fretless bass....

[Rockmonton]

i'm in ze process of converting a yamaha rbx 260 bass i got for 45$ into a nice fretless, should i keep the stock P or put in an EMG P ?

[Celt]

I'd try the stock pickup first. You might also wanna *borrow* a Seymour Duncan Quarter-Pounder and give that a try too. I bought a Mighty Mite fretless neck several weeks ago. Maybe I'll have time to do something with it one of these days. Kind of curious as to how that Ebonal surface is gonna sound! :scratch2:

[Rockmonton]

we'll see after i do my wicked crazy teenage mutant ninja turtle style finish.

[aquajet]

I've always found active EMGs too harsh for fretless basses. Try the stock first, or a custom shop Fender P pickup would sound nice.

[James Hart]

I've never been a fan of EMG.... Bartolini makes a nice split P for fretless. But try the stock one first. Yamahas usually have pretty ok pickups

[pjweeks]

Awesome!

I don't know too much about the different pickups and how they work on a fretless. I do know that one of my buddies messed up his neck pretty bad because he put round wound strings on a factory-made fretless. Doh!

So are you converting this yourself by removing the frets and filling the slots? I'm thinking about doing that with my $30 bass but I wound up liking the bass too much--I still might do it.

Let us know how it goes!

[gata]

I'm also doing a fun mod on a Charvel Jackson Surfaster bass (the rare sexy black model) I just bought. I'm going to try to emulate electronics on the Lakland Jerry Scheff model.

I bought two Kent Armstrong Split Tube lipstick tube pickups (JBLF-1, JBLR-1), and I'm going to install them with a Bartolini NTMB093G preamp. I haven't decided yet on whether to do the 2 PU - 5 knob like the Lakland or try to minimize the number of knobs--I hate a gazillion knobs. I like clean and functional, but it's gotta be easily tweakable on a gig. We'll see. :scratch2:

Still need to make a new pickguard. And I agree with aquajet, EMGs are too harsh--go Bartolini. I've heard good things about the Aguilar preamps too.

Have fun with your Yamaha! I love messin' with gear. Here's a pic.

[clint e.]

I'd turn an old Ibanez Bass in a fretless,and i put an EMG pick up and you are right guys, the EMG is a little bit to harsh.
Becareful to fullfil - how i say in english? - the space where the frets were.Dig...?

clint.

[Steve G]

For fretless you may want to consider using Alembic pickups. They have tons of smooth low end. More than anything short of those muddy enormous Gibson EB-3 things. DOnt know if they make a P split style, mine are soapbars, grab your router!

[mg196]

I don't know ANYTHING about the bass! If you make your bass fretless, what will the differences in sound be? Thanks.

My Epiphone Dot is all I need!

[clint e.]

I've always found active EMGs too harsh for fretless basses. Try the stock first, or a custom shop Fender P pickup would sound nice.

I've do that with my old Ibanez and my opinion is the same.

clint.

[pjweeks]

Gata,
Where's that pic of your bass? I just fixed my Strat so now I can work on the basses.
Pete

[Rockmonton]

shit, done, and stolen from school. Bastards.

[GibsonLesPaul]

shit, done, and stolen from school. Bastards.
That sucks! :thumbsdn: Sorry to hear it Rock!!!

[Rockmonton]

yeah, not even sure who did it, but man, if a ninja-turtle painted fretless bass with a chopped up ibanez neck on it shows up there, its probably mine.