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Post subject: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:32 am
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Since getting my '97 fretless Jazz, I find myself picking it up more and more. The Bartolini's are the quietest pickups of any of my guitars, the neck is the slimmest, and fastest, the tone is unique, probably because the body is a single piece of wood. as brotherdave says,"It's all about the wood."

I grabbed my other Jazz this morning to do some stuff that I ALWAYS did on it. After awhile, I picked up Bebe and felt a whole lot more comfortable.

I posted "The evolution of Bebe" earlier, now I'm thinking there will be a new topic, "The evolution of oxfan", they say, if you don't grow, you die.


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:13 am
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Fretless boards are very quick as you say. I've always said, it's like the frets get in the way.

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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:26 am
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It wasn't exactly an easy transition, of course the strings are a major contributing factor to the sound, setting it up properly, in my estimation, made a huge impact and maybe the black glass sparkle pickguard! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:45 am
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I find my Jaco jazz and my 74P fretless coming out more often too, but I still have a way to go before I am proficient. But I understand Mr. Nylon's comments about the frets just getting in the way. Fretless feels so nice, like you could play it forever.

Good luck with your continued conversion Oxfan!

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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:49 am
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Thanks, as I mentioned, it may just be the newness, or perhaps infatuation. No matter what, Bebe has a place in the family.


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:26 am
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oxfan wrote:
Thanks, as I mentioned, it may just be the newness, or perhaps infatuation. No matter what, Bebe has a place in the family.
Thanks, as I mentioned, it may just be the newness, or perhaps infatuation. No matter what, Bebe has a place in the family.


The Fretless Bass is an adictive instrument,.... in some respects you have more freedom,...& as Jaco used to say ("frets are like speed bumps, they slow me down")

actually this week I'm going to switch from Fender Flats on my Jaco Bass to DR Sunbeams,......... being that the Fretboard on my Jaco is Pau Ferro,...it should be able to handle the Sunbeam & DR recomends them for fretless basses.
Pau Ferro is a little harder than Rosewood but not as hard as Ebony.

The Tony Franklin Fretless has an Ebony Fretboard,....... it also has a unique sound from what I've seen on You Tube......... let's just say it's on the radar for possible future G.A.S. purchase,........ one day..... :roll:


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 12:54 pm
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James, try DR NEONs! They sound great and won't eat your neck. Fretted or fretless, fear not! Plus the look is superb. I've got a mixed set (yellow & orange) I'm going to put on my Jazz soon. Then a photosession for The Fender Lounge! :D

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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:03 pm
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I've thought about Neon's ..........


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:58 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
I've thought about Neon's ..........


I tossed on a set of yellows six months ago, and they are the cat's pajamas! I had to get used to the coating. It took about two weeks to play in or about 14-15 playing hours. After that they were just CRAZY Good!

They sound great! NO super high end unmusical tin can zing like a Rotosound that takes a week or two to get rid of. So annoying. Grrrr....

Coated strings do reduce roundwound 'string screech' remarkably well. Huge Full Roundwound Tone You Want Without The Horrendous Screech.

Coated strings 'squeek'. Yes at first they do 'squeek' as you slide. Fear not. The squeek doesn't come through your p'ups. But it is slightly disconcerting at first. The squeek does indeed 'play out' and go away.

Anyway, I liked them so much that I bought more! :D

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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:03 pm
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Something to consider ,.... Thanks Linin . Hey did you know that DR just came out with white Neon's,.......they look pretty cool!!


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 6:54 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
Something to consider ,.... Thanks Linin . Hey did you know that DR just came out with white Neon's,.......they look pretty cool!!


YES! The white NEONs just came out. They glow violet/purplish under UV light just as you would expect, but because they are white they show up very well in ultra-low light situations. The yellows and oranges also show up well in low light and also glow their color under UV light.

The Neon green looks like radiation sickness to me = Chernobyl Green. YUK :(

The Neon Pink is just too feminine for me, but others may love it.

They are nickel-plated stainless steel wrap on a round core. Very pleasing tension. Excellent tone. Easy to play. Holds tune very well. For me they lasted more that twice as long for very little extra cost.

Plus they're both pretty and sexy. Can't beat: Beautiful Tone; Pretty Looks, Sexy Feel, And Long Lasting. Great Value And Price.

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One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:31 pm
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Now that I'm entering my "Old Age I Can Keep Up With Any Of Her 20 Year Old Boyfriends" era , I think I'm going to have to try the fretless- the question is when not why. :D


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:16 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
Now that I'm entering my "Old Age I Can Keep Up With Any Of Her 20 Year Old Boyfriends" era , I think I'm going to have to try the fretless- the question is when not why. :D


Go for it!! :) I started playing bass in 1978 & I finally went for it in 2008 & bought a Fretless bass...
I chose the Jaco Fretless Jazz... & I love it!! I should have done this sooner. :)


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:35 am
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Definitely worth a try. It opens up a whole new world.

An old bandmate came by on Sunday. I brought him down to see my gear and he was drawn right to the fretless, I know it was the pickguard, :lol: .

He started to play and got a strange look on his face. He kept saying, "{This isn't right, it's out of tune." He messed with the tuners and was getting frustrated, I just smiled and turned on the tuner. After seeing that he knocked himself out of tune and meticulously tuning Bebe, he got a smug grin and tried again and got one of the dumbest looks on his face that I'd ever seen.

I explained how Bebe played and actually moved his string hand, then he got it. He's hooked now.

for the uninitiated, a fretless bass is a whole other animal, it will make you a better player.


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Post subject: Re: Maybe converted!
Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:36 am
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I want to play fast like greased butter lightning rods. I want to fret right on the lines NOT in between. I need this to happen.... I like bologna.....(I'm talking myself into going fretless).


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