I wander into music stores to see what has come in new and used. Usually, it is a quick in and out, but occasionally there is something that catches my attention.
I found a used Godin a4 Ultra fretless Bass for sale for $1499. I picked it up and started playing. This was my first time on a fretless bass. This thing was very sweet. It played so easily. So I put it back and went home to see what I could learn about it.
It seems this is a very well made guitar and that Godin is a quality product. As I did a little more research I found another one online for only $899. The only difference I could determine between the two is that one has a thumb rest and the other does not. I could not get a date of manufacture for either.
Does anyone have any info on these guitars they can share with me about why there would be such a big difference in price and why one has a thumb rest and the other does not.
I look forward to your replies and appreciate any help.
@earlfo
They are different year for sure. Guitar center is definitely terrible with their listings.
The A4 without the thumb rest is about below the going price of $1000 and the newer one with the rest are about avg going price. I’ve seen some as low as $1200.
I too, have been looking to get one if/when a good deal comes along. A few months ago a fretted one came by and the seller dropped the price all the way down to $550. It has a shorter factory thumb rest and 13 pin connection for some reason I didn’t jump on it fast enough, I was hoping it would drop to $500 before pulling the trigger, lol.
I know I wasn’t questioning you, I just thought the idea of a fretless Precision bass seems like a bit of a contradiction in terms. The Precision bass was, after all, introduced as a fretted, “more precise” alternative to the “less precise”, fretless double bass. But it’s a philosophical question, and Fender tends to categorize their instruments based on body type
and actually, precision is about repeatability/reproducibility not accuracy so if you’re always playing in the same spot, even if you’re not in tune, that’s high precision
Thank you. A lot of people don’t understand this difference
Accuracy is hitting the target. Precision is a small shot grouping. They are different and unrelated concepts - you can be precise without being accurate, and vice versa.
they also make guitars under several other names.
I wasn’t questioning you, I just thought the idea of a fretless Precision bass seems like a bit of a contradiction in terms. The Precision bass was, after all, introduced as a fretted, “more precise” alternative to the “less precise”, fretless double bass. But it’s a philosophical question, and Fender tends to categorize their instruments based on body type 
