Good, cheap, P/J fretless??

[solo4652]

I'm on the lookout for a good, cheap fretless to see how I get on without frets. I generally find P necks too wide, but J necks too narrow. Currently, I'm playing the Yamaha BB1024 and the neck is spot on for me - 40mm at the nut, I think. I also really like the P/J pickup layout and the simple Volume/Tone controls (as opposed to V/V/T)

So, based on that, my shopping list for an ideal fretless would look something like:

Passive, not active
Side dot and fret markers
P/J pickups
Nut width somewhere between P and J
Probably secondhand to get better VFM
Budget: Up to £250 ish

All suggestions gratefully received, thank you.

Edited April 23, 2016 by solo4652

[franzbassist]

I think, new, [url="http://www.guitarsound.co.uk/esp-ltd-vintage-214-r-bass-black-7559-for-sale?gclid=CN3G6fjrpMwCFe4y0wodlsYPAg"]this[/url] is the closest to your spec: the ESP LTD fretless PJ.

[Grahambythesea]

You might be better off with a lined fretless to start with. I think Yamaha offer several and there are loads second hand.

[DarkHeart]

Why not get the Harley Benton Pj4 and either pay someone to convert it or do it yourself, £86 for the bass so its well within budget.

[dannybuoy]

My first bass, a Yamaha RBX270F, can be picked up for absolute peanuts and is a great bass. Not sure on the nut width though!

[chrisgriff]

Its a shame the Yamaha bb1024 isn't available as a fretless......I wonder if anyone has done a fretted to fretless conversion of the 1024?

[neepheid]

Second hand Yamaha BB fretless of some kind would seem to be the way to go, if you like the BB neck so much

[Grahambythesea]

Another thought for you, if you can find one, the Westone Thunder (particularly the 3 fretless) were first class.

[dannybuoy]

[quote name='chrisgriff' timestamp='1461580669' post='3035769']
Its a shame the Yamaha bb1024 isn't available as a fretless......I wonder if anyone has done a fretted to fretless conversion of the 1024?
[/quote]

This BB414 has changed hands a few times on here - it has an unlined ebony board fitted:

[Marc S]

Squier do a nice lined fretless, in their Vintage Modified series. It's available as a P/J, and lined
I've recently started to take fretless a little more seriously and have one.
It's definitely a good starter fretless IMO
The VM series are made in Indonesia, and are really good quality for the money
Squier also do a PJ which is made in China - I tried 2 of these (fretted) and they're OK,
but not as good as the Vintage Modified series.....

I also liked the look of Retrovive's P bass fretless too, but that's unlined.

Have fun searching

EDIT: Here's a link to one at GAK in Brighton
But I'm sure I've seen them nearer me, in GM (Gwent) Music for under £260 new

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-vintage-modified-precision-bass-pj-3-colour-sunburst/85160

Edited April 26, 2016 by Marc S

[alyctes]

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1461423468' post='3034538']
My first bass, a Yamaha RBX270F, can be picked up for absolute peanuts and is a great bass. Not sure on the nut width though!
[/quote]
40mm I think. I'm sure someone here knows

[Marc S]

PS. I've also had 2 Precisions converted to P/J in the last few months. It's a pickup configuration I really like