Fretless or Fretted.... Or Just the first step to insanity.

[JimBeed]

Well as some know i've got a kit bass that I've not completed yada yada.

Latest thought i've had is that i've always been interested in trying a fretless bass properly, But without dishing out money for a decent one i may not even like.

So despite resale being a bit poor if i don't like the neck. Is there anything completely wrong with getting a fretless neck for a bass body built for a fretted neck? Or is my calling it a bass body built for a fretted neck utter donkey doo.

It's a jazz bass that'll be getting new pickups and hardware, the lot. Along with my first attempt at finishing.

Figured i'd ask here before  i attempt talkbass and have them say well buy a fender yada yada. I want unfinished... Canary likely to get a similar to maple sound minus finish.

 

[line6man]

There is no such thing as a "fretted body." The complaints you see about production model fretless basses are because manufacturers use necks spec'd for frets, and simply add fretlines, rather than accounting for differences in nut height and fingerboard thickness when manufacturing the necks. This has nothing to do with bodies.

 

[greywolf]

Fretless is a wonderful option.  I've had my Fender Jazz Fretless as my main bass for 25 years . I'd suggest a hard fingerboard or very tough finish unless you play flatwounds.

They are a whole different animal to play but once you get your intonation on , the sound is hard to beat.

 

[JimBeed]

Cool ok thanks line6man, thought i was talking trash. I was  :glasses9:

Well I put flatwounds on my thunderbird the last time i changed the strings and they were pretty nice so probably give them another go with this.

Well that's settled then, least if i dont like it i can get a fretted neck in place =] or if i feel it deserves a warmoth body then i'd be halfway there haha.

 

[JimBeed]

Fretless is a wonderful option.  I've had my Fender Jazz Fretless as my main bass for 25 years . I'd suggest a hard fingerboard or very tough finish unless you play flatwounds.

They are a whole different animal to play but once you get your intonation on , the sound is hard to beat.

What would be a good hard fingerboard do you think? as i'd preferably still like to go exotic unfinished, canary if it's hard enough, or something else if not. But definately unfinished neck so guessing the fingerboard couldn't be finished then.. Been on here for ages but some details still elude me haha.

 

[AutoBat]

A Canary fingerboard should be able to get the job done well.  Other solid choices would be Ebony or Bloodwood.

 

[line6man]

Fretless is a wonderful option.  I've had my Fender Jazz Fretless as my main bass for 25 years . I'd suggest a hard fingerboard or very tough finish unless you play flatwounds.

They are a whole different animal to play but once you get your intonation on , the sound is hard to beat.

What would be a good hard fingerboard do you think? as i'd preferably still like to go exotic unfinished, canary if it's hard enough, or something else if not. But definately unfinished neck so guessing the fingerboard couldn't be finished then.. Been on here for ages but some details still elude me haha.

Gaboon Ebony, Macassar Ebony, Bloodwood, Pau Ferro, etc.

 

[photoguy]

Built myself a short scale and bought a fretless neck for it. Absolutely funtastic. And the option is always there to get a fretted neck for it should the "CHARM" wear off.

 

[ihavenothingprofoundtosay]

You could use any fingerboard wood you wanted to - the main thing discussed with fretless boards is durability, but the wear of the fretboard depends on 2 things:  1) your technique, and 2) the material of your strings.

Jaco famously played steel roundwounds on an epoxied rosewood board, but he shredded in the metaphorical and literal senses.  If you don't have a harsh left hand technique, you're not going to make a dent on the board.  If you do, you could play flatwounds on an ebony board and still end up with scratches.  On the harder woods, the scratching will be cosmetic only.

The complaints you see about production model fretless basses are because manufacturers use necks spec'd for frets, and simply add fretlines, rather than accounting for differences in nut height and fingerboard thickness when manufacturing the necks. This has nothing to do with bodies.

+ 1.  The better manufacturers will have a thicker fretboard on a fretless bass. 

If you're just dabbling, you might try a Carvin neck - they have a Fender compatible neck, and the standard fretless option is ebony over maple.  There's far fewer options than Warmoth, and if you don't like slim necks, they're not for you (theirs is a little slimmer than a J-bass neck at the nut), but it might be worth a shot.  There's also the mighty mite fretless "ebonol" necks, which are far cheaper, but I can't speak for their quality.  Actually, I've heard many others speak poorly of their quality, but just for a test fretless, it's only $90.