Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 What a busy day! Conference calls all the way there and back for work, but I managed to get half an hour in Jon Shuker's workshop tucked away near Hope in the Peak District. It's such a beautiful setting.. Big thanks to @MOXYBASSĀ for the brilliant comms and for selling this one š Jon is an absolute gentleman. So knowledgable, so open and a really great conversation. I can see myself ordering a build from him...Ā And the bass? It's a Shuker Uberhorn Fretless 4. It has piezo bridges with a ghost preamp, and a magnetic pickup under the fretboard in the P position. He couldn't remember exactly what it was - but I tried it in the workshop and it's a fascinating solution to a balance issue. The Ghost piezo system gives a really really rich and lovely sound - it's basically like a rich P sound, with strong upper bass and some nice highs, but with the upper mids rolled off.Ā The magnetic pickup is voiced for mids - on it's own, it's like a mid-heavy P, Ā but with the piezo as well it's like a foghorn! Huge, deep, rich and loads of harmonics all over the shop!! There controls are logical - a switch for magnetic, both, piezo, then volume for magnetic, volume for piezo with a push pull "bright" control, and then a 3 band EQ for the magnetic (cut/boost) and a 3 way frequency switch for the mids control. Really flexible. Really good. The neck was a total surprise. It feels about 42mm at the nut but might be less, but it has this brilliant slim carve which is really similar to the pre-CBS Precision neck - it feels great! More on this when I get to play it! I'll give it a go later tonight and report back on my ham-fisted efforts (!) Check me out - I'm a fretless owner. Ooer. 8 Quote
Chris2112 Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Very smart. That finish on the back looks very good. Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 Just now, Chris2112 said: Very smart. That finish on the back looks very good. I'm amazed by the build quality. I don't think I've played an instrument of any kind with this sort of build quality - it feels like a featherweight piece of hewn granite.. Quote
Reggaebass Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Thatās one beautiful bass Iāve never actually played a fretless Ā I fancy trying one now Iāve seen that š Quote
AndyTravis Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Always thought this was a work of art - absolutely stunning. Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 Just had a quick tinkle - had half an hour spareĀ Ā It appears fretless is gloriously addictive Quote
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 9 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: It appears fretless is gloriously addictive Iāve had a few over the years, four I think and never really got on with any apart from the last one, a Rob Allen Mouse, I barely play anything else so I think if you are feeling this about your first then youāve hit the mother lode, Iām not surprised mind, that bass is a jaw dropper. Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: Iāve had a few over the years, four I think and never really got on with any apart from the last one, a Rob Allen Mouse, I barely play anything else so I think if you are feeling this about your first then youāve hit the mother lode, Iām not surprised mind, that bass is a jaw dropper. I think itās the board .. ok so I have to work on intonation, but itās a real delight to play. Quote
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 11 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: I think itās the board .. ok so I have to work on intonation, but itās a real delight to play. Me too. mine is lined, I figure I need all the help I can get! But that board looks glorious. I wonder about lines vs dots vs nowt on the board... Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 This one is side part-lines - seems ok at the mo! Quote
Frank Blank Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 5 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: This one is side part-lines - seems ok at the mo! Ah yes, with dots higher up... God Iāve got to stop looking at that bass, whereās the day gone? Quote
Hellzero Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Gorgeous instrument. Don't worry for your intonation,Ā use your open strings and harmonics as these are a fixed reference. It helps a lot. Use a tuner too so you'll see if you are in tune. Didn't I tell you about these Shuker ? They are just wonderful instruments. Congratulations and as I always say : no frets, no limits !Ā š Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 Going to take it slow and easy and ease myself in - but man it puts a smile on your face Quote
TheGreek Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Aaah, so you bought it...jealous doesn't cover it. I alsoĀ acquired aĀ FretlessĀ today - a Spectorcore Fretless 4 - came with flatwound strings - man they're weird...even compared to the tapewounds I've been using.Ā I'm off to YT to see what ideas I can stealĀ borrow.... 1 Quote
HazBeen Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 1 minute ago, TheGreek said: Aaah, so you bought it...jealous doesn't cover it. I alsoĀ acquired aĀ FretlessĀ today - a Spectorcore Fretless 4 - came with flatwound strings - man they're weird...even compared to the tapewounds I've been using.Ā I'm off to YT to see what ideas I can stealĀ borrow.... Iāve really been digging Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my fretless , really bright flatwounds that mwaah just so readily. Quote
TheGreek Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Found this lesson - execution isn't the best but I can see how the concept will be useful. Ā 1 Quote
josie Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 That is gorgeous. Congratulations šĀ I have D'Addario chrome flats on my electric fretless - I'm after a sort of light silver shimmer/slide sound, and they give me that. If you want more of a deeper DB / jazz sound, then tape-wounds. I have the same chrome flats on my acoustic fretless, but I'm thinking of changing them for tape-wounds to have more types of sound to play with.Ā 1 Quote
Bridgehouse Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 (edited) @josieĀ This has TI Jazz Flats on.Ā I normally use Chromes on all my frettedās bar my ACG which has TIās on, and I am trialling a set of Fender flats on my 51P semi hollow partscaster. The TIās do seem to suit this tho. I really like the low tension Edited August 23, 2018 by Bridgehouse 3 Quote
josie Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 Have you tried half-rounds? I'm interested / tempted...Ā Quote
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