Fender USA Tony Franklin
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
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Tony Franklin Explaining his Unlined Fretless: • Tony Franklin • Illust...
Fender USA Tony Franklin Signature Bass: www.fender.com...
Hey Everyone! This bass review has been a long time coming (shout out to Brooks!). I've been wanting to review one of these for a while, but I always felt they were out of reach with Fender's prices always creeping up. I was lucky enough to snag a mint one on Reverb and I am so happy with it! This bass has so many neat features including nitro finish everywhere, a fretless unlined ebony fingerboard, DiMarzio Model J DP123 bridge pickup, and more mwah than an old lady visiting her grand kids. Let's check this thing out!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
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Thanks for the great review!
For the record, I initially experimented with a high mass bridge. It changed the tone so drastically I couldn’t use it. It added extra lows, extra highs and messed with the mids. Sure the vintage 70’s bridge isn’t so stable as the high mass, but the tone is perfect to my ears. 🤷♂️🤩 Just sayin’!
Wow! Thanks for the great comment Tony! You ROCK!
I prefer the vintage style with the single slot for the string. I have a Pro-II Jazz Bass with the Hi-Mass bridge and the muti-slots for the strings might be ok for some people, but on mine none of the choices seem to line the strings up correctly with the pole pieces. My 78 P-Bass with the vintage bridge has the single slot, and the string has no choice but to be perfectly aligned.
Tony my man. How you been?!
I love traditional bridges, everything just seems a bit more natural sounding
It sounds like a dream, almost like a j bass..amazing
No beard, no frets. It`s a whole new channel. That baby sounds great.
And with the new Ampeg
I was able to try one of these. Amazing but then I saw the price tag and got sad. I wish I had enough money. Also, Tony Franklin's youtube channel is great. He's super humble and answers most questions.
It's a high price tag for sure. If it was more like $1,499 I'd be really really interested. Idk, I just feel like I can get a better bang for a buck elsewhere. I love my mtd kingston fretless for instance. Got it for almost half the price of this.
한국에서 사려면 구하기도 어렵고 가격도 5천달러가 넘어😅
DANG.... who is this young guy with the same voice as Ol' Lobster...? That's a pretty nice Fender Indeed..! HAPPY DAD's DAY Mister..!!
I was not prepared for how good that instrument sounds! Amazing tones, and your joy is more than apparent. Great video!
Really wish I grabbed one of these before inflation took off!
One of Fenders finest models.
I really enjoyed Mr. Franklins videos too. Such an awesome dude.
Enjoy that bass Lobster!
Agree on all points. Not a fretless player, but often think that playing one would open more doors and really make me stretch not just regarding technique but as a thinker.
Years ago, I thought about grabbing a Mexican-made fretless J (even though I prefer a P neck), balked, played a TF model ONCE and loved it. Shoulda bought it then.
And, yes, his videos definitely grab and hold us--seems like a generous, straight-shooting good soul.
Had a warped T-40 neck made into an ebony fretless board like this and it is just phenomenal. You can't really appreciate how slick an ebony fretless board feels until you start moving around on one.
I've been watching Tony's channel for a while now. Great guy and amazing bassist. THis is actually one of the very few Fender products I would actually consider buying but the price tag is ridiculous. Maybe I can find a used one someday.
I scored this one second hand from pro audio star with the plastic still on it! Saved almost a grand!
@@LowEndLobster Well done boss. THat's still a lot of cash for a bass. THink I might just mod my gsr200 to fretless. If I screw it up it won't be that big a loss.
@@ronviejo4994 Also, you can also probably save a bit of cash doing something like going the warmoth route. a bit more work, but in exchange a bit more customizability.
@@Mebibit And resale value will be in the toilet with Warmoth. Not that Warmoth is bad (they are awesome) but it's a consideration.
@@LowEndLobstersingle boxed? I love me some proaudiostar but shipping is always sketch.
I’ve had a TF fretless for 6 years. Absolutely stunning fretless bass. Does everything I want. I’ve owned many fretless basses, and this one takes the cake. Custom shop construction too. May be the best bass fender makes. 10/10
Don’t change the bridge; on a fretless, you need that additional travel that most high mass bridges won’t allow. Nothing wrong with it.
Too late but the new bridge is sweet
Just saw the video on why Tony prefers unlined fret-boards. Its real interesting. Makes you think different about note placement.
I love my fretted TF bass. It's my number one. Near custom shop quality, tone and playability.
