fretless jazz bass

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixmkr
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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
first off...I am a guitar player...and probably a hacker at that, and a THEN a guitar player, playing a bass like a guitar.

I have a Ric 4001 and some really sweet guitars.

My question is this... will I be disapointed if I just order the fretless jazz bass out of Musicians Friend for $350? I don't need something that feels "great" ,etc, etc... Just something that plays in tune, and I want a fretless. ...used strickly for the home studio stuff.

opinions??
 
oh...I've got a MIM fat strat that I like just fine, btw... so that gives an indication of my standards :eek:

I just don't want to buy $350 worth of PURE crap... just maybe "hidden" crap...if you catch my drift.
 
thanks for all the replies...all you fretless jazz bass players...:rolleyes:

I guess I'll whip out the ole plastic and get me one!!... (seeing as they seem to be rare around these parts...)
 
LMAO

Well, at least you waited two days for someone to talk you out of it before diving in. I admire that self-control. ;)
 
Man, I got my '98 fender jazz bass, switch to fretless by changing the neck. It's good if you got $350 for one. However, I dotted on the "fret board" to make a faked fret. I play guitar anyway, but sometime it feels good to play fretless bass. I play Violin also. :D BTW, you'll need a special string rather than ordinary bass string. I got fender (forget the type...) :) That's it...


(better than no reply... :D )
 
And also you said you wanted one that plays in tune.........that's not really applicable to a fretless. It's pretty much totally up to you whether it's in tune.
 
thanks LT... I understand the tuning ordeal... I just meant something that is "correct"...if that applies to a fretless.

btw...this a a MIM jazz... scuze me...more like $389 in the catalogs...I was off a little with my first price. Everyday price it seems.
 
I guess I don't really understand the question

Are you worried that for under $400 you'll get a cheap piece of crap? If you're happy with you're MIM strat, then I don't see why you wouldn't be satisfied with the quality of a MIM jazz. I'd suggest you got to a local music store and try some jazz's out first, preferably fretless. You might think they feel cheap compared to your Rick, just like to me a strat feels cheap compared to a Les Paul. It's not cheap, it just feels that way in comparison. Actually what you should do is get an MIA jazz and dump that nasty 'ol 4001 on me. ;)
 
I have a MIM jazz bass standard and for the money it's just fine. It misses the mark on some stuff, the edges of the neck feel kind of sharp and the weight overall just isn't great. I traded a Sunburst Standard Jazz for the fretless one I now have and I noticed that the Sunburst sounded a lot better and felt more substantial, I think they use a solid piece rather than joined on the non-sunburst.

So i bet a sunburst fretless would be really nice.

The one I have (it's black) like I said feels a little cheap in some areasbut the pickups sound great (which is good b.c they are non-standrad size routings and you can't just swap them out) and it's a deal for $350.

BTW: it's going to feel REALLY cheap compared to your RIC so be ready for that!
 
Lt. Bob said:
And also you said you wanted one that plays in tune.........that's not really applicable to a fretless. It's pretty much totally up to you whether it's in tune.
Click to expand...


hehehehe aint it though? :)
 
Lt. Bob said:
And also you said you wanted one that plays in tune.........that's not really applicable to a fretless. It's pretty much totally up to you whether it's in tune.
Click to expand...

Yup, when you play a note on a fretless, your finger needs to be right on the money.
 
mixmkr said:
first off...I am a guitar player...and probably a hacker at that, and a THEN a guitar player, playing a bass like a guitar.

I have a Ric 4001 and some really sweet guitars.

My question is this... will I be disapointed if I just order the fretless jazz bass out of Musicians Friend for $350? I don't need something that feels "great" ,etc, etc... Just something that plays in tune, and I want a fretless. ...used strickly for the home studio stuff.

opinions??
Click to expand...

disappointed? no, frustrated? probably, until you get your ear and the fingers in tandem. The usual mental graphic pictures of squares, rectangles, triangles, and so on that you are accustomed to playing on the guitar because of the frets, and doing the math, sorta goes out the window. Fretless re-defines how you listen and respond with your fingers.
 
Hey mix,
......If you can come across one w/ "fake frets" (some kind of fret inlay), you'll have a much more enjoyable time learning how to play it well. ...........just 2 cents


g:)
 
Lt. Bob said:
And also you said you wanted one that plays in tune.........that's not really applicable to a fretless. It's pretty much totally up to you whether it's in tune.
Click to expand...


I don't understand this.. If your laying some bass tracks, and the guitar hits an open E, wouldn't the bass have to be tuned in order to use the open strings?
 
Yes, the open notes will have to be in tune to whatever source you are playing with.

Generally, when one says they want a bass/guitar that plays in tune, they mean from fret to fret, as some cheap import guitars don't spend much time on fret placement.
This is a non-issue when talking about fretless, because other than the open notes every other note will be intonated by ear.
 
but I would also like it to be "intonated" like as if it DID have frets. The variance would probably be pretty small, however, and not that noticable, I would think. I put this similar to playing slide guitar also. My strat seems to be out of tune all the time doing dive bombs and all.... so I think I've adapted my playing to sliding/bending/whatever-ing it into tune when playing solos at least...

appreciate all the comments... except sabbaths stupid question!!! ha!! (j-king)


problem now....the wife says to use my Christmas money (which means wait until after Christmas to buy it).... if I get any money!!!

It'll be mine though.... I can feel it... the force....
 
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