My dilema

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Ripper94

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I am new to the forum. I hope I am not putting this thread in the incorrect place.

I thought this could make for a fun conversation and I may help me decide.

I want a corvette nt 2010 ltd ed. 4 string. I have been thinking about it non stop. The other day I thought it would be cool to get a fretless one and have inlays put in. Why? Because I like the fretless sound, but lack the skill and ear to play a fretless.
I contacted Warwick and the don't customize the ltd ed basses. They did say they could custom build it to the same specs, but wouldn't be signed, etc. and would cost more(haven't heard back on how much).

So do I pay more money to have it build, but it is not really one of the 300 ltd ed, and wait 6 months? Or do I get the bass as it is and go for the fretted 4 string?

I am leaning towards buying it as is.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.
 
I asked and they said they didn't do that to this bass and I would want it done by warwick.
So I came across a screaming deal and got the 2010 ltd ed.

Still interested in any feedback.... if you think I made the best choice. Oh and I am already laying the ground work for the next one :)
 
Gonna cost much more if you want the fretless because you will need to start with the double buck ash and then add the top + inlays + different fb wood + new pickups and electronics + custom routing.

I say buy the ltd as it is.
 
Hi Ripper, and welcome to the forum.

I shared my experience on the forum once, and most of the fretless players confirmed that...

I owned both lined and unlined fretless basses. I noticed that my playing and intonation were far better on the unlined ones.
The side dots are not like on fretted ones, they are placed where the frets should be. So you actually see where the position is. But then it forces you to trust your hands and ears better, and you know what? They will not let you down.

No fretless player looks at the lines, man :-) They just trust their ears.

So yeah... actually an unlined fretless seems to be a better choice.
 
Florin,

Thanks for the information. I didn't know the dots where different.
 
I also contacted warwick about defretting and it's not something they do. Nor will they replace a fretted board with a fretless one.With that said if you buy a fretted and have it defretted the dots WILL NOT be where the lines are sopose to be.If you want to just have it defretted is can be done for about 150 with lines in the states.Or you can have a darker wood installed in the fret lines so they can't be seen easily .Just make sure the fingerboard is tiger stripped/ebony.I know your pain about wanting a fretless.....I sold my fretless thumb a few months ago and have spent almost every day since then trying to find another.
 
There are fretless 2010 LTD's with ebony fingerboards & no inlays.
But I think ya did the right thing & got a fretted. It'd be tragic to buy one, only to realise that fretless isnt for you.
Now let's see some pics of this baby. They're a gorgeous model.
 
Thanks for all the input(I love this forum). I will post pictures as soon as the new bass arrives.
 
Greg said:
There are fretless 2010 LTD's with ebony fingerboards & no inlays.
But I think ya did the right thing & got a fretted. It'd be tragic to buy one, only to realise that fretless isnt for you.
Now let's see some pics of this baby. They're a gorgeous model.
Click to expand...

+1 on this. Buy yourself an inexpensive fretless and play it to death. The LTD is a beautiful bass and as you grow as a player you will appreciate having a bass of that quality. You can always have it converted to fretless in the future if fretless is your game.

Now show us the bass! :d
 
I wish there were fret lines between positions 9 and 15 :P

Godin instruments have blank fretboards but complete fret markers and dots along the side - that's my favourite setup. With fret lines without inlays on a fretless can sometimes make me go crosseyed!

EDIT: Since we're here, when I intonate my fretless, what am I considering to be 12th position? The leftmost 12th position dot marker, the rightmost, or in the middle of them? As-is it seems to be the leftmost (first) 12th position marker.
 
tracking says the bass should be in my hands tomorrow. I will get some pics up as soon as possible. trying to think of my christmas photos
 
couple questions

1) how soon should I wax the bass?
2) how often?
3) Since this is signed, I should avoid waxing over where it is signed?
 
Does it not have an oil finish? I'm pretty sure you can't have bare maple on the neck or fingerboard - that's definitely finished.
 
It has a finish on the neck, but thought I read a debate on this site regarding waxing the neck or not. If I understood/recall correctly there was a statement about waxing the neck as the oil from your hand may not reach all the areas on the neck.

I did read the manual(sorry I got excited and asked some questions before reading) and says I should wax at least 2 times a year. Not sure how soon I should dothe forst wax, but I guess the sooner the better...... so this weekend.

Thanks again for all the help.
 
The manual also said you don't need to wax oil finishes. Waxes are for bare wood, and those threads about waxing the neck referred to unfinished, usually ovangkol necks. Waxing a neck with finish on it will make the neck waxy, until the wax falls off the finish anyway :P
 
I see now. Thank you very much. I appreciate the information greatly. I am learning a lot.
 
You made the right choice...I wish I could go pick up a 2010...I envy you! I have now two dream Warwicks...okay 3....Vampyre, 2010 & an Infinity....
 
thanks. I love this bass. The infinity is on my want list as well(not sure I can afford it). I am going to go through the older LTDs. My wife is so impressed with the 2010 that she is open to me getting more(first we need to get into a house). pretty cool.
 
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