WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 (edited) I'd love a Fender Precision Fretless, but I can't seem to find one anywhere - even on eBay. All I an find when I search are fretless Jazzs, which isn't what I'm after. So what's the deal are they rare? EDIT: I've found one on eBay Edited October 20, 2009 by WonderHorse Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 They're *fairly* rare, because they weren't very popular. MIJ & 70s MIA fretless Ps pop up on eBay every now and then. It's strange that Fender took so long to cotton on and release a fretless J.. it would have given the Jaco crowd what they were looking for. That said, I love the sound of a fretless P. If you don't want to sound like Jaco, it's a great great tone... which suggests Fender, IMO, were right in the first place. Quote
WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 Yeah. My main bass at the moment is an MIA Jazz '75 reissue and I've always wanted a fretless but I'm just not that bothered about the Jaco tone. Fretless P + flats = amazing Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='631360' date='Oct 20 2009, 02:28 PM']Fretless P + flats = amazing[/quote] Right on... Quote
Beedster Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 My favourite bass is my '77 fretless Precision with maple board. It sings Quote
WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 Nothing like gloating is there! Do you have any sound clips? Quote
Shaggy Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Definitely not as common as f/less Jazzes, which is a shame as the plummy "P" sound is [b]so[/b] suited to it. Only Sting and Tony Frankin I can really recall as players (did Pino move from fretless Stingray to fretted P?) Mine still available BTW ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73[/url] ), although it's returned to the back-line recently! Must try some flats one of these days...... Quote
Clarky Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='Shaggy' post='631426' date='Oct 20 2009, 03:31 PM']Mine still available BTW ( [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54801&hl=73[/url] )[/quote] Love the look of your fretless Shaggy, just wish I could play fretless well enough to justify buying it from you! Looks just like Essential Tension/Dave's beautiful Tony Franklin only with a bit of added mojo. Can't understand why its still available Quote
WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 If I could afford it I'd snap your hand off right now. Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='631404' date='Oct 20 2009, 03:08 PM']Nothing like gloating is there! Do you have any sound clips?[/quote] I hope Beedster doesn't mind if I pile in with my usual suspects, too... The original rosewood neck, since retired and replaced an ebony copy: Folky stuff, but a good desk recording which really lets it shine: How it cuts through in a busy band mix: ...and the second half of this clip, through a Barefaced Vintage. Mmmmmm: Quote
WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 Great playing and great tone. Not helping my GAS Quote
EssentialTension Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='631360' date='Oct 20 2009, 02:28 PM']Yeah. My main bass at the moment is an MIA Jazz '75 reissue and I've always wanted a fretless but I'm just not that bothered about the Jaco tone. Fretless P + flats = amazing[/quote] Correct. Quote
EssentialTension Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='Clarky' post='631436' date='Oct 20 2009, 03:44 PM']Love the look of your fretless Shaggy, just wish I could play fretless well enough to justify buying it from you! Looks just like Essential Tension/Dave's beautiful Tony Franklin only with a bit of added mojo. Can't understand why its still available [/quote] The TF will be mojo'd eventually I expect. I also can't understand why Shaggy's is still not sold. Quote
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 A few years ago I really fancied an unlined fretless precision, but Fender weren't making them so I put one together from brandoni parts. Quote
henry norton Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Agreed to all above, the fretless P tone is it - much nicer than either J pickup. If the Ebay thing doesn't work out you could always go the Jaco route and defret one. I ended up making a fretless ebony neck for mine which sang much better than the original fretted maple. If you can find a maple fretless though (and have the dosh for one), there's nothing quite as nice. Quote
bassatnight Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Derek Forbes ex Simple Minds used to play a Fretless P from memory Quote
bythesea Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Like the idea of a fretless P but can't afford any more instruments at the moment - well not what that would cost anyway. So, having read Clarky's thread about the Audere I'm considering putting one of those in my CIJ fretless J. Good idea? Quote
Beedster Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='bythesea' post='631712' date='Oct 20 2009, 07:38 PM']Good idea?[/quote] Very Quote
zero9 Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 The Bass Gallery have a nice '78 with maple fretless board... Wil Quote
Davo-London Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I have a '78 fretless P for sale. It has a tobacco sunburst body and maple neck. It is very nearly perfect nick. Any decent offer considered. Davo Quote
Davo-London Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Here's the back to demonstrate condition ... Here's the whole thing ... I've even got the original invoice. Davo Quote
bythesea Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='Beedster' post='631713' date='Oct 20 2009, 07:40 PM']Very [/quote] Right - just need to convince my wife that the parcel that will arrive is an "essential upgrade" Quote
WonderHorse Posted October 20, 2009 Author Posted October 20, 2009 What do you call a sensible offer Davo? Quote
EssentialTension Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 [quote name='Davo-London' post='631883' date='Oct 20 2009, 10:22 PM']I've even got the original invoice.[/quote] And what's the date on it? Quote
dmz Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 Here is mine..... img[attachment=34868:fmpb1.jpg]/img This one sings as well - what is it with those maple fingerboards - the coating ? Would like to get a rosewood fingerboard fretless P-bass to keep her company one day. I always associate fretless P-bass with Percy Jones - Early Brand X - Unorthodox Behaviour, Morrocan Roll or Livestock or with Brian Eno - Another Green World. Gotta have a bit of Percy to cheer you up ! Quote
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