Fret King?

[ack1961]

Anyone here have any experience with Fret King?
I kinda like the body on this one - kinda has an Explorer/T-bird look to it.

http://www.stringexpress.co.uk/guitars/FretKingSpec/Esprit4_spec.htm

[Pilgrim]

Looks cool.  I see as much Gretsch BillyBo as anything in that!

[Chris P.]

I reviewed the strange 3-pick up one.

[Highlander]

I've seen postings about them but don't know of any of the crew that owns one... never played one...

Take two Thunderbirds, one an NR... cut them in half and glue them back together, then you have a Fretking...? (imho)

[uwe]

The UK is an island which bathes in certain archaicisms. Left lane driving, imperial measurements and the British Pound Sterling come to mind. But even there, it's 2011 and not 1961 and a bass bridge should be intonateable. Nuff said.

[Hornisse]

The shape reminds me of those Hendrick guitars that came out in the early 1980's.

[jumbodbassman]

T But even there, it's 2011 and not 1961 and a bass bridge should be intonateable. Nuff said.

looks similar to the dano bridges....from the 60's (and 90's and 2009)  But they have an RI excuse

[Dave W]

Fret King is a Trevor Wilkinson product and IIRC he started out making replacement bridges and tuners, funny that this one should have a fixed type bridge. I thought maybe a closeup would show some adjustability, but this review says there's no compensation adjustment.

It may be UK-designed but it's Korean-made.

[Iome]

Well the bridge have had an improvement, i remember the firs Fretkings had a stoptail as bridge....


http://www.fret-king.com/Sexy%20Images/Green%20Sexy/Europa-Bass.jpg

[Highlander]

For me, the shape of an instrument should be easy on the eye, the lines should flow cleanly and it should be fully adjustable but easy to operate keeping controls to the bare minimum...

[dadagoboi]

For me, the shape of an instrument should be easy on the eye, the lines should flow cleanly and it should be fully adjustable but easy to operate keeping controls to the bare minimum...

I take it you won't be ordering a Fretking, Kenny.

I like the white one better than the others, the lack of a suitable bridge is very 'retro'.  Wilkinson sells a tuneamatic bass bridge, strange they haven't used it on a variation of this beastie.

Thanks for that review Dave!

[ack1961]

Thanks for the input and the link to the review.
I still find the body an interesting amalgam of the TB and Explorer, and I've never been a fan of the Explorer shape at all.
The overall shape may be something I consider a bit when it comes time to plan my 2nd build. 
I have a nice slab of Walnut sitting here waiting for me to get off my butt.

[Highlander]

Go back to my thread about the Demetriou and see something I consider to be what I said...

Beauty is in the eye...

[uwe]

The body shape appeals to me, but the P/J combo is hard to bear on any bass except a Fender-esque one. The turned around headstock is an acquired taste - I was never a friend of that "Hendrix"-look and when there is no pressing need for it (i.e. it is not a consequence of the instrument being played left-handed), it's plain silly. And that non-intonateable bridge is a strict no-no.

[ack1961]

Go back to my thread about the Demetriou and see something I consider to be what I said...

Beauty is in the eye...

Yeah, I see what you mean.
There isn't enough alcohol in the world for me to take that home...other guys might drool all over it.