Deep Thought Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I've been eyeing up a cheap fretless lately-just intrigued, don't want to spend a fortune-and recall somebody saying back along somewhere that it's a good idea to get a fretless version of what you already play. Try and find a fretless P-bass though! The only one Fender currently do, as far as I can see is the Tony Franklin-no other fretless P's at all, and the TF is big bucks. No shortage of fretless J-basses, and I've looked into a VM fretless, which looks great value, but I've had J basses before and didn't get on with them-I don't like the offset waist or the narrow neck. How come the fretless P is so uncommon? Is there something about a P that doesn't lend itself to fretless? I was in Manson's in Exeter back along, they had a black 70's fretless P with a maple neck-now that would have done me fine, but at £1300 that's a bit much for an experimental dabble! BTW, please no 'I've got one for sale' replies-I had a few bob spare a couple of weeks ago, but that had to go on something far more boring, so I'm not actually in the market right now-just interested as to why fretless P's seem so hard to come by-and looking for a few ideas for when I've next got a few quid spare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 It's a good question.. and I think only Fender knows the answer! I always thought that, at the time of Jaco & co, it would have made commercial sense for Fender to introduce a fretless Jazz. But it's Fender... so we got the fretless P, back in 1970-ish. Personally, I'm glad because I much prefer the tone. That's not to say I dislike the fretless J, mind you, but a fretless P is a beautiful thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 my dad bought a mexican p and a fretless fender neck, its a great sounding bass. I'm suprised there isnt an american standard fretless p when there is an american standadrd fretlesss jazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I have a fretless Precision bass too and it sounds excellent! As you say, there's definitely something about the tone of the pickups combined with that fretless mwah - it really does make for a great combination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 in 1994 when they revamped the US standards (when the graphite reinforcement and thru-stringing was introduced), it was the other way round- there was a lined fretless P but no fretless J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I know what you mean DT not many about, I've just started to NEED one I'm A Jazz fan...then I saw this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsVLOJDX-fM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsVLOJDX-fM[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic mac moe Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I had a lined fretless P about 6 years ago.Bought second hand from a local store,I gave up smoking to pay for it!! It was chrome red (C.A.R?) and had no dots on the 'board,just lines.Rear of headstock had 50th anniversary sticker. Sold,withdeep regret,to fund drum gas!!!!! Seems all I needed was a good fart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Proto-goth fans out there will know that David J of Bauhaus has used a fretless P bass for.. well.. ever I think! And he gets some great sounds out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 First fretless played was a defretted 6? precision, my bass mentor guy had defretted it in the Jaco era when he upgraded to a Jazz bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I had a fretless P and a fretted P (both 70s, before the slightest notion of MIanywherebutA would have been anathema to Fender). The fretless was a far worse instrument to play, the neck was clunky even by P standards. I think it was also heavier (natural ash body vs the tatty sunburst on the fretted one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 fretless P action- [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4P3UO-gmWQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4P3UO-gmWQ[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phB4qgwN0Ug"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phB4qgwN0Ug[/url] (mini solo at 3.45) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jase Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 [quote name='SJA' post='156259' date='Mar 12 2008, 06:52 PM']fretless P action- [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4P3UO-gmWQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4P3UO-gmWQ[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phB4qgwN0Ug"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phB4qgwN0Ug[/url] (mini solo at 3.45)[/quote] the guy in simple minds had a great sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 ebony board with added bridge J-p/u conversion is the way to go - nothing else I've tried comes close. The maple board ones look ace, but sound dead and wear rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 [quote name='Shaggy' post='156352' date='Mar 12 2008, 09:52 PM']ebony board with added bridge J-p/u conversion is the way to go - nothing else I've tried comes close. The maple board ones look ace, but sound dead and wear rapidly.[/quote] Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo Sorry mate, I've three fretless Precisions, 2 '70s - a '73 P/J with rosewood board and a '79 with maple - and one P/J that's more recent. By far my favourite is the '79 maple board, it's strung with TI Jazz Flats and is the most sulky, sexy, jazzy sounding bass I've played. It is just soooooooooooooo smooth, it almost plays itself. Even my guitarist loves playing it. Certainly it isn't Pino's sound - which seems to be what so many players strive for with a fretless instrument - but that was active electronics & roundwounds on rosewood, so it wouldn't be. If I get to the bash I'll bring it along, I think a few people will be surprised how good a maple fretless is. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 [quote name='Beedster' post='156358' date='Mar 12 2008, 10:08 PM']Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo Sorry mate, I've three fretless Precisions, 2 '70s - a '73 P/J with rosewood board and a '79 with maple - and one P/J that's more recent. By far my favourite is the '79 maple board, it's strung with TI Jazz Flats and is the most sulky, sexy, jazzy sounding bass I've played. It is just soooooooooooooo smooth, it almost plays itself. Even my guitarist loves playing it. Certainly it isn't Pino's sound - which seems to be what so many players strive for with a fretless instrument - but that was active electronics & roundwounds on rosewood, so it wouldn't be. If I get to the bash I'll bring it along, I think a few people will be surprised how good a maple fretless is. Chris[/quote] Could be I had a dud -you know better than anyone how variable '70's Fenders were/are! After seeing Sting's I had to have one the same (natural / black p/g) and just never got on with it - mind you I'm far, far more aware of what a big factor strings are now than I was then. I admit - I do admire Pino's sound, although the P gets a thicker, darker fretless sound you can't get on a 'Ray. If you get that Mark head the '79 should sound real sweet - post some clips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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