Current basses-am.deluxe P-bass V, Ibanez btb 675f...I want a 4 string fretless with ebony or pau ferro fborad and a piezo bridge. I tried an Ibanez Portamento but we didnt get along (nice concept poorly executed) I have just started looking at MMs and see some candidates in the line up. Would like some feedback
- Thread starter movielvr
- Start date
ngutenson
Well-known member
You can only get an ebony board, fretless or otherwise, on a Stealth EBMM bass at the moment. Piezo is not available with the Stealth package.
However, you can get any EBMM bass (not including a Reflex or Big Al) with a fretless pau ferro board and piezo.
However, you can get any EBMM bass (not including a Reflex or Big Al) with a fretless pau ferro board and piezo.
sanderhermans
Well-known member
I think sterlings are verry good for fretless. They are available in 4/5 string and with piezo bridge.
Millsy
Member
For me, if it's a fretless. You need to go Ebony.
Tone is just fantastic and really holds up against wear and tear.
I'd definitely go with a Sterling with a Piezo for the versatility.
Tone is just fantastic and really holds up against wear and tear.
I'd definitely go with a Sterling with a Piezo for the versatility.
Well, I'm being told that instrument is not available with both ebony and piezo, I agree that would be ideal. thanks for the reply!
Tollywood
Well-known member
Hello, and welcome to the forum.
I have a rosewood board fretless Stingray, and I really like it. Ebony is also my first choice, but this rosewood board is really awesome, too.
I have a rosewood board fretless Stingray, and I really like it. Ebony is also my first choice, but this rosewood board is really awesome, too.
good to know...how long have you had it, rounds or flats? thanks!
Tollywood
Well-known member
http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/57934-new-bass-day.html
I bought it in January. I put flat wounds on it. I noodle on the bass; I am really a guitar player. My son plays bass as a primary instrument, and he loves the fretless Stingray. He has a fretted Big Al.
I bought it in January. I put flat wounds on it. I noodle on the bass; I am really a guitar player. My son plays bass as a primary instrument, and he loves the fretless Stingray. He has a fretted Big Al.
bdgotoh
Well-known member
Best EBMM fretless I've ever played was a Bongo H, and you can get them with Piezo. Great EQ, wonderful ergonomics, awesome Bongo tone.
jlepre
Well-known member
Plus if you go the Bongo route you can get an HH config with piezo. It's the only model that EBMM makes that you can accomplish that.
Millsy
Member
Have you considered picking up a cheaper/2nd hand MM and trying a Moses Graphite Fretless neck?
They have a phenomenal fretless tone.
MM-144: Music Man / G&L 4
They have a phenomenal fretless tone.
MM-144: Music Man / G&L 4
do you know of any audio samples using this neck? MIght work...here's what I'm thinking after chatting with the nice folks at Bass Central...bongo, stealth, lined ebony...single coil+humbucker+piezo or 2 x humbuckers + piezo...what do you guys think of that?
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To my ears it's not that important which PU config you choose to
combine with the piezo. Thaz cuz I dial up a piezo-heavy balance,
so the mag PUs play a minor role in the mix.
I recommend against a lined FB. They are simply a maintenance
risk down the road. A blank plank also looks cool. If you need a
more complete set of note locators than the factory side dots you
can just paint on the additional dots.
I have 2 non-piezo MMs with Moses Graphite FL necks and they
do have a sound all their own. I chose NOT to put them on my
piezo basses cuz piezo can bring out some of the characteristic
sounds of the build materials and, having only 2 Moses necks on
hand, I chose to bring out the sound of wood. OTOH, the sound
of mag PUs with a Moses neck is so powerful, I'm happy to play
it without any piezos. It's thick yet penetrating, medium growly,
and very loud. Loud ? I lowered the PUs way below spec ! It's
possible that SOME of the characteristic sound I attribute to the
Moses necks is a result of lowering the PUs that far. I really dig
the sound of "distant" PUs. Since I'm not looking for a major
mag PU component in the tone mix on my piezo basses, I also
lower those PUs all the way, if for no other reason than to know
I have minimized magnetic string drag.
BTW one of the above replies is in error. Piezos are not available
across the whole MM line ... only on Rays, Sterlings, and Boingos.
