Nice Bass!!
One thing that might extend the period of time that you remain in love with your new bass is to make sure it conforms to the ergonomic dimensions you prefer.
For me, it's the string spacing at the bridge, and scale length. I like 19mm (3/4") string spacing, and a 889mmm scale (vs. 864mm for Fender).
The 19mm string spacing is the standard Fender four string dimension and have found that six string basses are difficult to obtain with this width bridge.
A third important dimension (and more personal) is the width at the nut.
Hang balance is important too. A neck heavy instrument gets old quickly.
Before you pay your money, be sure that the ergonomics of the prospective bass will suit you for years. If not, then the quest for a great bass continues.
I found a Veilltte MK-II 6 str Fretless that suits me beautifully. Very good for jazz but not for Blues, R&B, Rock due to lack of magnetic P/U (optional).
Originally equipped with LaBella Black Nylon flat wound strings (very nice), replaced with D,Addario Chromes (using the URB simulator to get Upright Bass tone).
- 19mm string spacing
889mm/35" Scale length
Wide nut and neck
Maccasar Ebony fingerboard
Poplar body (mellow tone wood)
Three piece quarter sawn Rock Maple neck
Dual element Piezo P/U
Active electronics.
A very nice bass for jazz, but not for all types of music.
The way I plays on a Ibanez BTB 556, I found the Neck Dimension of my bass:Being sure that the ergonomics of the prospective bass will suit you for years. If not, then the quest for a great bass continues.
I tried also a Ibanez SR 506. Here's the Neck Dimension:Scale 889mm/35"
a : Width at Nut 54mm
b : Width at Last Fret 85mm
c: Thickness at 1st 20mm
d : Thickness at 12th 22mm
Radius 1000mmR
The features:
neck type 5pc BTB6 Maple/Walnut neck
body Maple top & back/Mahogany body
fret Medium frets
bridge MR-2 bridge (17mm string spacing)
neck pu Bartolini® MK1 neck pu
bridge pu Bartolini® MK1 bridge pu
equaliser Vari-Mid IIIB 3-band eq
string Elixir® string
Scale 864mm/34"
a : Width at Nut 54mm
b : Width at Last Fret 83mm
c: Thickness at 1st 20.5mm
d : Thickness at 12th 22.5mm
Radius 400mmR
The features:
neck type 5pc SR6 Wenge/Bubinga neck
body Mahogany body
fret Medium frets
bridge B106 bridge (16.5mm string spacing)
neck pu Bartolini® MK1 neck pu
bridge pu Bartolini® MK1 bridge pu
equaliser Bartolini® MK1 3-band eq
string Elixir® string
If you looking forward for a 5 string fretless bass, just take a look on the Gary Willis fretless bass GWB35. It's less expensive than his own signature model the GWB 1005. It sounds great :Hey man, looks really a killer bass! Maurizio Rolli is one of the best italian bass players, my first teacher knows him well...another italian bass player who endorses Tune basses is Massimo Moriconi, he uses the WB5....I have the WB6 and as I told before I was thinking to put a ramp on it 'cause for quick passages would really help and maybe give more attack to the sound!
That said if this month I earn enough money (I have 12 shows and one studio work scheduled if everything goes well!) probably I'll buy the second fretless, sure it'll be a 5 string, I was thinking about a Warwick Corvette or a Cort Curbow...let me kow your opinions!
P.S: Nick, do you have the neck dimension of your Tune bassGWB35
BKF Black Flat
neck type 3pc GWB35 neck
body Basswood body
fret Fretless
bridge B105 bridge(16.5mm string spacing)
neck pu SFR-GWB custom wound pu
equaliser EQB-GWII 2-band eq
string D'Addario® EXP165 string
Neck dimension:
Scale 864mm/34"
a : Width at Nut 45mm
b : Width at Last Fret 67mm
c: Thickness at 1st 19mm
d : Thickness at 12th 21mm
Radius 305mmR
Ebonol fretboard
