Fretless Spyder!

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Author Message keavin Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 807 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 6:07 am:    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:    "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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    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:    FTC shots! bsee Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1162 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 7:49 pm:    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:    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:    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:    Just talked to Val, the lines are maple. This should answer a few questions. Sorry, I don't know what I was smokin'.