassAgent]

Ohhhh you bought it! I was seriously considering it. That thing has sooooo much mojo! Amazing! Can't wait to hear and feel it someday. Man. What a bass.

[Stingray5]

On 05/05/2020 at 23:37, Skinner said:

Wow, would love to take that off the wall and have a play on it!

Yep, I wouldn't mind seeing how the bass is doing, myself.

[AngelDeVille]

[Soledad]

On 06/05/2020 at 04:42, marleaux62 said:

My latest bass

Very tasty! Shame about the scratch  

[Hellzero]

My new Noguera Harmonie Standard Custom 6 Fretless with Brazilian rosewood fingerboard (my favourite wood for fretless fingerboards).

[DiMarco]

Yes the headstock. I know. And I love it!

[Hellzero]

And here my 1979 Kramer 450B Fretless (defretted, of course), fully original with the original (heavy) latte macchiato hard case.

Fantastic sounding even with more than dead strings...

Edited June 3, 2020 by Hellzero

[Stingray5]

19 hours ago, Hellzero said:

And here my 1979 Kramer 450B Fretless (defretted, of course), fully original with the original (heavy) latte macchiato hard case.

Fantastic sounding even with more than dead strings...

 

Snap!

[Bobthedog]

Ooh Ooh! I can now join in: Sire V7 Jazz: