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First Fretless experience!


bassopotamus

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I played a fretless bass for the first time this last weekend. It was really cool! It had painted frets, which made it easier to figure out where I was. But it was still very different from fretted bass. I liked sliding up and down from note to note... that was a highlight. I tried some popping and it came out real thumpy and subdued; probably not the best on fretless.

 

Anyhow, Ive been thinking about ordering a fretless neck for my tacoma thunderchief. Anyone have one of these? The tone is already really great, I just want to be sure its worth the whopping $500 it would cost me to get the neck. And thats DIY installment (bolt-on neck).

 

On a side note, I finally received the Q-tron I got on Ebay. Its pretty sweet! I havent had a chance to really mess with it because of my working hours, but tomorrow I plan on jamming with it!

 

Adios muchachos. :thu:

James Fitzgerald

Platinum Member,

Human Race

 

"I dont buy toys. I buy tools."

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make sure you have a backup fretted bass first.

 

Isn't $500 a lot for a neck? Why not just do what most people do and pull the frets out, then fill em in with something? Its not too hard and works jsut the same.

http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG
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Originally posted by Bruiser:

$500 for a neck? Why not spend $500 and buy a fretless BASS?
I agree.... You can find a Fender Jazz, an Ibenez or a Dean fretless for under $500 brand new. If you shop around, you should be able to find a really good deal on a fretless, and you don't have to mess with the bass you have.
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I've played the fretless Tacoma Thunderchiefs and they are really great. By far the best fretless ABGs I've tried...really loud and punchy acoustic sound, considering the size.

 

While I would applaud your decision to buy a fretless Tacoma, I think $500 is rather steep for just the neck.

 

Of course, it's probably still cheaper than buying a new Tacoma.

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I hadn't heard of a Tacoma Thunderchief before so I looked it up.

 

Looks like a very sweet bass.

 

But you could get a new one for around $1000.

 

So buying a new neck for $500 does not really seem like a good idea. :confused:

 

:idea: I'd say sell yours and buy the fretless model.

 

I'd buy it myself, but I'm not ready for a divorce this week. ;)

 

They don't seem to depreciate much so you should come out almost even. :thu:

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I think a picture is in order. a very SCHWEET look bass. :D

http://www.countrystrings.com/Images/Instruments/TacomaBasses/CB28CSB_400.jpg

http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG
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Even better idea... get one of those Olympia (Tacoma's cheap, but decent Eastern-made line) basses and have the frets removed. They look like the Tacoma basses, but have dovetail-neck construction and laminated wood. You should be able to find one on ebay for around $300 if not less. The Thunderchief bass does sound much better unamplified, but the Olympias don't sound bad at all, and once plugged in, the difference isn't as great as you might think. At any rate, I wouldn't mess with the bass you have.

 

Do you play amped most of the time or not? If you want the "mwah" electric fretless sound, you need a solid body bass, or at least one with magnetic pickups. If you're looking for an "upright-esque" sound, perhaps the fretless abg is the right idea.

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hey guys, thanks for all the feedback. sorry i didnt respond sooner, but my squadron just went on detachment to Fallon, NV, and I was caught up in the move.

 

anyways, the tacoma really is a great bass, and since i already shelled out $1000 for the fretted version, i dont think i would buy a whole new bass. plus, the fretless version costs more, for some reason.

 

i had thought about the olympia idea, but for some reason my dignity holds me from lessening the instrument with inferior parts.

 

I dont think $500 is too much to have both necks for the bass, and the option of changing whenever i want (new strings taken into consideration, of course).

 

as far as sound goes, I am looking for more of an upright-like tone. I think the fretless tacoma, based on my experience with the fretted, would pull it off. plus, it would look so pretty :D

 

Oh, and I tried pulling the frets out of a beat-up musicmaster i got on ebay, and I pretty much ruined it... I guess I wasnt born to be a luthier :) . But the bolt on neck doesnt seem hard to remove and replace. even then, if i was hesitant at any point in the process, I would definately take it to a pro...

 

I know I could find a cheap fretless for less than $500, but I am more interested in a quality fretless ABG. you guys who have played the thunderchief understand why it costs so damn much...

 

Lastly, I play mostly unamplified with this bass. the body is so big that its hard not to feedback the amp. but it sounds great DI'd in the studio...

 

Again, thanks for all your input. Ill keep ya posted on what eventually happens. i definately cant afford $500 right now...

 

Peace! :thu:

James Fitzgerald

Platinum Member,

Human Race

 

"I dont buy toys. I buy tools."

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Didnt want 2 start a new topic lol but what do u guys think of makin a Peavey Fury II fretless? was thinkin of putting a warmoth Fretless neck on it(Maple with a rosewood fretboard). Also changing the pickup on it to a Rio Grande Humbuckler. What ya guys think? or should i just buy a Fretless Fender?

 

p.s. the Fury look like This here

The basses

-'04 MIM Jazz bass black

-'98 Fender American-Deluxe P-bass natural

-Peavey FuryII blue

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