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Post subject: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 4:34 am
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I've been playing Precision Basses exclusively for over 35 years, and I'm still wondering why Fender doesn't currently make a MIM fretless...
I used to have a standard fretless P back in the '70's but traded it for a fretted in the early '80's, biggest mistake I ever made!
While I would love to have a Tony Franklin signature model (minus the de-tuner), I just plain can't afford it...

c'mon Fender, help us out...


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:27 am
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Your in Luck !! Yes as a matter of fact Fender does make a MIM Jazz Fretless check ou this link: http://www.fender.com/en-CA/basses/jazz ... rd-no-bag/
& Squier also makes a fretless Jazz :)


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:48 am
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Don't buy a Squier!


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:55 am
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oxfan wrote:
Don't buy a Squier!

I agree,... :) it's just a suggestion for the bassist on a budget who wants a fretless under $500. :)


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:06 am
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I have never played a fretless Squier that was any good, I have a VM Modified Jazz that is almost excellent, and Squier makes some great instruments, just not the fretless.

I'm sure a MIM fretless can be had for under $500.

I found mine on Craigslist, first time I ever got lucky there.

fretless basses are intimidating, people buy them, then can't figure them out. Keep them in a closet, or under a bed, then sell them.

Be patient.


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:23 am
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can't do it...
A) never played a Squire that was worth crap and
B) don't like J-Basses... the necks are too skinny, and I don't care for the sound...

I just want a good old (unlined) Fretless P, with the J pup in the bridge for a little extra articulation...


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 11:03 am
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There is the Squier Vintage Modified Precision Fretless:

http://www.fender.com/basses/precision-bass/vintage-modified-precision-bass-fretless-ebonol-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/

Haven't played one myself - one should probably beware of Squier stuff but it might be worth checking out just for the fun of it. Definitely an MIM fretless P would be cool!

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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:55 pm
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hieronymous wrote:
There is the Squier Vintage Modified Precision Fretless:

http://www.fender.com/basses/precision-bass/vintage-modified-precision-bass-fretless-ebonol-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/

Haven't played one myself - one should probably beware of Squier stuff but it might be worth checking out just for the fun of it. Definitely an MIM fretless P would be cool!


The Squiers have the same neck issues as the J basses as far as I can tell.
I've recently played a few--and same thing.
I also played a cheaper ESP LTD fretless with a one piece neck and an ebonal board--and it was just like the Squier ones.

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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 1:47 pm
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I was wondering about the ESP LTD stuff, they make a P style very similar to the Tony Franklin (ESP VINT-214RFL3TB)...
haven't been able to find one to try (Oklahoma City sucks for guitar shops!), or find any reviews on it...
At $300 it would be cheap enough to hot rod out with better pups and maybe a BadAss bridge, I'd like to know how the neck compares, string spacing etc...


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 12:11 am
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I've also tried a mid range LTD fretless bass & it was much better--well worth the extra cash.

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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:12 pm
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All this talk about fretless basses. All a fretless bass is, a bass without fretboard speed-bumps on it.

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Last edited by Mr. Nylon on Tue Aug 19, 2014 6:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:15 pm
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I played the Squier fretless Jazz when it first came out when they were passive. It played great but the pickups were wimpy even compared to another Squier which was the Squier Lake Placid Blue 50's P-Bass with the single coil first-gen style pickup. Now that Squier fretless is active so I'm sure the story is different. If you want a cheap fretless P-Bass, you will be buying used and they aren't really cheap. Another option is to defret a cheap P-bass and epoxy the fret slots in the style of Jaco. Also next month all sorts of things might become possible with the online custom ordering system which will be open to the public.


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 7:05 pm
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Brotherdave, what did you mean by the online custom ordering system?


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:17 pm
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VERY not impressed by the "build it yourself" part of the website!!! almost no options, other than color... C'Mon Fender, WTF...


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Post subject: Re: lower priced fretless!
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 10:51 pm
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I used to think Squier basses were cannon fodder. BUT I don't think that now. I speak from a viewpoint of being an older dude who owns USA Fenders- Japan Fenders- Mexi Fenders etc and has played too long. I have a couple really nice sounding Squiers. The necks are very good-one is a flame maple on a P body with aftermarket pickups (Fender) and the other is a Jaguar I just purchased used. Both can be used at gigs. So I have had more than a couple USA Fender basses that did not sound as good as the two Squiers I have now. I would have slapped myself about the head and neck had I said that years ago. ....... never say never.


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