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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:42 pm
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I got one a few weeks ago and can't put it down. It can go from the nice mellow big sound to a snarling banshee in seconds. I love it!
ABS :D


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:19 pm
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I enjoy playing a fretless basses I'm better on them that I expected to be but have never owned one. I figured I wouldn't be any good, but actually I'm now looking for a fretless.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 1:49 pm
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YOU? Come now Dave as long as you have been playing why would you believe that ? Its not as hard as I thought either,its all dependant on where you fret the notes,if your technique is proper or were taught well then you already will be fretting the note correctly(directly behind the fret)apply that to the fret-less and the most important aspect of its playing is complete(intonation).
I used to pickup a fretless when I would go to the musicstore which I did repairs at and be afraid to let anyone hear me play it, but when a few people did I realized I was'nt all that bad(I was even asked to join a jazz trio)but I was'nt willing to work on all the other important factors that are needed to really lite the fretboard up and be a proficient fretless jazbass player(sliding,bending,staccato,leggato,proper spelling etc..).
Dont sell yourself short,I'm confident you can give it a good run :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 3:09 pm
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Hey, Dave - didn't you tell me about a year ago that a fretless bass is a "tonal approximator"...LOL ... :lol:



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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:22 am
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chef wong wrote:
The toughest thing about fretless is dealing with the other stringed instruments in the band being out of pitch a little. Guitarists don't like being told to use a tuner.

+1


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:31 am
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PaducahLuke wrote:
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Hey, Dave - didn't you tell me about a year ago that a fretless bass is a "tonal approximator"...LOL ... :lol:



P-L


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I think that was before I quit drinking. I said a lot of funny and not so funny things back then.

In the hands of someone REALLY skilled a fretless is BETTER than the same player on a fretted bass. (When I play one it is a tonal approximator.)

Even the best fretted basses will have very minor intonation issues, often G string 4th, 5th or 6th fret for example. Some players not only claim to compensate for this on a fretless, they actually do. My hat's off to them.

The really short scale fretlesses like the Ashbory and the Kala U-Bass are far more challenging to play than a full scale fretless.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:30 pm
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chef wong wrote:
The toughest thing about fretless is dealing with the other stringed instruments in the band being out of pitch a little. Guitarists don't like being told to use a tuner.



VERY interesting point... 8)

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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:48 am
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I just love the sound & feel of a fretless . I've been playing fretless for over 30 yrs now & believe it or not , now I find it difficult to play a fretted bass ! The frets just get in the way ! Lol
I made the switch & I'm staying fretless . I like to slide into & bend off of notes . It seems a much more smoother & natural way to play . Plus the Jazz bass has a warmer sound then my 78 P-bass (Fretless with maple board). I'm not into the 'lined' fingerboards at all tho ...


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:16 pm
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I used to fear playing a fretless Bass (I've been playing for 33yrs).....until I happened to pick up a Jaco Fretless Jazz Bass 4 yrs ago while at a music store, I found the Jaco bass easy to play & the tone I got from it!!!, ......well needless to say I was hooked........I immediately had the sale guy put the bass aside for me along with a $100.00 deposit.

I gotta say playing a fretless puts you in a different head space musically......

A good CD to hear some awesome fretless work is Macus Miller's A Night in Monte Carlo & Word of Mouth Revisited (a Tribute to Jaco Pastorius) featuring many current & contempary jazz bassists playing Jaco's music..........(an awe inspiring CD)

Post Roger Waters Pink Floyd features Guy Pratt doing some notable fretless work,

& Sting plays some nice fretless Bass on a couple of early Police CD's

I now love the world of the fretless bass.......& all these years all I feared was fear itself.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:20 pm
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@James . I hear you bro . It was Stanley Sheldon that first got me interested in fretless . "Framptom Comes Alive" lp . Naturally Jaco had his influence on me too , but I was 17 & mainly playing rock . I saw a beautful P-bass in a local music shop , picked it up & just fell in love with the feel of it . I too was surprised how well I was able to play it ! Then Sting & The Police sealed it . I bought the P-bass & couldn't put it down . It was fretless for me from then on . I'd play a few songs with it at each gig at first , then I started using it more & more .
I just had the fingerboard of my J-bass re-surfaced 2 weeks ago & my bass is like brand new !


