Frank Zappa

FlyGuitars After Mahavishnu, you played with Frank Zappa.

Ralphe Armstrong After Mahavishnu, I played with Santana, and then Frank Zappa. We did some recording. I was originally supposed to play with Santana, but John McLaughlin had leeway and talked him out of hiring me. Santana bought my first class airline ticket to go out to San Francisco to record. I also played with Jeff Beck. I played with so many people man, I need to sit down and document.

FlyGuitars What was it like working with Frank?

Ralphe Armstrong He was a disciplinarian, a lot of hard work. Like being in an army. He gave me a lot of freedom, though. He was cool. We did a tribute; me and Napoleon Murphy Brock were together recently; we played a jazz festival last year.

Jean-Luc Ponty: Live. Ralphe describes this album as the "best example of my electric bass playing on record."

Jean-Luc Ponty: Enigmatic Ocean

Jean-Luc Ponty

FlyGuitars You are also known for your work with Jean-Luc Ponty.

Ralphe Armstrong I met Jean-Luc in Mahavishnu, and about two years after it broke up, he started a new band.

FlyGuitars Did Jean-Luc let you play what you wanted, or was everything composed?

Ralphe Armstrong He had things written out but I was able to come up with my own bass parts.

FlyGuitars You did some cutting edge stuff with Jean-Luc Ponty. He certainly gave you a lot of space.

Ralphe Armstrong Wait till you hear my fretless recording from 1998. It’s coming out on my web site and I will have it for sale soon. I am with Harmony Network and it will be for sale soon. Live At The Ford Festival. I just played at New York at Carnegie hall with James Carter, playing string bass.

FlyGuitars You've played with a lot more people than we've talked about so far. Would you care to name a few more?

Ralphe Armstrong I played with Marshall Tucker Band, Louie Bellson, Steve Allen, Elliot Easton of the Cars, Kenny Burrell, Curtis Mayfield - I did his last CD New World Order. I did something with Lenny White, a classical aura with the bow.

FlyGuitars Tell me about your use of effects.

Ralphe Armstrong I was a big fan of Jimi Hendrix; I used this thing called Maestro Bass Brassmaster, but now [I use] Digitech.

The Maestro BB-1 Bass Brassmaster and OB-2 Octave box
In 1976 Ralphe said of the Brassmaster, "It makes the bass sound like a trombone. I love it. It's the only device that I like, other than Maestro's Octave box"

FlyGuitars What kind of strings do you like to use?

Ralphe Armstrong I like half wounds for fretless, with low action. With a fretted bass with funk, I like round wounds

FlyGuitars I read you dropped out of the music scene to raise your family in Detroit, but play in local Detroit music clubs?

Ralphe Armstrong Right now I’m back & traveling. I'm with a new company and am working on a recording project with my self and Narada Michael Walden. We're calling it the “Fusion Reunion”. Were going to have some concerts, and have Wallace Roney do some trumpet and Vernon Reid (from Living Colour) to help too. Vernon came and played at the festival two years ago. Maybe George Duke. We might do something in October.

FlyGuitars What’s your Musical direction today?

Ralphe Armstrong I played with D-12; you know, Eminem'’s group. I did two recordings. I play hip-hop. I'm not into one thing; I’'m like Miles: I got to keep pushing forward. He even had had me wear gaiters & gangster hats and triple OG and a DJ. These young kids- young guys have a fit, seeing me play all kinds of stuff, man.

Fretless bass guitars for sale

Flyguitars.com is funded by its visitors. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. For more info see terms and conditions.

1970s Fernandes Burny Bass FPB-70FL Fretless Maple Board Vintage P Bass, Japan

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1600

Up for sale, a 1970s Fernandes Burny Bass model FPB-70FL in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This Fernandes fretless bass is a particularly rare model with a unique feature set, capturing the finer points of a Precision Bass with an ash body and a maple neck capped with a bound, un-lined maple fretboard. And with a slender 1 1 / 2" nut width (in-line with a Jazz Bass), this fretless model has a particularly fast, effortless feel
Bright, hyper articulate and ... more

1979 Fender Precision Bass Antigua FRETLESS Maple Neck Vintage 1970's P-Bass

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 640**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4750

