Woodinblack Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I have a VM fretless Jazz, which is ok but I am a 5 string player so it is not as useful as it could be an I am cutting down on my 5 strings. I would really like a SRF705, but I have neither seen or played one, so it is just down to reviews. However, i don't use fretless much so I thought I could just get the GWB instead, as they come up all the time in the £300/350 range, I have never seen an SRF705 come up second hand! I did think of trying to trade my SRFF805 for one, but not sure. I just noticed that the SRFs are down to mid £600s new, whereas the GWBs are more expensive, which is the other way round to what I assumed would be the case. Are SRFs just unusual to buy or do people just hang on to them when they have them? The SRF seems like it would be more versatile with the pickup options and the longer neck - has anyone tried both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I've had both, and I still have the SRFF. The GWB is lighter, has a nicer neck, has the funky GWB tuners, and seems to balance a little better, plus it has fret lines. But the tone isn't too good and the rudimentary active electronics are noisy and don't really enhance the sound much. The SRFF is a much better-built instrument (through neck, higher quality finish, etc), plus it has the piezo bridge for added thump. It also comes from the factory with flatwounds, which suit it pretty well. The only downside with it is the electronics - the Bartolini Mk1's sound pretty good considering they're basically cheap, stock OEM pickups with a boutique pickup manufacturer's name on, but the tone controls are pretty ineffective, and, even with roundwounds on, it's more difficult than it should be to coax the classic fretless 'mwah' or the classic Jaco sound out of it - one thing this bass really needs is a midrange control. The piezo works well if you want that thumpy upright-style thing (which, with the flats, is pretty easy to achieve), but is pretty useless otherwise as it's either too thumpy or too bright and zingy, with not much in between. So, I'd pick the SRFF, but the tone may not be for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks for the info. I am familiar with the barts, they put those on all the mid ranges. Interesting about the electronics, and odd that they don't put the 3 band eq on them as they put them in most of the mid range basses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambrook Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I have the Portamento, and I think it's the bee's knees! Strung with La Bella black nylon tape wounds, the piezo absolutely sings, and those strings sound great with the Bartolini's, too. A hugely versatile instrument. The neck pup sounds just like a Precision, the bridge pup sounds just like a Jazz, and the two together are tone nirvana! Buy one, go on, do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambrook Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I treat it like a passive instrument, leave it flat, just cut the treble a bit when on the back pickup. I also took the finish off the back of the neck, and I think I might be convinced it improved the tone. Certainly improved the feel, anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 I have some idea of Sambrook's taste in instruments, and this has confirmed my desire for a Portamento. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambrook Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 You're very welcome. I've tried several fretless basses since buying the Portamento, including a wonderful Zon from BD. The Ibanez has beaten them all, in terms of tone, playability, and sheer reasonableness (price) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Stop it, all of you. I tried a Portamento a while back, it was glorious and I have spent every moment since then telling myself that I don't need one. You're not helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Since getting a 4 string Portamento off here in October I've barely played a fretted bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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