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4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2023 11:04 pm
by lumgimfong
Didn’t know they came with the fins. Anyone seen one before?
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 2:18 am
by jps
Most likely, it was defretted.
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:02 am
by lumgimfong
Oh yeah. If you brighten the screen you can just make out the fret lines.
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:03 am
by lumgimfong
So does that devalue the bass in any way, since it’s not a factory FL?
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 12:08 pm
by bassduke49
Can't tell you about value, but to me it looks like a custom fingerboard. The wood is not standard for the time period and the position markers look too bright. Still, once in a while, a factory experiment or employee special project escapes into the wild!
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 1:24 pm
by Isaac
bassduke49 wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 12:08 pm
Can't tell you about value, but to me it looks like a custom fingerboard. The wood is not standard for the time period and the position markers look too bright. Still, once in a while, a factory experiment or employee special project escapes into the wild!
That was my thought, too, but what do I know?
As to value, it always comes down to what a buyer and seller can agree on.
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 2:53 pm
by berth
Over time the height of the inlays might differ a little with the wood next to it. You do not want that on a fretless.
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:00 pm
by jps
berth wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 2:53 pm
Over time the height of the inlays might differ a little with the wood next to it. You do not want that on a fretless.
Same with inlayed fret lines.
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:35 pm
by berth
jps wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:00 pm
Same with inlayed fret lines.
Aren't they easier to level than sharkfin inlays? I did not know this and am glad I prefer unlined.

Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:46 pm
by jps
berth wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:35 pm
jps wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:00 pm
Same with inlayed fret lines.
Aren't they easier to level than sharkfin inlays? I did not know this and am glad I prefer unlined.
They probably are, but why have them there in the first place?

- 2010 NAMM Show fretless Martin Keith Elfin 5
Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2023 4:18 pm
by berth
jps wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:46 pm
Elfin-5 FL-Front-1200_9122.jpg
Looks nice. Pity it doesn't have a neck pickup, but only two pickups in bridge position.

Re: 4003fl with shark fins
Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:17 pm
by jps
berth wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 4:18 pm
jps wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:46 pm
Elfin-5 FL-Front-1200_9122.jpg
Looks nice. Pity it doesn't have a neck pickup, but only two pickups in bridge position.
I make do.
It really is quite versatile sounding. Those are Citron humbucking pickups that, with Martin's clever control layout, the pan control can act like a typical one, panning between the two pickups, or, by pulling up on the tone control's switch, the pan control sweeps from the two outer coils to the two inner coils while rotated.