solo4652 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 Folks, I'm interested in going fretless. I know there are necks that have a full set of fretlines along the top edge that don't extend fully across the touchboard, but I'm struggling to find any such examples. Googling hasn't thrown up anything helpful. Can somebody point me in the right direction, please? Cheers, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 There's a good example here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/159670-fs-fbass-ac5-alain-caron-signature-fretless"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/159670-fs-fbass-ac5-alain-caron-signature-fretless[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1322218266' post='1448016'] There's a good example here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/159670-fs-fbass-ac5-alain-caron-signature-fretless"]http://basschat.co.u...nature-fretless[/url] [/quote] Aha! - that's the sort of thing. I'd be looking for 4 strings, passive, P-width neck and less than £200 though... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1322219569' post='1448038'] Aha! - that's the sort of thing. I'd be looking for 4 strings, passive, P-width neck and less than £200 though... Steve [/quote] If budget is a deciding factor have you considered getting an un-lined example and try some way of putting the marks on yourself? Or with the help of a luthier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1322298644' post='1448970'] If budget is a deciding factor have you considered getting an un-lined example and try some way of putting the marks on yourself? Or with the help of a luthier. [/quote] Yes - that's a thought. Wonder how much a luthier would charge... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 This is my old Ibanez 2366: http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Ibanez%202366%20FLB%201972%20SOLD/ The fret-ends appeared to be factory-fitted and were a God-send when I first started playing fretless. That bass would probably fall within your £200 budget if you could find one. Bloody heavy, mind. I liked it so much that, when I converted my old Lakland Duck Dunn into a fretless with a Mighty Mite neck, I asked my regular luthier to copy the fret-end idea: http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Lakland%20Skyline%20Duck%20Dunn%20FL%20conversion/ I honestly can't remember how much he charged, but it wasn't too outrageous. It was helpful that I showed him the Ibanez before I sold it, so he could have a really good look at how they'd done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I started with a lined fretless, I've just gone over to unlined with side marker dots (not every fret) and I actually think it'd easier! Don't know why but it works for me. In short - get the best fretless that you can, you'll get used to it , don't worry about the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Culture Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 I recently picked this up from Chris, which works really well for me - quarter fret lines: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155649-iceni-zoot-custom-fretless-for-sale-l800-ono/page__p__1386946__hl__zoot__fromsearch__1#entry1386946"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155649-iceni-zoot-custom-fretless-for-sale-l800-ono/page__p__1386946__hl__zoot__fromsearch__1#entry1386946[/url] Personally, I find I need a reference point on the top edge for every fret position; I'm ashamed to admit how far my intonation has been out on some recordings when I've not had them there for guidance. I also freely acknowledge that that's just me though - I'm in awe of how well some people can intonate with nothing more than the usual side dots for guidance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaver Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1322300761' post='1448998'] This is my old Ibanez 2366: [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Ibanez%202366%20FLB%201972%20SOLD/"]http://s1128.photobu...%201972%20SOLD/[/url] The fret-ends appeared to be factory-fitted and were a God-send when I first started playing fretless. That bass would probably fall within your £200 budget if you could find one. Bloody heavy, mind. [/quote] Damn, how that bass has tormented me over the last few years. Never seems to come up when I've got the cash Edited November 26, 2011 by deaver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1322300761' post='1448998'] This is my old Ibanez 2366: [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Ibanez%202366%20FLB%201972%20SOLD/"]http://s1128.photobu...