bartelby Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 (edited) I've been after an unlined fretless since selling my Ibanez Portamento a couple of years ago. Every once in a while I'll look on here and a few shops to see whats around, but nothing really grabbed me, until last week. I just happened to look on The Bass Gallery and saw The One!! A Fender body with a Status neck, EMGs and a Hipshot KickAss bridge. It needs a couple of tweaks and such but it's bloody lovely! I may refinish the body black to have an evil looking stealth machine... Edited February 4, 2021 by bartelby 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 4 minutes ago, bartelby said: I may refinish the body black to have an evil looking stealth machine... Okay but it would be a shame to lose the contrast in my opinion. The carbon weave on the pickguard sits lovely with the neck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: Okay but it would be a shame to lose the contrast in my opinion. The carbon weave on the pickguard sits lovely with the neck. Yeah, I am less inclined to change it now I have it, than when I first saw it online. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 It's got to sound good though. Fibre neck and EMGs. Passive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 nice as is... elegant and understated. Mature and Sophisticated. i think 'All Black' may look to be trying too hard. More Teenage Rampage... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: It's got to sound good though. Fibre neck and EMGs. Passive? Pretty sure it's passive, unless there's a battery hiding under the scratchplate. And yes it really does sound good. I've only had about 20 mins buggering about with it but it puts that "oh, this is goooood'"grin on your face 1 minute ago, PaulThePlug said: nice as is... elegant and understated. Mature and Sophisticated. i think 'All Black' may look to be trying too hard. More Teenage Rampage... I do like all black basses though, but it's certainly not something I'm rushing into. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 I wish you many happy hours of playing with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 Very nice! Congratulations! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 That is stunning. Congrats. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 EMG X are active pickups, so there's a battery somewhere. Nice catch. I saw it on the Bass Gallery website too, but being in Belgium is now a nightmare to buy in the U.K. I wouldn't change a thing on this bass, but that's my opinion, not yours. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 2 minutes ago, Hellzero said: EMG X are active pickups, so there's a battery somewhere. Nice catch. I saw it on the Bass Gallery website too, but being in Belgium is now a nightmare to buy in the U.K. I wouldn't change a thing on this bass, but that's my opinion, not yours. I shall investigate tomorrow. I had a good play with it earlier, played along to some Pearl Jam and New Model Army. It’s such an easy bass to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted February 4, 2021 Share Posted February 4, 2021 10 minutes ago, bartelby said: I had a good play with it earlier, played along to some Pearl Jam... Hope you asked permission first... 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Just lifted the scratchplate a little and there is indeed a battery under there. I've also reseated the neck and the string alignment is much better. When I saw it this morning the thoughts of spraying it black have been removed. It looks too bloody nice as it is, Although the scratchplate may have to be changed to a plain black one. The carbon fibre is a bit flashy for me... 😁 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 15 hours ago, bartelby said: I may refinish the body black to have an evil looking stealth machine... I quite like the contrast between the dark carbon fiber with the ultra black phenolic fingerboard and the white body. If you must, maybe something like anthracite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 2 hours ago, bartelby said: Although the scratchplate may have to be changed to a plain black one. I know a good home for it and all. Just saying. Heeheehee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 I put a fretless Status neck on a MIA Precision... about 15 years ago. It was a lovely combination. I had a new bridge... might have been ABM... as I didn’t like the BBOT. If I knew what I know now... I’d have swapped out the execrable S1 (which I hated and is the main reason I sold it) for a KiOgon loom and called it a do. Your bass looks fantastic... the pickups must sound great. If you re-finish I’d go for CAR... but I’m a CAR nut, so don’t listen to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 3 minutes ago, Trueno said: Your bass looks fantastic... the pickups must sound great. If you re-finish I’d go for CAR... but I’m a CAR nut, so don’t listen to me. I have a CAR Squier Jazzmaster. That's enough CAR in my house...:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN WOODMAN Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) Most of my basses are either all black or white with black appointments . This is right down my alley. I love Fretlesses as well. I wouldn’t change a thing. The pickguard or scratch plate looks great with the headstock. I must also give bonus kudos for the TI Jazz Flat strings. My favorite string even though rather expensive state side but worth every cent. I also like GHS tapewounds on my Fretless as well. Best tapes I’ve used. Edited February 7, 2021 by TN WOODMAN Add more comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) On 05/02/2021 at 10:38, SpondonBassed said: I know a good home for it and all. Just saying. Heeheehee I’ve just put a black 3 ply scratchplate on and I much prefer the look. The carbon fibre one was too busy for me. So where’s this good home? Edited February 9, 2021 by bartelby 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodwind Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 51 minutes ago, bartelby said: I’ve just put a black 3 ply scratchplate on and I much prefer the look. The carbon fibre one was too busy for me. Excellent! looks great. Definitely prefer this new scratch plate. Edited February 9, 2021 by Woodwind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, bartelby said: I’ve just put a black 3 ply scratchplate on and I much prefer the look. The carbon fibre one was too busy for me. So where’s this good home? Why my spares drawer, of course. I have been collecting from the Recycling section for a while now. I'd be happy to have that. I am pulling your leg. If however you do want to move it on PM me. Your bass still looks good. You might be right about the CF looking busy in that context. Edited February 9, 2021 by SpondonBassed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 On 07/02/2021 at 03:01, TN WOODMAN said: I must also give bonus kudos for the TI Jazz Flat strings. My favorite string even though rather expensive state side but worth every cent. I also like GHS tapewounds on my Fretless as well. Best tapes I’ve used. Are they TIs? I just assumed they were Rotosounds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 I’ve owned 4 fretless basses, 3 lined 1 unlined. My current 1 is lined. Was there a particular reason for your wanting unlined other than the look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 3 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said: I’ve owned 4 fretless basses, 3 lined 1 unlined. My current 1 is lined. Was there a particular reason for your wanting unlined other than the look? I'm used to playing unlined fretless basses. My first fretless was a battered Warwick Corvette I defretted (I still have it), filled the slots with wenge laminate and did a superglue finish on the neck. You could barely see the lines when playing. I then borrowed a mate's Ibanez SR400FL that had an unlined board, I gave that back when I got an Ibanez Portamento that had micro sidelines. I've tried a lined one but, weirdly, found the lines distracting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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