uk_lefty Posted January 23 Posted January 23 (edited) On 20/01/2025 at 20:07, Skybone said: What about a cheap fretless from Harley Benton / Gear4Music / Vintage? Expand Yup! Get the Harley Benton "Jaco" style jazz, it's very cheap but excellent! Ok, it's not a US Fender but it is a very good quality fretless. Mine gets gigs regularly. Or, trawl eBay for a fretless neck. Or if you really want to do a de-fret yourself I'm sure you will find plenty of cheap necks secondhand. Luckily your bass should have a fairly standard and common sized neck pocket so no issues there. Edited January 23 by uk_lefty Quote
StickyDBRmf Posted January 23 Posted January 23 On 23/01/2025 at 03:07, Downunderwonder said: No frets = fingerboard, as on a DB. Expand Oh my goodness I forgot about the Double bass! The 8-string I made fretless. And my Chapman Stick. Which I had a luthier make...fretless. Fingerboard, fingerboard, fingerboard. 1 Quote
Musicman666 Posted January 24 Posted January 24 On 23/01/2025 at 17:27, StickyDBRmf said: Oh my goodness I forgot about the Double bass! The 8-string I made fretless. And my Chapman Stick. Which I had a luthier make...fretless. Fingerboard, fingerboard, fingerboard. Expand fretless stick is hardcore Quote
Grooverjr Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 I thought I'd let everyone know that I decided to......do neither! I put a 'wanted' for a cheapie fretless here on BC and the marvellous @alyctes very kindly sold me a 'Vintage' fretless for a no-brainer of a price. No basses or necks have been harmed and I've got a lovely new bass. Very much ejoying dipping the toe in the water. 5 Quote
LowB_FTW Posted February 19 Posted February 19 And now the thread needs updating with photos of said new bass. 😊 Mark Quote
sprocketflup Posted February 19 Posted February 19 Congrats! If its the one I think it is, you've got yourself a cracking little bass there 1 Quote
Grooverjr Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 On 19/02/2025 at 18:59, LowB_FTW said: And now the thread needs updating with photos of said new bass. 😊 Mark Expand Happy to oblige. Just a quick and dirty job so ignore the various crap in the background It's got an unusual squat headstock and body that I like a lot. Neck profile is wide and slim, which fits nicely under my hand. I'll probably take out the J pickup and put a Roland GK unit in if I can get the proper installation kit. . It sits very nicely on the rack as well - like a BCer's beauty contest lineup! 5 Quote
Grooverjr Posted February 19 Author Posted February 19 On 19/02/2025 at 18:59, sprocketflup said: Congrats! If its the one I think it is, you've got yourself a cracking little bass there Expand I believe it was once yours.... 2 Quote
sprocketflup Posted February 19 Posted February 19 I see now that it is indeed that bass yes. Cracking little bass 1 Quote
PaulThePlug Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) Nice, Son has a fretless Vintage as he wanted 24 and unlined. Edited February 19 by PaulThePlug Quote
alyctes Posted February 19 Posted February 19 (edited) On 19/02/2025 at 18:59, sprocketflup said: Congrats! If its the one I think it is, you've got yourself a cracking little bass there Expand That's the one. It deserved more playing than I was giving it, poor thing. Edited February 19 by alyctes Quote
Hellzero Posted February 20 Posted February 20 I you want to bin that crap Vigier on the right, I'll take it... 😂🤪😉🤔 Quote
-asdfgh2- Posted February 20 Posted February 20 On 20/01/2025 at 13:22, Grooverjr said: I fancy giving fretless a go, but I don't want to buy yet another bass. I have a Squier Jazz that I don't use and am keeping for sentimental reasons with a decent maple neck in it that I find very comfortable. The question is - get that neck defretted or buy a fretless neck and stick it on there..... Considerations: - cost (which is cheaper? I wouldn't want to spend much as it's the scratching of an itch rather than a necessity - you don't see many maple fretless necks, is there a reason? Maybe that more bitey maple sound doesn't suit fretless? The benefit of the considerable wisdom of the BC Hive mind shall be my guide (oh, fool that I am 😁) Expand A fretted neck is a combination of the wood at the levelling of the frets. Without the frets, it might need additional work to level to make it a good fretless neck. And if you make an error pulling the frets you end up with no necks. I'd buy a second neck or bass if I were you. Quote
Grooverjr Posted February 21 Author Posted February 21 On 20/02/2025 at 07:23, Hellzero said: I you want to bin that crap Vigier on the right, I'll take it... 😂🤪😉🤔 Expand Very generous, but I'll have to pass 😀 😀 Those 4 basses are all quite different to play and all absolutely wonderful. I don't think they are going anywhere, probably ever. And even if my arms stop working that Vigier (and the ACGs) would keep my eyes happy forever. Who needs pictures when you have beautiful basses to look at? That rack is right by where I work and it's a lot nicer to look at than the rogues' gallery of my colleagues on endless Teams calls. 1 Quote
StickyDBRmf Posted February 21 Posted February 21 On 21/02/2025 at 03:08, Grooverjr said: Very generous, but I'll have to pass 😀 😀 Those 4 basses are all quite different to play and all absolutely wonderful. I don't think they are going anywhere, probably ever. And even if my arms stop working that Vigier (and the ACGs) would keep my eyes happy forever. Who needs pictures when you have beautiful basses to look at? That rack is right by where I work and it's a lot nicer to look at than the rogues' gallery of my colleagues on endless Teams calls. Expand It's facing the wrong way we can't see. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.