My son and I love to frequent antique stores and pawn shops, looking for hidden gems, fountain pens, first edition books and yes, guitars and basses.
At a pawn shop, we saw a few basses and this bass caught my eye at a pawn shop, I've had the hankering to get my hands on an inexpensive lined fretless - I've played non-lined fretless basses mind you and don't have a problem with them, but wanted to have something my son or anyone pick up and play almost immediately. The tagged price was average for a used Squier VM Fretless Jazz - so didn't really instantly pique my interest. It was in great shape save for seriously needing a truss rod tightening as it had a slope going there. In looking at the 15-20 basses (quite a selection at this store), they ALL needed a truss rod adjustment. In talking with the shop owner, he mentioned he doesn't sell a lot of his basses (uh, not too surprising - with necks like these, who would buy them? ). So, if I was really interested in this bass, he would knock about $70 off the price, bringing it way below the going rate for this bass. It's a 2008 model with the Duncan Designed pickups which I actually prefer over the newer ones with the Fender designed pickups. That neck though was a risk, could it be adjusted? So he knocks off the tax due if I would be willing to take a risk (even then, I could return it if I wasn't happy with it but eat the $10 or so cost to "re-stock" it. ) Believe it or not, I shook the bass to see if I could hear any rattling which might signify a broken truss rod.
That was too good to pass up so this bass became mine. First things first, adjust the truss rod and thankfully, there was a lot of adjustment possible on the bass (in fact, I don't think it was ever adjusted other than from the factory). I got it down just right and the bass feels and plays like a dream on a budget. Nice action, sound and yes, I've had a more expensive fretless bass before and to my ears and hands, this one actually felt pretty good - not bad for the price, acoustically it was very good, not great. It certainly has "mwaahs" and has adequate sustain. I know the knobs on it aren't the original knurled chrome ones, still deciding if I want to keep it as is or get some chrome ones to put on it but that's not a big deal. The previous owner also added the thumb rest, not quite in the place I'd put it but oh well.
Makes me wonder though, what other basses may be worth taking a risk on at this pawn shop, but next time, I'll bring my allen wrenches.
At a pawn shop, we saw a few basses and this bass caught my eye at a pawn shop, I've had the hankering to get my hands on an inexpensive lined fretless - I've played non-lined fretless basses mind you and don't have a problem with them, but wanted to have something my son or anyone pick up and play almost immediately. The tagged price was average for a used Squier VM Fretless Jazz - so didn't really instantly pique my interest. It was in great shape save for seriously needing a truss rod tightening as it had a slope going there. In looking at the 15-20 basses (quite a selection at this store), they ALL needed a truss rod adjustment. In talking with the shop owner, he mentioned he doesn't sell a lot of his basses (uh, not too surprising - with necks like these, who would buy them? ). So, if I was really interested in this bass, he would knock about $70 off the price, bringing it way below the going rate for this bass. It's a 2008 model with the Duncan Designed pickups which I actually prefer over the newer ones with the Fender designed pickups. That neck though was a risk, could it be adjusted? So he knocks off the tax due if I would be willing to take a risk (even then, I could return it if I wasn't happy with it but eat the $10 or so cost to "re-stock" it. ) Believe it or not, I shook the bass to see if I could hear any rattling which might signify a broken truss rod.
That was too good to pass up so this bass became mine. First things first, adjust the truss rod and thankfully, there was a lot of adjustment possible on the bass (in fact, I don't think it was ever adjusted other than from the factory). I got it down just right and the bass feels and plays like a dream on a budget. Nice action, sound and yes, I've had a more expensive fretless bass before and to my ears and hands, this one actually felt pretty good - not bad for the price, acoustically it was very good, not great. It certainly has "mwaahs" and has adequate sustain. I know the knobs on it aren't the original knurled chrome ones, still deciding if I want to keep it as is or get some chrome ones to put on it but that's not a big deal. The previous owner also added the thumb rest, not quite in the place I'd put it but oh well.
Makes me wonder though, what other basses may be worth taking a risk on at this pawn shop, but next time, I'll bring my allen wrenches.
and another congrats on your new fretless!