1979 Fender Precision Bass Antigua FRETLESS Maple Neck!
This is a very nice 1979 fender Precision bass In Antigua. The serial number and pots date to 1979, but pickups are 1980 so technically a 1980 with the S9 serial number which is common. S9 went from 1979 to 1982 ish. It's a rare fretless maple neck version. The base is super clean with only a few minor scratches and dings as shown. If not for the little spot on the guard, it would be very close to collector grade. The antigua ... more

1967 Ampeg SSUB-1 unfretted / fretless Bass Cherry-Red w / original gig bag

Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5490

Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this rare 1967 Ampeg SSUB-1 short-scale bass in its original Cherry-Red finish. It has a great playing neck. It's all original and 100% complete with the exception of the bridge cover. The original gig bag is included. There are lots of nicks + dings, finish checking, some belt buckle wear and other cosmetic wear. The bass itself remains structurally sound with no cracks, breaks or repairs. All electronics work and ... more

1983 Fender Precision Walnut Elite Fretless Bass owned 35 years truly Minty !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7495

After the CBS takeover of Fender in the mid-1960's, the following 1970's decade brought about many changes. The guitar market was booming and most U S. musical instrument manufactures attempted to produce their instruments faster and for less money. The Fender instruments suffered a gradual sloppiness associated with the fit and finishes and a subsequent "body bloat" that their instruments experienced up to and including 1981. Simultaneously, Fender's own off-shore manufactured instruments were ... more

1976 Rickenbacker 4001 FL Fretless Jetglo

Verona, Pennsylvania, 151**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

An uncommon Rickenbacker 4001FL made in December 1976. Overall a clean bass with some small signs of use. Fully functional truss rods and adjustable action. What a growl, too! The neck is mighty comfortable and conducive to fast movement.

Neck width at nut: 1 64??
Neck width at 12th position: 2 08??
Weight: 9 lbs. 9 5 oz

There is a small cloudy patch in the finish on the back of the body along with a handful of dings closer to the jack plate. Chrome is missing from ... more

1971 Fender Precision Bass with Warmoth Fretless Neck (modified)

Poway, California, 920**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2495

This bass has an incredible history. The bass started life as a 1971 Fender Precision bass. A few years later, the Schecter Guitar Research company in Van Nuys, California did an upgrade and added Bartoline pickups, changed to a Bad Ass II bridge, changed to a Schecter chrome plated brass pick guard, and redid the electronics using Bourns high performance potentiometers which was Schecter's trademark. Around the late 80s, the neck was upgraded to a Wormoth fretless. The Schaller tuning machines ... more

Hohner Bartell Semi-Hollow Fretless Bass Black 1960s

Raymond, California, 936**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2250

The Hohner Bartell Semi-Hollow Fretless Bass Guitar in black is a professional-level electric bass with a semi-hollow body design. This right-handed 4-string bass features a fretless poplar fretboard and neck, suitable for experienced players looking for a unique playing experience. The bass comes with a hard case for safe storage and transport. This vintage model from the 1960s showcases Hohner's quality craftsmanship and is ideal for musicians seeking a distinct sound and aesthetic in ... more

Vintage 1977 Fender Precision Fretless Bass

Costa Mesa, California, 926**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2999

You're looking at a vintage 1977 / 78 Fender Fretless Precision Bass in a beautiful 3-tone sunburst. The bass has the coolest vibes, sounds awesome and plays great
A few things to point out
- Missing bridge cover
- Missing pickup cover
- No case is included
- Pickguard is not original
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Serial Number: S750442
- Model: Precision Fretless Bass
- Manufactured Date: 1977 / 1978
- Manufactured Location: United States
- Weight: 9lbs 8 7oz
- ... more

Phillip Kubicki 1984 Koa Very Rare Fretless Bass . One Of A Kind.

Raleigh, North Carolina, 276**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3300

This Phillip Kubicki 1984 Koa Fretless Bass is a true gem for any musician. With its unique body type and rare koa material, it is a one-of-a-kind instrument that will elevate your music to the next level. The bass is in excellent shape and has been well-maintained over the years, ensuring its longevity and playability

This bass is perfect for any musician who wants a high-quality, reliable instrument. Its fretless design allows for smooth and comfortable play, while the koa material... more

1976 Fender Fretless P Bass Mocha Brown

Syracuse, New York, 132**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5000

... more

1976 Rickenbacker 4001 Fretless Bass very rare example that's a beat sweet bass.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4995