Me too!
Lobster, I agree with you; this is one of Fender’s very best basses.
I dig it. Probably my favourite sounding of the fretlesses that you've reviewed. Would love to see a comparison video where you just demonstrate those vibratos at 7:38.
I’ve had one of these for a couple of years(all black version). This is a close to FCS as you’re going to get. I loved it so much, I built a fretted version from TheStratosphere take-a-parts.
It is FCS as far as I’m concerned- it’s expensive,until you realize that- then it’s a bargain when you do
Stratosphere rules!
I have the exact same bass. I swapped out the bridge for a Badass bridge. Makes a difference. It’s my main bass. I absolutely love it! I’ll probably swap out the tuners later this year.
The fretted version is outstanding. Favorite bass fender has made. I was so blown away when I played one (I previously hated fenders) I bought an American fender p bass and put a dimarzio model j and 3 way selector in it. Why not just buy a TF signature? I got the other p bass at a price I couldn’t refuse. So I just made the necessary mods to turn it into a fretted TF
Great demo! Great bass!
Tony Franklin was the first fretless bass I heard after I started playing.
Radioactive by The Firm was eye-opening for me. I didn't even know that fretless bass existed at that point...
That is one gorgeous PJ Bass
Tara's theme sounds incredible on this thing! as well as Saria's Song, as always
This is unironically the best bass Fender makes. I've never had a P bass that neck dives, is yours particularly light weight?
This may be my favorite Lobster video. I’ve had my eye on this one for a few years now - my only reservations were the unlined fingerboard and the price. I have a Fender American Standard fretless that I’ve modded, but this is much better. I think I’ll pull the trigger as soon as I can.
The slap was amazing and was my favorite part - Graceland-y. I don’t think I’ve seen Tony use that technique.
Love the videos!
Unlined board isn't too bad as long as you pay attention to your left hand posture. If you've got good muscle memory (i.e. playing the same scales/arpeggios/intervals the same way each time) then it takes about a week to have pretty good intonation. If you're one of those players that just does whatever works without attention to consistent posture then you'll probably have a bad time.
I bought mine in 2013 new ay about half of current retail and have no regrets. The sunburst has aged well. Highly recommend. That blue is great looking too.
Tony Franklin also has a really interesting RUclips channel and he often responds to commentators as well.
Better be nice with Tony's name on it. Love the color. Also refer to any of Tony's videos to hear how the master himself makes that pretty bass sound.
Great review! My GAS has moved on this since wanting one of these many years ago (at around $1700 if I remember correctly) but yes, still a great fretless bass and probably one of the best flagship artist series instruments they have ever made. I think one aspect that had me pass on these was the hefty weight from other owners comments but, yours seems to be in the reasonable weight range. Can't really say anything else bad about this model. Great bass, great musician. Enjoy that one!
Awesome, Lobster, including your pajama bottoms! Yes, hearing you play it, I may eventually get a TF signature model. Especially for their recent pricing structure, I find that Fender lacks the bang-for buck to be found with many other brands today. Nevertheless, THIS one really gets my attention, particularly as a fretless. You’re achieving really good “ muaaah” without bringing your right hand all the way up to the bottom of the neck, as required on many other fretless basses. Very impressive!
Thanks Vincent! It's truly an incredible instrument. The notes just bloom gorgeously and dance off my fingertips.
This is the only fender PJ I've tried that comes stock with nicely matched PJ pickups in terms of output. It's a killer PJ set. I just wish they still made the fretted version! I got a Tony Franlin body and american pro jazz neck from Stratospher and put them together. You miss the sweet nitro finish on the TF neck going this rout, but the American Pro neck does come with ultra light tuners which is nice.
Sounds great, I just had the Nordy single coil J swapped to a Model J in my custom PJ Jaguar. I was never happy with how it mixed with the NP4 pickup. This video reassures me that I made a good choice.
Unfortunately, my bass is in the shop until the weekend, so I can't try it out myself.
Hey Lobster. I've got D-tuners on my Fender American P and My MIM Fender Nate Mendal P. No neck dive issues on either of those. The biggest reasons though, for me, are that I can go to drop D and back again without changing basses or Amp/EQ settings in an instant. The other is that I just don't like the extra girth and weight of most 5 string basses. Besides a D-tuner is a LOT less expensive than a 5 string. Even a Harley Benton 5 string ;-)
Man now I think I need one too.