%201972%20SOLD/[/url] The fret-ends appeared to be factory-fitted and were a God-send when I first started playing fretless. That bass would probably fall within your £200 budget if you could find one. Bloody heavy, mind. I liked it so much that, when I converted my old Lakland Duck Dunn into a fretless with a Mighty Mite neck, I asked my regular luthier to copy the fret-end idea: [url="http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Lakland%20Skyline%20Duck%20Dunn%20FL%20conversion/"]http://s1128.photobu...L%20conversion/[/url] I honestly can't remember how much he charged, but it wasn't too outrageous. It was helpful that I showed him the Ibanez before I sold it, so he could have a really good look at how they'd done it. [/quote] That's it! That's the bass I had in mind - I searched for it on Basschat but couldn't find it. If anybody has one for sale - let me know. I've seen a Yamaha BB 400s for sale and that seems to be pretty much what I'm after. Any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry norton Posted November 26, 2011 Share Posted November 26, 2011 Probably the easiest way to go would be to get yourself an unlined fretless then stick some transfers/Tippex/white pencil crayon/stickers where the lines would otherwise be. There are allot more plain fretless' for sale than semi lined and you can always take the markers off if you feel more confident in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I'd say don't worry about lines. Dots on the side on the "fret" positions will be enough to get you in the right ball-park and then it's down to how much fretless playing you do. Fretless technique is also not really about planting your finger at the right point on the fingerboard and leaving it there. The freedom to slide notes a little, add vibrato and generally shape the expression of a note means that the nominal "correct" intonation isn't always as clear cut as you might think. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 (edited) [quote name='philw' timestamp='1322477831' post='1451146'] I'd say don't worry about lines. Dots on the side on the "fret" positions will be enough to get you in the right ball-park and then it's down to how much fretless playing you do. Fretless technique is also not really about planting your finger at the right point on the fingerboard and leaving it there. The freedom to slide notes a little, add vibrato and generally shape the expression of a note means that the nominal "correct" intonation isn't always as clear cut as you might think. P [/quote] Thanks for your reply. I'm very open to the idea of an unlined neck with a full set of side dots on the fret positions. It's just occured to me that I have a lovely 2008 USA P that I'm not playing much.Perhaps I could get a fretless neck for it. Or maybe a neck for my Ibanez Blazer. Hmmmmmmm... Edited November 28, 2011 by solo4652 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 I bought a new Mighty Mite neck (from the USA) with an Ebanol fingerboard, and transferred the tuners from the 'donor' neck. The heel needed a shave to get it to fit the socket perfectly, which I was happy to leave to an expert, but apart from that it was a doddle. Might Mite kit isn't cheap, but it is very good. Ebanol has a very nice mwah to it, especially if you use either rounds or half-round strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1322479475' post='1451183'] I bought a new Mighty Mite neck (from the USA) with an Ebanol fingerboard, and transferred the tuners from the 'donor' neck. The heel needed a shave to get it to fit the socket perfectly, which I was happy to leave to an expert, but apart from that it was a doddle. Might Mite kit isn't cheap, but it is very good. Ebanol has a very nice mwah to it, especially if you use either rounds or half-round strings. [/quote] Thanks Jack. Thinking about it, I'm not sure whether I'd really want to start messing with my Fender P. However, I do have an Ibanez Blazer that I'd happily mod. Wonder if the Mighty Mite neck would fit. Or there's this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fretless-Precision-bass-guitar-neck-Not-Fender-but-decent-quality-/120819245845?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4512306787961955899"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fretless-Precision-bass-guitar-neck-Not-Fender-but-decent-quality-/120819245845?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4512306787961955899[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1322478247' post='1451156'] Thanks for your reply. I'm very open to the idea of an unlined neck with a full set of side dots on the fret positions. [/quote] IME dots for every 'fret' are harder to play to than just having the standard 3, 5. 7, 9, 12 etc. dots as there is too much information for my brain to process in time. My preferred layout is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24 on the side with the 12 and 24 highlighted in some way and then for the 12 - 24 dots to replicated on the front of the fingerboard under the G string to allow for parallax issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1322486973' post='1451325'] ... and then for the 12 - 24 dots to replicated on the front of the fingerboard under the G string to allow for parallax issues. [/quote] Good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo4652 Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 How about this: [url="http://www.wwbw.com/Mighty-Mite-MM2919-P-Bass-Replacement-Neck-with-a-Fretless-Ebonol-Fingerboard-585058-i1519590.wwbw"]http://www.wwbw.com/Mighty-Mite-MM2919-P-Bass-Replacement-Neck-with-a-Fretless-Ebonol-Fingerboard-585058-i1519590.wwbw[/url] £98 delivered, including shipping and all duties and taxes. Drop it into my Fender P and see how I get on? Black ebanol board might look pretty sexy with my black P with white pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 That's the one - and cheaper than I paid too. Don't forget the DR Neon strings ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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