The Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass guitar is built with input from the bassist who has played with the Firm, Whitesnake, David Gilmour, and many others.
It has an alder body and a modern C-shaped maple neck with an unfinished, unfretted ebony fingerboard with side dot position markers. That trademark growl comes from an American Series Precision Bass neck pickup and a Tony Franklin signature Jazz Bass bridge pickup with hex screw lugs and bar ceramic magnets. Other features include vintage tuning machines with a Hipshot Bass Xtender Drop D tuning key on the "E" string to get way down low, and three-way switching for maximum tonal choices.
Alder body
Modern C-shaped maple neck
Unfinished, unfretted ebony fingerboard
Side dot position marker
American Series Precision Bass neck pickup
Tony Franklin signature Jazz Bass bridge pickup with hex screw lugs and bar ceramic magnets
Vintage tuning machines
Hipshot Bass Xtender Drop D tuning key on the "E" string
Three-way switching for maximum tonal choices
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Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling
and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a
complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks
Normal wear and tear
Power surges
Dust, internal heat and humidity
Other plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks)
For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax.
Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement
Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold
Plans are renewable on new gear
*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.
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I've been playing semi-pro for over 30 years, and my go-to basses have been Rickenbackers, but the stable holds some Fender and Gibson instruments, as well. Never been a big fretless player, but picked this up on a whim and it is my new workhorse. Honestly, the best-sounding bass I've ever played. The craftsmanship is Fender Custom Shop caliber, and the range of tones this beauty produces covers anything I might want to play, from rock to jazz to pit orchestras for musical theater. I picked up my Rick the other day and it felt like playing with Duplos after having experienced Legos. I honestly can't imagine myself using any other bass ever again. I love it THAT much.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.I've been playing for 40 years and have come to know what to expect from a bass. Have had this bass for 10 days. I agree in general with the other reviews here - this bass is nice to play, it has a very good feel. However, the issues so far are:
1) the G string has a dead spot around the 6th-7th 'fret' area (C#-D)
2) the D string has a dead harmonic at the 5th 'fret' area (G)
3) the E string saddle unscrews itself. After 3 hours of playing the E string was buzzing on the fretboard. After examining the instrument, I found that the saddle was down as far as it could go. A considerable change from the original setup condition that it arrived in.
If this was a lesser Squire model, I could understand issues 1+2. I've never had or seen a bass with issue 3 and it's not acceptable at any level.
I'll be contacting Fender about these issues next. With the understanding that the street price for this bass is $1700, my question is: How much do you have to pay for great bass?
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.A very playable fretless bass with classic Fender tone. Switch it to the bridge Jazz pickup & plug the bass into a Cry Baby wah & see what happens. Play it with both pickups & it is full & bright. Play it on the neck pickup & you have the classic P-Bass tone. This thing is smooth & has a lot of punch. I LOVE IT!!!
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.This is my first fretless I have the black on black just like Tony's orginal. I am a Rock/Pop/Reggae player and I'm partial to P-basses. The ebony board is essential for rock playing because you can use roundwound strings and dig in really deep. It has all the growl and dirt of any fretted P but man or man does it grind hard.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.Very heavy neck dives all the time. Center of gravity is located on the neck beyond the area of the body. Ebony still shows wear from round wounds fairly quickly. Probably the best you can do, however. Flats might be cool on it and the range of tones is nice. Good overall workmanship for Fender but the value drops with the neck. This is, unfortunately, the only unlined Fender bass currently in production. I may have to make my own from parts to get it right.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.Just awsome. The bass plays like a dream and the growl is just sweet. I don't think I can ever go back to frets after playing this... I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a fretless, there's nothing better.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.This is easily the best fretless bass that I have ever played. The electronics and ebony fretboard are great additions to the P-Bass. The Hip shot D-tuner is awesome.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.The neck on this instrument is not very responsive. The range of tones is unusual, and better than a fretless P-Bass, but not as good my fretless jazz. The drop D works fine, but I doubt I'd use it. Too expensive for what you get.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.I sat and played one of these and was really impressed! If you like fenders, and are in the market for a fretless, this should be on your list of try-outs. The neck and fretboard felt like butter. I'm still thinking about the experience. My only setback is the price.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
.Ive owned, sold, traded, and purchased several fretless (and fretted) basses. At the time I purchased this (from Custom Guitars Friend) I did not currently have a fretless bass. Now that I've owned and played this Tony Franklin model for several months I can honestly say its easily the finest fretless you can buy for well under $2K. If money weren't a concern, I would have undoubtably re-purchased a Pedulla MVP Buzz bass (about the sickest fretless bass ever made).
I had no idea who Tony Franklin was when I bought this, but I knew I wanted a quality fretless with an ebony fretboard, no fret lines, and classic-to-professional workmanship.
Before buyin this one I also looked at and played a Godin fretless (very nice), and had just traded in a Carvin LB-50 fretless (not what I needed it to be).
Between the Carvin, the Godin, and this Fender Custom shop fretless,..the Fender was easily the better purchase, the better bass,..and the sweetest looking. As mentioned in reviews above, it is neck heavy,..but thats easily solved by shortening you strap (just get used to playing it higher on your body than you other bass,..its gonna be different than your main axe and you should expect that of any bass,..they are all different).
The case it came with is exceptional for a stock case,..and the sunburst finish is just outstanding! I put a set of medium gauge DR Sunbeams on this, and it sounds epic. Sure, the nickel strings make minute marks on the finger board, but so what,..they leave no serious impact thats detrimental,...(and if you actually wear into the neck that badly then you're playing like a monster and its time to have your bass worked on,..consider that a badge of honor :-)
Its the sweetest fretless for the money. The next step up is a boutique custom fretless. If you can't spend more than 2K on a fretless,..get this one. If you can afford more,..def go with a Pedulla Buzz Bass,..(Bar-none the finest fretless ever made,..but this Fender Custom is an excellent, even supreme, second choice to that).
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Black
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