Tony Franklin is one of the best-known fretless players in rock, with session work and stints with Roy Harper, The Firm and Blue Murder, and his signature Precision Bass is made in the USA to his spec. The ebony fingerboard has no frets and no line markers, only side dots, so you play by ear and by feel.
He adds a DiMarzio Model J at the bridge to the Precision split-coil, with a three-way blade to choose either pickup or both. A Hipshot Bass Xtender on the E string drops it to D with a flick of the lever. The modern "C" neck has a 9.5" radius and a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, the bridge uses single-groove steel barrel saddles, and it comes strung with his signature strings in a vintage-style hardshell case.
For a fretless with inlaid fret lines as a guide, look at the Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass. The Tony Franklin comes in Lake Placid Blue or Black.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA
Body Material: Select Alder
Body Finish: Gloss Lacquer
Body Shape: Precision Bass
Pickguard: 4-Ply Black Moto or 3-Ply Black (by finish)
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: Modern "C"
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Position Inlays: Side Dot
Number of Frets: Fretless
Fret Size: Fretless
Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 1.625" (41.3 mm)
Scale Length: 34" (864 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Model J DP123
Middle Pickup: Tony Franklin American Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
Pickup Configuration: SS
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Jazz Bass Pickup. Position 2. Jazz Bass and Precision Bass Pickups. Position 3. Precision Bass Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: 4-Saddle American Vintage Bass with Single-Groove Steel "Barrel" Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear with Hipshot Bass Xtender "Drop D" on the E String
Pickup Covers: Black
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
Strap Buttons: Vintage-Style
Strings: Tony Franklin Signature Strings, Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.105 Gauges)
CASE
Case: Vintage-Style Hardshell