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:52 am
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Good Stuff....... does your fretless P bass have a Rosewood finger Board? I heard ( & seen a picture or two on the internet) that back in the late 70's early 80's there were a few fretless p basses with maple fretboards floating around.

I forgot about Sheldon's fretless work on Frampton comes alive (definately a must have..)

I also forgot to mention Nathan Easts fretless work with Clapton & Christian McBrides fretless work on his 2003 release Virtual Strings.

one problem I am having with my Jaco fretless Jazz bass is the Bridge Pick up tends to cut out once in a while.....I end up lightly smacking the bass over the pick up & the pick up comes on again....wierd

I opened up the bell plate to check out the wiring and every thing looks fine
I think I may have a faulty volume pot?
Other than that this Bass plays like a dream.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:50 am
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I got a 2003 MIM Fender Jazz Fretless (black on black). I have added a bridge, cover, American Vintage Reverse tuners and a series/parallel switch and the nut has been replaced. Plays like butter and sounds terrific.
I have just ordered a 2-year old American Std Fretless from Long & McQuade.
My MIM is available at my cost: $500.oo CAD. Abbotsford, BC, Cda
tommiett@shaw.ca


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:50 am
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I Don't think this is the right venue or forum to sell gear,......you may be better served by posting on Ebay or Craigslist.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:46 pm
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Still new on the chat line. Sorry, I didn't mean to offend, just inform.

My American Std Jazz Fretless arrived yesterday & I traded the MIM for it.
Obviously, if the ticket price is twice the MIM, then it's a better bass, luckily, I got a good deal, (It'll be paid off in 2019).
It's a sunburst with a tortguard. Luv it. Being a 2008, the only thing missing is the S-1. We'll fix that quick. I guess it's about time to let go of my fretted 1999 Jazz Deluxe.

Have played the fretless for a couple of weeks, (no complaints from band mates re intonation), thanks to the fret lines. The purists can paint them over.

Another good thing about the fretless is that I'm on cancer medication, (Sunitinib) and it makes me lose skin on my finger tips. My fretted Jazz & P are kinda hard on the left finger tips. The fretteless is a lot easier
Regards, Tommie


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Post subject: Re: Fender Fretless Jazz?
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:37 pm
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No worries, ....I thought I'd give you a head up regarding protocal on these boards.

And with regard to fret lines on fretless basses, I think they're great My Jaco Jazz Fretless has fret lines & even though I could manouver up & down the fret board with out them it does make it a little easier when you're playing quick riffs.

Sounds like you got yourself a nice bass (to bad you had to trade in your MIM for it)
My basses are like my kids (love all 6 of 'em) I could never sell any of them (that being said I've owned several Ibanez basses over the years & a couple of Guild basses that all ended up being sold.)
Currently I own a 2006 Geddy Jazz, 2007 Jaco Jazz Fretless, 2008 Steve Harris P-Bass,
2008 Marcus Miller Jazz, 2008 Ibanez Acoustic Bass, & this past May I bought a 2011 American Deluxe 5 string Jazz Bass (that I'm still paying off)

You may have noticed that I own 4 artist model but I gotta tell ya they're all great playing basses,......That Being said,.....back in May when I was in the bass department of my local music store buying my 5 string the sales guy who I know well enough & is an honest straight forward guy told me that the Geddy & Marcus basses are 2 of Fenders top selling basses ( I can see why..as the necks on these 2 basses are amazing ...as is the neck on the Jaco fretless jazz bass)
Anyway ........Sorry to hear about the Cancer hope you beat it...best of luck
Congrats on getting the new bass & welcome to the boards.......you'll find there's some great knowledgable bassists here if you stop by from time to time (there's always a piece of info to pick up here.)


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