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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Seems to be an Applause copy of a Fender Precision bass. I got the body and neck with no hardware (for the price of a set of strings) might make into something Playable https://imgur.com/gallery/L4A7WUn
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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | It is fretless but looks like it may have been fretted once and the slots filled in. Or is that what they do with fretless boards ?
https://imgur.com/gallery/L4A7WUn
Edited by sycamore 2020-02-03 2:27 PM
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Posts: 128
| I'm not a luthier, and I don't know what you paid, but this looks like a piece of junk. Chuck it in the trash. |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | You're probably right but I look at it as something to practice on. It certainly seems to have been used, judging by the string marks on the board: I think I can get it clean and smooth at least, and I have some hardware parts lying around. |
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Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Well, I think it's worth the effort. This is, as identified, the Bottom Feeders Luthiery Guild. With the bar set incredibly high by some of our members, assuredly. The neck can be leveled & refretted, hardware installed, & the critter resurrected to functionality. Just an issue of fortitude & persistence, with lots of conjecture by intrigued observers, to-be-sure. Go for it! |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | I will have fun trying anyway. Do you think it started out with frets? Theres very little chipping which I would expect if frets had been pulled out. I reckon it will work as a fretless. I might make a different body for it.
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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Hmmm. I can see a bit more chipping now that I've cleaned it a bit. But it seems a neat enough job. |
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Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Either way is fine. A new body seems to represent a lot of work, but as "they" say; it's your dime. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | BTW, as I am only seeing the one photo of the fretboard closeup, is that the only image? What does the rest of this guitar look like? |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Applause Bass Headstock https://imgur.com/gallery/OAYBJJT |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Bass project https://imgur.com/gallery/wr3Rrqv |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Yea the body (plywood) is probably fine. Not sure about the finish on it but it would take a lot of work to strip it. They also had another one for sale not Applause but similar and with frets. Someone's unfinished project.
Board looks better already with cleaning and sanding |
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November 2002
Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yep, it appears someone took some liberties with that instrument. The nut looks pretty trashed. The body is there, & essentially, a blank canvas, for constructing your master opus. Best of luck, & keep us posted, with plenty of pictures. Soldier On! |
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Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Will go well with my other bass DIY 2-string bass https://imgur.com/gallery/SrSmtfV |
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November 2002
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Outstanding! I believe you may have that creative enthusiasm that spawned this forum. We await your next installment! |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | OK, no pressure then. I shouldn't have started yet as there are other projects on the bench but I will post as I go along |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | 0000 steel wool has improved the board a lot. A few chips to fill in. What finish, if any, would people recommend for the fret(less)board ? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13983
Location: Upper Left USA | Never surrender, never give up!
Unless you have to. |
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Posts: 1553
Location: Indiana | Why not refret it? |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | I kind of like the idea of fretless. On the other hand it would be a good way to learn fretting as I've never done it. I will see how if feels and sounds as a fretless. |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | I kind of like the idea of fretless. On the other hand it would be a good way to learn fretting as I've never done it. I will see how if feels and sounds as a fretless. |
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November 2002
Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Now, this may be a bit esoteric, but would a fretless neck facilitate more accurate intonation abilities/qualities, by the "end-user", by means of differential finger placement within the given fretting intervals? |
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July 2019
Posts: 98
Location: northern Georgia | Not esoteric - acoustic double basses don't have frets. A few double bass players who moved to electric basses removed the frets, a notable example was Jaco Pastorius, the bassist for Weather Report in the late 70s-early 80s. Supposedly, he removed the frets from his Fender Jazz bass using a butter knife.
As for intonation, theoretically a fretless bass can play a just scale rather than the tempered scale that most musical instruments are stuck with. However, it takes an exceptional player to be able to take advantage of that, especially over the course of a longer piece. In addition, most other instruments in a group would be playing a tempered scale, which will clash somewhat with the just scale the fretless bassist could be playing. Of course, double bass and fretless electric bass players have been key parts of lots of musical groups for a long time. This could be a lot of fun to learn and play with. |
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March 2007
Posts: 698
Location: Cork, Ireland | Any time I've picked up a fretless, playing in tune was easier than I expected. I imagine we probably make micro adjustments automatically based on what we hear. You don't see accomplished violin, cello or double bass players looking at the fretboard when they play.
The hardware I ordered should be here soon (it got delayed in transit) and I'll get on with the rebuild. Then I'll have to bulid a bass amp...
Edited by sycamore 2020-03-14 6:36 AM
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November 2002
Posts: 3599
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | So, furthering abuse to a deceased equine, why don't more players use fretless 6-&-12-strings? |
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Applause Bass Project