This is a very clean & extremely good looking 1976 Rickenbacker 4001 Fretless Bass that has all the right stuff. Its Fireglo finish as yellowed a bit & is worn in w / a cool factor & a ton of Patina. Its fretless fingerboard is nicely figured w / a ton of finish wear from regular use. Its got both its original rhythm & bridge pickups. Plays & intonates quite well. It??s got a rare neck thru of maple w / a single walnut stripe. Its very good overall & ready to use & ... more

1976 HOYER EB BASS - FRETLESS - JACK BRUCE SOUND

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€739

1976 HOYER EB BASS -- made in GERMANY -- FRETLESS :
+ mahagony body finished in wine red, has lots of wear=check last 2 pics
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, frets were removed, previous owner has inlaid a new name into the headstock, starts with G, 4 bolt neck construction
+ 2 humbuckers
+ chrome parts
+ low action
+ sounds very JACK BRUCE !
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
ATTENTION! OVER 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS ... more

Ibanez Musician MC940 DS Dark Stain Fretless Sting 1984

Ribadeo, 27***, SPAIN

€2190

IbanezMusician MC940 DS Dark Stain Fretless Sting 1984 ?? 2390??
Popularizedby Police frontman Sting, among many other well-known Ibanez MC series bassplayers (Adam Clayton, John McVie, John Entwistle, Cliff Burton, Mark Egan, DeeDee Ramone, Billy Sheehan, Mike Porcaro, Victor Bailey, Martin Kemp, Ian Burdenand the list goes on) this super cool ALL ORIGINAL 1984 Ibanez Musician MC940fretless bass is an absolute dream to play. Featuring a neck-thru design withgorgeous, dark-stained ash wings ... more

1979 / 82 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1850

1979 / 82 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - made in USA :
* FRETLESS version, rare
* fingerboard is clean
* extra tuner screw holes on back
* finish is clean
* 1979 serial number on headstock, butt stamp is 11 3 82
* neck is straight
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more

1972 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1597

1972 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK- made in USA:
* converted to FRETLESS, slots are filled with wood putty
* last 3 frets have some double cuts and are filled a bit UNPRO
* headstock has a few small holes drilled at top end
* finish on back has wear
* neck is straight
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!
... more

Aria pro2 Magna series fretless bass

Coleford, GL16***, UNITED KINGDOM

£157

The Aria Pro2 Magna series fretless bass is a high-quality electric bass guitar. With its sleek fretless design and classic 4-string configuration, this guitar is perfect for musicians looking for a versatile and powerful fretless instrument for their bass playing. Aria is known for producing top-notch musical instruments, and this bass guitar is no exception, making it a popular choice for professionals and beginners alike
From what I can deduce this is an early to mid 90's Korean model and... more

1976 HOYER EB 3 FRETLESS BASS - Made in GERMANY - SHORT SCALE

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£625

1976 HOYER EB BASS -- made in GERMANY -- FRETLESS :
+ mahagony body finished in wine red, has lots of wear=check last 2 pics
+ mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, frets were removed, previous owner has inlaid a new name into the headstock, starts with G, 4 bolt neck construction
+ 2 humbuckers
+ chrome parts
+ low action
+ sounds very JACK BRUCE !
... more

1979 Music Man StingRay Fretless 4-String Bass Guitar in Black, Pre-Ernie Ball

Brighton, BN2***, UNITED KINGDOM

£3520

ON SALE: Iconic & Rare, Fretless late 1970??s Transition Period Music Man Stingray 4 String Bass Guitar. Plays & sounds beautifully. Perfectly playable piece of history. Made in USA.
Collection preferred. Any questions, please DM for details etc;
Collaboration sale from Bonguitarworks & London Guitar Land. This guitar is professionally serviced at Bonguitarworks in Brighton, UK.
Features:
?? Original Music Man Hardware & Electronics
?? 1970??s Schaller Humbucker Pickup 8 Pole,... more

1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£1699

1977 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK USA - FRETLESS :
* nice dark rosewood fingerboard
* super hard to find !
... more

1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS MAPLE NECK - FRETLESS - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1995

1978 FENDER PRECISION BASS NECK - made in USA :
* FRETLESS
* all maple neck with skunk stripe on back, super rare
* finish has a few dings & chips=check pic 9
* fingerboard is clean
* neck is straight
* brass nut installed
* original chrome tuners are included
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more

Find more vintage guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co