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Post subject: STD Fretless J-Bass.
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:15 pm
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Hi all. Not a bass player....rather a guitar player of many years.

That said, I have a MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass that I keep in my home studio. The serial number comes back as a 2007/2008 model, which is the timeframe I bought it new. I picked it up for fun at a store and it felt so good to me that I bought it. I think it was around $300 and change.

At some point I would like to upgrade it. I've done a bunch of my guitars....usually they get a vintage style premium upgrade wiring kit....been digging' on paper-in-oil caps or Orange Drops, treble bleed mods, whatever pickups I'm going for and machine heads. Sometimes bridges or tailpieces and nuts-but I have a tech install those if there is any slotting involved. With the bass I'd be prepared to change the bridge if necessary

Has anyone done something like this and if so, what components did you use and how did it end up sounding?

I know it's personal pref, but I'm curious what string brand and gauges you folks like. I'd like to go a tickle lighter but not at the expense of tone. I don't like the one's it came with......yup, I haven't played it much. I bought some slightly lighter strings a while ago but they are round wounds and word is, they will tear up the fretboard......which I should have thought of. So I never put them on.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: STD Fretless J-Bass.
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:11 pm
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Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
I've never done any mods, other than swapping out a bridge, so I can't say much about that. I like to use light gauge flatwounds for bass. I started doing that, because I was using Rotosound strings, and those have a tendency to feel really stiff, if that's a good description, in the standard gauge, and I found the light gauge easier/quicker to move on. I've discovered using Dunlop strings, which they have as flats, and really like those in their light gauge offering. The next time I get strings for my electric guitar, I'd like to try their offering. I have some Ernie Ball Slinky .10 on my Squier Custom Tele, right now. I got one of those 3 pack deals from American Musical Supply. I don't play a lot of it, just mainly bass, though.

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Post subject: Re: STD Fretless J-Bass.
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:29 pm
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Oka thanks. It shouldn't be too hard to research pickups and wiring kits and all.....I can do that....I guess what I most wanted to know was what experiences people here, are having with this or that pickup, bridge etc.

Another question I have is to do with the neck. At certain positions the individual strings buzz a little, here or there on the fretboard. Everywhere else the action is great. I have set the string height's nice and low and I'd hate to raise the action any...plus I hope to not have to mess with the truss rod just yet. What I find though is that these spots where the strings buzz out the fretboard slightly....have a cool vibe or growl and like the note kinda 'blooms'. With a compressor set right, it sounds even gooder.

Is it desirable to have a slightly 'rattly' action on a fretless? Is it good to err on the side of low as regards overall string height?

These are probably really dumb questions :D .....sorry, I'm tired off my *bleep*.....been 10 hr rigging days at the show I'm on...busy....nuts.

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: STD Fretless J-Bass.
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:05 am
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Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
I suppose it depends on if any buzz bothers you or not. I try to get my action as low as possible, but others might prefer it higher. Whatever sounds good, and is most comfortable to you, I think.

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Post subject: Re: STD Fretless J-Bass.
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 6:48 pm
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Thanks....I just noticed there is a whole, dedicated 6 page thread about this. :roll:


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