Fretless bass for noobs

[Veils]

I'm considering getting a fretless, but I have to be honest, in 8 years of bass playing, I've probably spent no more than half an hour playing fretless!!

I'd like some recommendations on a fretless that won't be too expensive, but won't sound or play like a piece of crap!

I'm looking on ebay and I've seen something which I have my eye on

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-SD-GR-6-string-fretless-bass-/251640312754?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a96ee73b2"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-SD-GR-6-string-fretless-bass-/251640312754?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a96ee73b2[/url]

[BassBus]

Ibanez, Cort and ESP LTD are all good makes and come in at good prices. All mostly made in the same factory too. There's a nice Cort B4 on ebay at the moment. Is it a six string you want?

[kodiakblair]

Poor guy must be skint, his prices are set to a level where they should sell.

Looks a bargain. I was going to suggest the Harley Benton from Thomann mainly because my JB - 75 model arrived today and if the fretless was
as good as that then I'd say yeah.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_40fl_sb.htm

That Ibanez looks sweet though and of course it's a 6'er.

[Veils]

Doesn't really have to be a 6. I'm a 5 string player, but I'd happily tackle a 6 too! Think I may take a punt on that Ibanez.......

[alyctes]

Yamaha fretlesses (RBX200F and up) are good basic instruments IME, well made and sound decent, and you can generally find them in decent nick for well under £200. Fretless BB-series (BB300, 400, 414) are better, and not much more expensive.

The Harley Benton I had (modern-style, P-J) was excellent for the money (under £120 new) but needed a lower nut.

[HowieBass]

The fretless Squier VM Jazz is reputed to be a decent instrument, has a lined hardwearing ebonol fingerboard, they come up for sale on here from time to time - not sure if this one's still going http://basschat.co.uk/topic/232924-fs-squier-vintage-modified-jazz-vmj-fretless-now-l180/

[tom5string]

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1410388940' post='2549042']
The fretless Squier VM Jazz is reputed to be a decent instrument, has a lined hardwearing ebonol fingerboard, they come up for sale on here from time to time - not sure if this one's still going [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/232924-fs-squier-vintage-modified-jazz-vmj-fretless-now-l180/"]http://basschat.co.u...tless-now-l180/[/url]
[/quote]

Seconded - played one in a shop some time ago and I was wondering how the hell they can produce such a good sounding and nicely playable instrument at that price-tag.

I doubt that starting fretless with a six-string is a good idea - you spend more time on damping strings then concentrating on intonation or tone-sculpting - my humble opinion.

Cheers,

Tom

Edited September 11, 2014 by tom5string

[dry_stone]

My first fretless was a Vintage (Vintage being the brand name, not the age of the bass) ICON Jaco Pastorius), it really is lovely to play and has a great tone; and they are unbelievably cheap for what you get. I still have it, and I probably play it more than the other higher end fretless basses that I have acquired since I bought it.

They go for around £225 new and around £150 secondhand. Honestly, at this price you cannot go wrong!

Edit: to say that I replaced the stock Wilkinson pick-ups with Seymor Duncan Antiquity 11's, the thing now growls like a pit bull

Here's a clip of one played mighty well!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xd2394nEYs[/media]

Edited September 11, 2014 by dry_stone

[Paul S]

I would vote for a fretless Westone Thunder 1A. Unlined board, gorgeous tone. I replaced my Squier VM fretless with this as I think it is a better made, better sounding bass that goes for much the same, or less, money secondhand. Status black nylon flats, yum yum.

Not me, but gives a good demo of the sound.

http://youtu.be/WrzEzczWgCo

[Conan]

[quote name='dry_stone' timestamp='1410425425' post='2549235']Here's a clip of one played mighty well!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xd2394nEYs[/media]
[/quote]

Mighty well indeed! And he's a member on here too

To be fair, such an accomplished player could make any bass sound great - but that Vintage does have a very nice sound...

[Veils]

That dude clearly can play!! But it does sound nice, like the beaten look too.........

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Vester custom shop . Fantastic fretless . If you get the chance, grab one of those

[3below]

Warwick Rockbass corvette - can be picked up for £150, quality is very good and fingerboard is ebony.

[Mission man]

I've never played a fretless before but always fancied it, I'm just getting back into playing after a few years off and may pick a cheap fretless up as well to see how I get on with it.