I could listen to you wail any bass you play all day. Thanks.
I've been wanting that bass for a few years now. I would totally replace the bridge and the tuners for Hipshot
Thank you for the review. I've had my eye on one of these for a while. I currently have a Lakland 44-64 PJ with a lined ebony neck that is serving me well. For over $2K, it's just hard to make this purchase. With that said, all reviews I've read say this may be Fender's best bass. And Tony Franklin is the man! I love his RUclips channel and I've taken his online fretless bass course. Thanks Lobster!
I have one of these bad boys and I can tell you there’s nothing like it.
Great video and review 👍🏻
Lobster, great video and now I'm going to buy one after watching this. BTW as with most people, you look 10 yrs younger without the chin hair (not that you looked old to begin with). Thanks for the great review, I'm pulling out my credit card as soon as I submit this comment, cheers!
Great review. Great comment by Tony. And thanks so much for linking to his video on unlined fretless basses. I started playing bass in '67, and I'm still learning. 👍
I'm really digging the color!
I love this bass. A fretless bass that slaps is AN AWESOE FRETLESS! And I subscribe to his channel. He's fun to watch and talk to.
I did something similar to my '75 P bass back in the early eighties but I put a EMG PJ combo in it and had he neck defretted. That neck is done and is now a roasted maple Mexican replacement which is fantastic. I'm building a 4 string fretless from parts that I ordered with an unmarked finger board made of luminol and the body is PJ with an F hole. Pickups are undecided.
Thanks!
What a cool bass, something ironic about it being a precision bass with no frets though considerig why they got called precision. Super cool though, i dont feel id have the skills for a fretless but I'd love to try one.
I have had the sunburst TF for almost 10 years. Such a fun bass. Ive had alot of nice basses over the years and this is one of two Keepers that I own. the other is a US Lakland JO-sonic that I bought at the first LOG get together at the Factory. Dan Lakin said that it was built for Tim Commerford.
This is the coolest looking fretless on the market. But I can't see myself getting an unlined fretless. Just feels like it makes the instrument unnecessarily hard for no real advantage. Heck, I even put dot inlays on my fretted Aerodyne bass because it was too easy to lose yourself on the higher frets.
Well so glad you finally test drove the franklin! Great review! Ill stop buggong uu now LOL. but u didnt mention me and make me famous! I love u and your channel anyway! Enjoy lobster!
I did in the description, I forgot ;P hahahaha dude this thing rules
@@LowEndLobster sweet brother! She is a good one.
looks gorgeous thanks for the review :)
FFVI Theme, I thought I knew that tune. Very nice, and great review. Thank you!
No Lobsters harmed in this positive Fender review.
wow that sound! i own a couple Fender P Basses...they can be hit or miss on the Player series but if you go higher in price the more you get in my opinion ( to a certain point) . i would never go for Custom shop...there are better options...to me my Nate Mendel P bass is the best of them all😊...greets
Sounds amazing. And for the money, IT SHOULD. The neck dive is an oversight that is hard to swallow especially for the price. It shouldn’t require aftermarket fixes. Yes, people change electronics for certain preferences, but who prefers neck dive? It’s like buying a new car and finding out that floor mats are extra cost, and you have to pay extra to fix something that should have been right/standard in the first place.
Precision basses are just so cool, man. That P Pickup is so growly!
I'd really love it if you reviewed a Dunable DE-R2! I got one and i think I'm in love
Great looking and sounding bass! No way at this point could I pull off an unlined fretless. I can barely manage a lined neck for most tunes. Also too much $$ for me as well. Nice review lobster, maybe some day?!
You have twice as many subscribers as Tony Franklin 🤔😉... Tony's channel is great.. He points out that the dot markers on the neck of this bass is where you put your fingers unlike a lined fretless bass.. Great review ❤
Hahaha that baffles me. He's such a monster player and great dude. Thank you!
My favorite bass among my collection ❤
I just got one of these a month ago and it is a fantastic bass!
Thank you for the Zelda music; I wasn’t expecting it, and it damn sure made me smile.
Lost Woods (Ocarina of Time).
I do love this Bass! Thank you for the video!
The entire first Firm album was recorded on Tony's original version of his fretless bass.
Finaly got here on a New Video day Woo Hoo, i havent had a fretless since the 70s i should get one
Please, pick a Shecter Stiletto custom 5 to review.
This bass sounds killer!
