Yank Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Anyone have one of the Tony Franklin Fenders? I have no idea who he is, but his fretless PJ looks sweet. Quote
wateroftyne Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 I've had two (long story). Both lovely. QC seems to be high - they felt like custom shop. I liked the pickup switch (rather than a blend), but I didn't really need the J sound so I sold both of them. If I did need that sound, they'd be somewhere near the top of my list. Quote
thepurpleblob Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 I'd never heard of him either. On looking him up he has a massive back catalogue, working with loads of musicians, a few of which are very famous and the majority I have also never heard of. Fender must like him, though! Quote
mentalextra Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Tony Franklin always scores a blank on BC , not sure why? He seems to have earned his medals? Quote
EliasMooseblaster Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Yank said: Anyone have one of the Tony Franklin Fenders? I have no idea who he is, but his fretless PJ looks sweet. Absolute dream of a bass. All three pickup combinations serve their own role just nicely, and the tone control gives you an amazingly wide range of sounds. Wonderfully comfortable neck, and the ebony fingerboard is a thing of beauty. Not that I've tried a huge range, but without doubt it's the best passive fretless I've ever got my hands round. Quote
KevB Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) His name used to crop up on loads of rock albums in the 80's and 90's, think I first knew him from Rodgers and Page's project The Firm. Edited January 14, 2019 by KevB Quote
dmccombe7 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 First saw Tony with a band called The Firm with Jimmy page and was very impressed by him. Crackin sound back then but i'm sure he was using Jaydee basses. I've also bought albums he's played on like Blue Murder. He has a lot of demo vids on youtube too. Very talented altho he does come across as a "bit forward". Famous for his playing rock music with his fretless P basses over the years tho. Not heard this particular bass i'm afraid. Dave Quote
fluffo Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Quite simply the best rock fretless man around. Check the album blue murder 2 Quote
LewisK1975 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Yank said: Anyone have one of the Tony Franklin Fenders? I have no idea who he is, but his fretless PJ looks sweet. If you want try one, Bass Direct have a s/h one in stock: http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Tony_Franklin_Fretless_Precision_bass.html 1 Quote
fleabag Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 45 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said: First saw Tony with a band called The Firm with Jimmy page and was very impressed by him. Crackin sound back then but i'm sure he was using Jaydee basses. Great band. Got the 2 albums The Firm and Mean Business. Frankiln is top notch 2 Quote
knirirr Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) 41 minutes ago, LewisK1975 said: If you want try one, Bass Direct have a s/h one in stock: http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Tony_Franklin_Fretless_Precision_bass.html I have tried that particular one. The side dot markers are rather nice in that there are black ones on the usual places (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12) and white ones in-between that are discreet enough to not distract. Unfortunately, it seems that I don't get on at all with Precision bodies. Edited January 14, 2019 by knirirr 1 Quote
ezbass Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 3 hours ago, knirirr said: I have tried that particular one. The side dot markers are rather nice in that there are black ones on the usual places (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12) and white ones in-between that are discreet enough to not distract. Oh that's clever, I did not know that. Dammit! Now have Tony Franklin P Bass GAS. 1 Quote
oldslapper Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 6 hours ago, knirirr said: I have tried that particular one. The side dot markers are rather nice in that there are black ones on the usual places (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12) and white ones in-between that are discreet enough to not distract. That's squashed my TF Bass gas thankfully. I can't cope with lined fretless necks with the dots between frets...confuses the hell out of me. So a multitude of dots would send me little brain into a tail spin. These look such fabulous basses though. 1 Quote
fleabag Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) If you google Youtube The Firm Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1984, looks like a Dual Humbucker Musicman fretless, but looks more like a Precision witn dual MM pickups. Edited January 14, 2019 by fleabag Quote
peteb Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Terrific player - like an early fretless Pino on speed! Based on his YouTube videos, personality wise he may be a bit of an acquired taste... Quote
knirirr Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, oldslapper said: I can't cope with lined fretless necks with the dots between frets...confuses the hell out of me. So a multitude of dots would send me little brain into a tail spin. I'm the same. Even a ukulele I tried which had the dots in the correct (i.e. as on an unlined) place but lines as well was too confusing. But, the TF bass's neck was fine - the extra white dots were very discreet. They're barely visible on the photos on Bass Direct's site. I didn't get on with the body at all, though. Edited January 14, 2019 by knirirr Quote
dmccombe7 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 This was what he was using when i saw him with The Firm Quote
fleabag Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Not using a P/J or a Jaydee here.. what is it ? Quote
dmccombe7 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) I think its a Musicman Sabre. He had that on a stand when i saw him in 80's altho he used the Jaydee all night if i remember right. Close up of the bass at 1:27hrs. Think i might still have the concert programme Dave Edited January 14, 2019 by dmccombe7 1 Quote
fleabag Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) Cheers Davey lad. I dont know much about MM's but it didnt quite tally up. The body looked like a precision but with a pair of MM style pups. Mind you i only looked for 10 mins or so...., at 1hr 27, there's a better view and i can see its neither Precision or Stingray Edited January 14, 2019 by fleabag 1 Quote
dmccombe7 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 36 minutes ago, fleabag said: Cheers Davey lad. I dont know much about MM's but it didnt quite tally up. The body looked like a precision but with a pair of MM style pups. Mind you i only looked for 10 mins or so...., at 1hr 27, there's a better view and i can see its neither Precision or Stingray First time i saw a Sabre bass was the bass player from King on TOTP's back in the day. The give away back then was the headstock with 3 tuners on top and one on bottom. MM were the only company doing that back then as far as i know. Dave Quote
Defo Posted January 15, 2019 Posted January 15, 2019 This is an incredible performance with Kate Bush and a certain Dave Gilmour. Tony is playing a Jaydee but this is worth watching for his hair alone. 1 2 Quote
fleabag Posted January 16, 2019 Posted January 16, 2019 Love the tone he gets from that hair. Nice to see DG with some hair , too 1 Quote
dmccombe7 Posted January 16, 2019 Posted January 16, 2019 Its the main reason i've grown my hair long again. Quote
wateroftyne Posted January 16, 2019 Posted January 16, 2019 There’s a fretted TF just popped up on eBay... Quote
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