Basilpea Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 I'm using a fretless Warwick RB Starbass at the moment but looking for a similar bass (ie semi-acoustic) but better quality. I know the German Pro Series is an option but are there any other suggestions? Ideally I want a long/standard scale 5 string without fretlines sub £2k if poss. Any ideas? I thought the D'Angelico sounded ideal but now found out they've stopped production of Bass guitars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Godin A5 fretless? http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Godin_A5_Fretted_fretless.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 18 minutes ago, Jakester said: Godin A5 fretless? http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Godin_A5_Fretted_fretless.html Agreed, you’ll not find anything better unless, of course, you can stretch your budget just a little more and buy the best... https://www.roballenguitars.com/new-products/mb-2-koa-5-string-fretless-bass-1324 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 I love Godins - I have three - but to me they are more of a small-bodied acoustic bass than a semi-hollow electric like the Starbass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Spectercore? It’s halfway there 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikNik Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Ibanez SRH500F 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Fender Precision A/E fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Another A5 vote here. More than once, mine has been described as " the best sounding bass I have ever heard". Coincidentally, that has never happened when I have been playing it. Rick turner Renaissance basses also sound great, but rare in UK 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passinwind Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 On 23/01/2020 at 13:37, GuyR said: Rick Turner Renaissance basses also sound great, but rare in UK I played a fretless Ren bass at NAMM last week. It was a four and had lines, but it was very nice. RT is a great guy too, I really enjoyed talking to him. No idea on scale length options and the like though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Mmmmm... https://www.roballenguitars.com/new-products/mb-2-koa-fretless-bass- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Frank Blank said: Mmmmm... https://www.roballenguitars.com/new-products/mb-2-koa-fretless-bass- Stop it, stop it right now! That is lovely. The only way I’d sell my Rob Allen MB2 five string is for a 4 string version. Of course you could ask our own, ridiculously talented ‘Jabba the gut’ for a custom build, page 4 has a lovely fretless. Edited January 26, 2020 by ezbass 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 (edited) I've always thought this bass, currently listed in the for sale forum, is rather pretty. Edited January 27, 2020 by PJ-Bassist 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilpea Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 16 hours ago, PJ-Bassist said: I've always thought this bass, currently listed in the for sale forum, is rather pretty. I must have missed that. Doubt if it's still for sale but but have asked. Thanks for the heads up. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I've done quite a few hours of research, been up a few blind alleys, but it's helped me realise exactly what I'm looking for. So when I said semi-acoustic, I actually don't want it to make too much noise as I normally practice between 4:30 & 6:30 in the morning - so whilst an arch top acoustic would be nice, it's doesn't really suit my particular purpose. Adding that I'm looking for an unlined, fretless 5-string with a thumb rest with piezo and a magnetic pickups, and preferably short-scale, this narrows the field quite dramatically - in fact it's now looking like I'll have to up the budget and go for a custom. The front runners seem to be Shuker, Rob Allen or Rick Turner. But has anyone had any experience of this one? http://www.marcoguitarsbass.com/index_archivos/Page381.htm Sounds very much like an upright to me, but it could be just a one-trick pony which again does not fit the bill as I need it to sound like a bass guitar for most of the time because I also have an upright anyway. Having said that, some gigs only have a few numbers that need the Upright sound, so if the bass guitar can do that passably it will save me carting a lot of extra gear in. The biggest problem is actually getting to try one of these basses, I could probably make a 2 day trip to Yorkshire to see Jon Shuker but I'd also dearly love to try out a Rob Allen Mouse or MB2 and a Rick Turner. California is a long way, but who stocks them in the UK? I think it would be very unwise to go for a custom bass without ever having tried one that manufacturer's basses. Anyway, that's where I am at the moment - any more advice will be much appreciated. BTW ezbass, was that a serious suggestion about the much revered Jabba_the_gut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentode Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Indeed it is still for sale 😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 27 minutes ago, Basilpea said: in fact it's now looking like I'll have to up the budget and go for a custom. The front runners seem to be Shuker, Rob Allen or Rick Turner. I have a custom build ongoing with Jon Shuker at the moment. PM if you want more details on my experiences thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 9 minutes ago, PJ-Bassist said: I have a custom build ongoing with Jon Shuker at the moment. PM if you want more details on my experiences thus far. Is that going to be one of his Artist basses - always had a modest amount of GAS for one of those. https://shukerguitars.co.uk/basses/shuker-artist-bass/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 50 minutes ago, Mykesbass said: Is that going to be one of his Artist basses - always had a modest amount of GAS for one of those. https://shukerguitars.co.uk/basses/shuker-artist-bass/ No, it's a custom Jazz but I do like those artist basses. Especially the semi-hollow fretless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 If you want to try my Rob Allen out you are more than welcome. I know it isn’t long enough or stringy enough! But it would give you a perfect sense of the build quality and how loud it is unamplified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Basilpea said: BTW ezbass, was that a serious suggestion about the much revered Jabba_the_gut? Yes, his custom builds are the nearest thing I’ve played to a Rob Allen (really, really near). Drop him a PM, he can only say no and he might have some other suggestions if he’s not in a position to do a build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) Safran semi as a5 Bass Direct? Edited January 28, 2020 by Grahambythesea Miss-spell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passinwind Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Basilpea said: Anyway, that's where I am at the moment - any more advice will be much appreciated. FWIW, a good friend of mine owns a lined fretless 4-string Rob Allen Mouse. In all honesty I greatly prefer the sound and feel of the various standard scale RA basses I've played over the years at GTGs. All the RA basses I've tried have been piezo-only though. I'll admit that I've been less than thrilled with any short scale bass all the way back to the EB-O I started on a zillion years ago as well. BTW, there's a pic of an unlined Turner Ren 5 on the latest page of the Turner "club" thread on TB. Edited January 28, 2020 by Passinwind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 23/01/2020 at 16:08, Steve Browning said: Fender Precision A/E fretless. I had a 4 string - can't say I've ever seen a 5er though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 On 28/01/2020 at 11:50, Basilpea said: BTW ezbass, was that a serious suggestion about the much revered Jabba_the_gut? Also, Andyjr1515 is another BC builder whose work is stellar. We are very lucky to have so many good builders on this site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilpea Posted January 29, 2020 Author Share Posted January 29, 2020 Thanks EZB, another string to my bow.👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 You're all a shower of complete and utter c*nts making my GAS flare up again........NURSE!! HELP!! the bass pushers have got to me again, you said if I got that Ibanez I'd be immune.....you lied .....sob, sniffle...not fair..make it stop 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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