Vintage - V940FL (Fretless)
 

[img]http://www.jhs.co.uk/vin_bass/v940fl_05.jpg[/img][img]http://www.subsonicsound.co.uk/Site%20Files/me4.jpg[/img]
[img]http://tinyurl.com/8psjm[/img]

[url=http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html]Manufacturer's Website[/url]

MSRP = £250
I paid = £220

Note - Not available outside the UK, to my knowledge.

Playing experience - Nearly three years. Tried several other fretlesses before buying this one.

Four string, 34" scale, Bubinga body, black hardware, maple neck, unlined fretless rosewood fingerboard. Two octave range (what would be 24 fret, if it had frets). Active 'Wilkinson'-brand active electronics in a P/J configuration. Controls are Volume, Treble, Bass and Pickup Balance. Bolt on neck.


This is a very nice bass.

The Bubinga body means it is fairly heavy - it's actually a little heavier than my six string. But you soon adjust to it, and if it's really a problem, a wide padded strap should more than solve it.

Everything about this bass screams "Smooth". When I pick it up, it's all I can do not to rub my face on it. The natural Bubinga finish and the un-varnished neck give it a very natural, fast feel. It's well balanced, giving me zero neckdive whether I'm standing or seated.

The tone is warm, and punchy. The active EQ offers a fair range of tones, but the bass EQ is certainly more powerful than the treble. The treble does a pretty reasonable job, but if you turn the bass up to full, you can say goodbye to your eardrums. I mean, I know fretlesses are known for being boomy, but [i]wow[/i]. All the controls have a central detente to help you find the midpoint.

The Precision pickup is a little noisier than I'd like, but every company in the world makes P/J pickups. If I'm feeling bored and rich in the future, I may replace them.

It stays in tune very well, which is always critical for a fretless. I check it every time I use it on my Boss GT-6B (review coming up later) and it seldom needs anything but the most minor tweak.

This bass also has the added advantage that if you use it, people will stop and stare. It is very, very pretty.

It is everything you'd expect from the flagship model of a very respected budget brand. I would't be surprised if in the UK Vintage outsold Squier. In fact, I'd be surprised if they didn't. They're certainly better quality. And this is the most expensive, and the most luxurious 4-stringer they do.

For the price, I find it hard to fault. I prefer this bass to basses worth twice as much.



You will not find a better fretless for the price.

4.5/5

Why do you tourcher us with this??!?!!?....WHY? :(

Nice bass btw and great review.

I have one of these too - superb bass and amazing value.

Here's mine...

[IMG]http://www.mig29.org/v940fl_1.jpg[/IMG]

Great review. I love the look of that bass so god[size=2]d[/size]amn much. SHame they don't seel outside of the UK. :(

Nice review.

Nice little fretless. Good review....well said.

Very time I see it I want it. Then I remember that if I keep spending my wages on bass then I'll never, ever learn to drive.

Its a tricky choice.

Fallen Angel

did you play the fretted version
and if so how was it

ive played the fretted version, and i have to say it is VERY nice indeed, especially for its price, a worthy purchase i must say

although, in andertons i did find one of the musicman stlye vintages and the frets were all sticking out the edges, cut my finger to pieces playing it, nasty stuff

Mmmm, the lower ranges of Vintage do vary in quality. A friend of mine has a Jazz replica which fell apart quite quickly, but I have a Stingray which is still going strong years later. No problems with the frets on it.

well im sure there are no problems with the frets on the reviewed one :thumb:

Actually no, because they're missing completely! Lazy Vintage...

Anybody know any UK websites where you can buy these? Reputable ones preferably, because the only shop near me that used to stock them has recently closed...

[url]http://www.andertonsonline.co.uk[/url]

i think they stock them (actually im pretty certain they do, theres only one shop and i was in it yesturday)

in fact, heres a direct link to the vintage section
[url]http://www.andertonsonline.co.uk/acatalog/Vintage_Bass_Guit.html[/url]

Yeah, my bro has one of these basses, and therfore I own this bass too. Its very nice.

/was first to own one

Mine seems to be a lot more orangy than all these ones.

Thank you very much for the links :thumb:

And some more V940 pics...

[IMG]http://www.mig29.org/v940door.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.mig29.org/v940close.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.mig29.org/v940pup.jpg[/IMG]

Mmm... god they're good looking instruments. Yours has a darker grain of Bubinga than mine, from the look of it.

Im sure i've seen a fretted version of this , then again , i may be wrong , I normally am.

yeah you probably have, they arent uncommon

[QUOTE=Wintermute]
[img]http://l00072.myspace.com/00072/78/21/72731287_l.jpg[/img]
[/QUOTE]

looks like someone is a geek and play morrowind :wave:

Heh... I can't wait for Elder Scrolls IV - Oblivion. Looks like it's going to be fantastic.

But if you've recognised a map of Vvardenfell, you're hardly one to talk :p

Vintage is one of the UK's best kept secrets.

I have 3 Vintage instruments (2 x guitar, 1 x bass) and I love them.

I just wish they did a 6 string version of something :upset:

[QUOTE=Random.bass.player.]Im sure i've seen a fretted version of this , then again , i may be wrong , I normally am.[/QUOTE]

Yes, there's a fretted version, and a five string fretted version.

Well, I played one of these today and.. WOW!! I absolutely loved it! I could have sat there for hours and hours working on my intonation and playing with its beautiful sounds! Im hoping I can play on yours for quite a while Alex! I want one for myself but not until ive gave it a reeally good tryout :)

Heh... you can play on mine for as long as you like. I'll be doing the same with your bass, after all :D

Oh, and in the review I commented about a noisy Precision pickup, but it turns out that the P pickup is just more susceptable to interferance than the Jazz pickup. In my Uni room, with a constantly running computer, next to a water heater, etc, etc. it could get a little noisy, but at home, with massive thick stone walls, the pickup is near noiseless.

[QUOTE]Yes, there's a fretted version, and a five string fretted version.[/QUOTE]
Im not a fretless person, you think it would be worth investing in a fretted one ? [im on a squier jazz now]

[QUOTE=Random.bass.player.]Im not a fretless person, you think it would be worth investing in a fretted one ? [im on a squier jazz now][/QUOTE]

It's a good fretless bass, but a fretted version would be entirely different.

I don't think it'd be a huge improvement from a Squier (although definitely some improvement). I think you should aim a little higher really.