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keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 807
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 6:07 am:   Edit Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/Alembic-John-Entwistle-Spyder-Fretless-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ7416791544QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
jaysimon
Junior
Username: jaysimon

Post Number: 14
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:40 pm:   Edit Post

"The neck is lined fretless, having the frets ground down to the surface. "

Would that effect tone? In theory, you could still hear the sound of metal to ebony, couldn't you?
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 583
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post

Jay,
I wouldn't think Alembic would do that unless it was custom ordered that way. I have a lined fretless Epic and the fretlines are maple.
Mike

edit: Kirk checked in below and he did order it this way from the factory.

(Message edited by dadabass2001 on May 22, 2006)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3851
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

I noticed that "ground down to the surface" line as well. Which got me to thinking. There are no inlays, so it's not a fretted bass that has had the frets subsequently ground down. Spyders come with side LEDs; and this one has the LED switch and the back plate for the battery compartment. But it doesn't appear to actually have LEDs on the side of the fretboard. However, the pictures are not large and my eyesight is not great. So for me, this bass is a bit of a mystery. However, I don't know much about Spyders; and the listing did say that it was "mint". But I'm wondering if perhaps it's not mint and that the original fretboard was pulled.
landskov
Junior
Username: landskov

Post Number: 12
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:51 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Guys,
Alembic "ground down' the frets for me when it was built, that was the best terminology I could come up with. It also has factory LEDS, I probably need to add another photo to show this better.
Thanks,
Kirk
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3854
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:37 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Kirk, thanks for setting the record straight!
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 584
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:38 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Kirk,
I apologise for not remembering your Spyder from your earlier posts. I have revised my post above.
Are you still offering it with both the standard and low (B-E-A-D) nut?

Mike
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3855
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:41 pm:   Edit Post

FTC shots!
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1162
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:49 pm:   Edit Post

So, are the LEDs at the frets as on a typical fretless or, between them like a fretted bass? If the latter, it might be relatively easy to fret if someone wanted to do that.
landskov
Junior
Username: landskov

Post Number: 13
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 8:09 pm:   Edit Post

The nut is still set up for B-E-A-D tuning. A standard nut would come from Alembic.
The LED markers are set up as on a typical fretless.
bob
Senior Member
Username: bob

Post Number: 645
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:02 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Kirk,

I'm curious. You obviously had this built as a fretless, but I have not previously heard of anyone choosing to start with metal frets and then grind them flat. If you want markers, most people seem to go with a contrasting wood inlay; those that start with a fretted instrument typically pull the fret wires and fill with some other material. So why did you choose this approach?

-Bob
landskov
Junior
Username: landskov

Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:14 pm:   Edit Post

Just talked to Val, the lines are maple. This should answer a few questions. Sorry, I don't know what I was smokin'.

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