BTW2. My sig shows several piezo FL MM basses. I also play many
other piezo basses, some hollow body, some solid. Do not believe
any naysayers claiming that piezos are wasted on a solid body ax.
A solid body is still an acoustic instrument ... it just happens to be
almost inaudible without an amp, but it IS acoustic
I should just say I love equally all my MM piezo FLs, and not name
one as a fave ... but I acquire them used, so they are not a result
of me personally checking off the options boxes on a build order. If
I could order one, and only one, piezo MM, I'd go with a Boingo HS.
And I'd be ecstatic if there were a hog body limited run avaialble
when I were ordering up !
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muggsy
Well-known member
Golem, not arguing with anything you said, but why do you consider a lined fretless board to be a maintenance risk? I have a '98 Sterling fretless with a lined pao ferro board and I haven't had to do anything to it. It's awesome, BTW.
EBMMs are the least troublesome machines around, but
the lines are still inserts. Inserts sometimes creep out a
bit high of their slot and create a buzz for the next note
or two below the culprit. The only MM that ever had this
happen, in my flock, is a well worn oldie thaz had it's FB
sanded a coupla times. Other brands have had a line
rise up for no apparent reason on what appears to be a
fresh, never-sanded, FB. Either way, it's an easy thing
to remedy ... but even easier to avoid [given any choice
in the matter], by choosing a blank plank FB.
So even at worst-case-scenario, it's in no way any deal
breaker for somebody who reeeeally needs a lined FB.
Acoarst OTOH noooooobody really needs lines. Nobody.
Lines are just a marketing ploy, reducing "fear factor",
yet there's just nothing to be afeared about
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muggsy
Well-known member
OK, that makes sense. Never been an issue for me, but I get it.
So even at worst-case-scenario, it's in no way any deal
breaker for somebody who reeeeally needs a lined FB.
Acoarst OTOH noooooobody really needs lines. Nobody.
Lines are just a marketing ploy, reducing "fear factor",
yet there's just nothing to be afeared about
Ha. You haven't heard me play fretless. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
stu42
Well-known member
Movielvr...your choice sounds awesome. Though if if were me, like Golem, I'd definitely get a blank plank - especially with a stealth body and ebony FB. I've seen a picture of one and it looks killer. Also, I agree with Golem in that there's nothing to be worried about with a blank plank. In fact, I'd argue that not having lines is better because, without lines, the side dots are aligned with where the lines would be (if you had lines) whereas, if you have a lined FB then the side dots are placed in the middle between the lines (like on a fretted neck). I tested out both before going with unlined FB because I just found it too confusing to look at the side dots and then force my fingers to not go to where the dots are. It seems really counter intuitive to me because, normally, with a fretted instrument you place your fingers roughly where the side dots are (more or less).
Also, I found it hard to even see the lines when I'm standing up and playing - I had to bend my head down to see them whereas it's easy to just look down and see the dots and that's all you really need. Muscle memory also goes a long way!
That's my two cents.
Here's your bass!! http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/44675-bongo-4hs-stealth-fretless-unlined.html
Also, I found it hard to even see the lines when I'm standing up and playing - I had to bend my head down to see them whereas it's easy to just look down and see the dots and that's all you really need. Muscle memory also goes a long way!
That's my two cents.
Here's your bass!! http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/44675-bongo-4hs-stealth-fretless-unlined.html
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...................I'd argue that not having lines is better because, without lines, the side dots are aligned with where the lines would be (if you had lines) whereas, if you have a lined FB then the side dots are placed in the middle between the lines (like on a fretted neck). I tested out both before going with unlined FB because I just found it too confusing to look at the side dots and then force my fingers to not go to where the dots are. It seems really counter intuitive to me because, normally, with a fretted instrument you place your fingers roughly where the side dots are (more or less).
Also, I found it hard to even see the lines when I'm standing up and playing - I had to bend my head down to see them whereas it's easy to just look down and see the dots and that's all you really need. Muscle memory also goes a long way!
That makes a lot of sense, Stu.
Being a fretless noob, (about 3 months) I still need the lines for reference.
My fretless acoustic bass is lined with the dots over the fret lines and that seems to make the most sense.
I did get the info from EBMM cs about the dots being in the center of the fret on the lined and thought that seemed kind of strange but since I still need the lines I figured I would adjust my perspective to make it work.
I may add extra dots but I'll decide that once I get the bass in hand.