I really dig these. I have played a fretted one and it was great. It looked like an American Vintage PJ which doesn't exist in the lineup. Which is a shame. I think if these came in 10 vintage colors people would collect them. I wonder if a 3 way mini switch would work just as well instead of the spring loaded guitar 3 way switch. If Sire did a passive PJ5/PJ5R.
I agree with 4/5 and found your criticism fair. Nice video.
I recently bought an sr 705 fretless from ibanez. Should review my bass!
Sounds incredible. what a bass.
Neck pup w/ tone at 100%= 6:40
Neck pup w/ tone at 50%= 7:25
Neck pup w/ tone at 0%= 7:59
Bridge pup w/ tone at 100%= 8:50
Bridge pup w/ tone at 50%= 10:42
Bridge pup w/ tone at 0%= 11:18
Both pups w/ tone at 100%= 12:00
Both pups w/ tone at 50%= 12:37
Both pups w/ tone at 0%= 13:47
The Babicz FCH-4 bridge would look so awesome on this bass! And it's a drop-in replacement as well.
Btw, are the Res-O-Lite tuners lighter than the Hipshot Ultra Lights?
Ultra lights are definitely not a drop in replacement.
@@xdoctorblindx Yeah, you're right. I was thinking about when I changed the tuners on my Warwick 🤦
This is one of my can do anything Bass i love it.. just fun to play..
Dat Tommy the cat tho!
Thank you!
Nice bass. But that amount of neck dive on a fretless is concerning.
When you factor the current inflation rate (which isn't going away) the price is...normal. "Normal" being completely subjective. Find a dealer who is willing to "deal" and you can probably save another 15%.
Still a really nice bass even given the $$$.
Very nice, most fenders need a bridge and tuners. Congrats
Awesome bass. I could do without the black pearloid pickguard, but that’s an easy swap.
Absolutely stunning bass!
Great beardless fretless review!
Niiiiice bassss
It sounds beyond amazing, im sincerely jealous..future purchase..maby..😂
I was really close to buying one of these right before the price jumped by 4 or 5 hundred dollars. I got priced out. Too bad. I really wanted a no-line fretless and this is one of the only good offerings on the market. I'd still like to get one... but it's going to take a bit more time.
18:17 You know it's a good tone when the auto CC throws in "oh. Yeah."
Looking good sound good
In Europe it is sold for 3000 euros, it is incredible how overpriced are basses overhere!
Tariffs?
Genuinely thinking of going fretless and this may just have swung it
amazing growl!!
Not a Fender fan but this one is a winner.
I really wish they had the 60s position for the bridge pickup. The 70s position that it's in is too gargly.
It's an awesome bass, I do agree and I'm not a fan of the bridge either. The price is steep however.
Hi! Awesome! What are you playing through? An amp? Amp model?
Check out the video linked in the description that goes over my signal chain
Looks at poster image and thinks, who is Tony Franlin?
LOL I gotta fix that when I get home
Thanks for the great review. How would you compare this with the Stingray Special BFR fretless which you reviewed a couple of years ago?
It sounds huge on my phone's speakers!
.... Price tag out of range for me though
Which gotoh bridge are you getting? I wanna get some gotoh resolites for my P5, but I found these gold hipshot lollipop tuners I kinda have to have. I almost got the les claypool pick ups but I kinda want the dimarzio relentless pick ups. I don't know if I wanna make it active and I never tried neo pick ups before
Not a fretless...but have you (or anyone reading) had a chance to play the Fender MIJ limited P or J basses? If so...opinions?
Hey Leonard, where is Sheldon ?
Sneaking Terra's theme in there.
Lobster molted
The reason I dislike fender is I've wanted this bass for a couple years , started at $1795 1 1/2 years ago now there like $2200 and probably going up.
Before today I didn’t know you could put round wounds on fretless. I thought they would destroy the fretboard.
They generally don't. Unless the board is maple or unusually soft rosewood. Most rosewood will be fine, and ebony and pau ferro are perfectly fine.
Should call it the Fender IMprecision bass if it’s fretless 😊
Now do the USA Jaco sig.
I muß the claw rating. Why is that gone?
It's still there. You made me check LOL
Not why you like it so much. Neck dive, gonna replace tuners and bridge on a $2000 bass?
Does anyone make a half-way decent short scale fretless that doesn’t cost over $1k? Or should I just convert something?
Sounds mostly like a angry bumble bee 🐝
Ff6! Whoa love it