Fretless Available - I'm Gonna Grab It

[manta]

In a rather unusual offering for Guam, a friend is selling a fretless RIC and the price is good so I'm gonna grab it. It is not without it's mods and I am actually no bass player... but it is intriguing. He sent me 2 photos. I will see it in person in the a.m. Is RIC still making any FL models? What can you bass guys tell me about this? I'll know more soon when I get a look at the jack plate and can take some decent shots. Binding is kinda yellow so may be an older RIC.

[bassduke49]

Looks like a mid-'70s to early '80s fretless 4001 (4001FL) with a replaced bass (neck) pickup. You're right, the binding has yellowed quite a bit. You can see a "shadow" of the shedua center strip in the headstock shot, helping to rough date the instrument.

[edski]

Looks like a J bass PU on the bridge too.

Frankly I don't think the changed pick ups will alter the sound too much, but opinions will vary. If I were to get this, I'd take out that P bass PU, and make it into a 4000 FL. Retro-fitting a proper bridge PU would depend on how the current one sounded.

[iiipopes]

It doesn't look like anything has been done that is irreversible. If the price is low enough, go for it! Play it as-is for awhile to see how you like it. Then you can decide if you want to retrofit to stock configuration or not.

[manta]

Got it. $250 so worth a try at fixing it up.

"Your guitar was manufactured in July of 1979!" - Good guess Paul!! Although if anyone would guess that it would be you I suspect.


The jack plate is very rusty and I could hardly read the numbers. The previous owner told me the bottom of the case got wet while being stored at his mother's house and was too rotten to keep. It appears some of that wetness was around the jack area of the bass. It sounds fine but I will have to open it up and see if anything seeped in. Action is a little high, so will try a truss adjustment.

Will send a few more pics tomorrow. This will be an ongoing project, I can see that.

[FretlessOnly]

The real bugger with these FLs is that they put a side dot at every proper pitch. My April '73 was virtually unplayable in this state, so I used a white out pen to obliterate the unnecessary side dots. Please don't spoon-feed me. Give me the basics and I can figure out the necessities myself, thank you very much.

[cjj]

Good score!

[manta]

Yes, the Rick-o-sound jack is shot but the normal channel is fine. Sounds great actually, but what do I know about basses. It will take me some time to learn this one I think but having fun so far.

CJ, this is one of those Pacific finds like having a ripe coconut fall in your yard in the morning.

[edski]

Got it. $250 so worth a try at fixing it up.

Wow, no doubt worth it!!!!

The real bugger with these FLs is that they put a side dot at every proper pitch.

My recent custom fretless ended up with side dots at every fret due to a mis-communication with the luthier. But I only have markings on the fingerboard at 12 and 24. It's different from a traditional blank neck and 3-5-7-9-12 dots on the side, but I got used to it pretty quickly.

[rickyfricky]

Congrats Tim. More of a steal than a deal at that price.

I like the idea of converting it to a single pick-up 4000. Or maybe install a toaster in the neck.

What kind of strings are you going with?

[cassius987]

I think you probably got a fantastic deal. I would have gone for it too.

The real bugger with these FLs is that they put a side dot at every proper pitch. My April '73 was virtually unplayable in this state, so I used a white out pen to obliterate the unnecessary side dots. Please don't spoon-feed me. Give me the basics and I can figure out the necessities myself, thank you very much.

+1. I also masked the extra dots.

[manta]

Hi Matt,

What strings would you suggest for an FL? I haven't own a bass since I was a teen and I am an old dude now. I have Paul's book and that's about it as far as my expertise on basses goes.

Right now the action is a bit high so my first move will be to tweak the truss rods a bit. I suspect I should do this with new strings, yes?

I will ask the former owner what strings are on it now, as I really don't know a thing about bass strings. This whole purchase and subsequent dive into the bass world is a new adventure for me.

Manta

[rickyfricky]

I'm not really sure what to recommend for strings... maybe some other forumites can chime in.

I've never owned a FL, I got my hands full trying to play the ones with frets.

[jps]

I'm not really sure what to recommend for strings... maybe some other forumites can chime in.

I've never owned a FL, I got my hands full trying to play the ones with frets.

Fretless is easier, you don't have to think about what fret you're on.

[manta]

I fret a rash of jokes may be forthcoming from this neck of the woods now.