Which fretless do you suggest I get?

[jphovercraft]

Originally Posted by ShoeManiac

I was very fortunate to find the right fretless for me about 10 years ago. It's an Ernie Ball / Musicman Stingray fretless 5 string. I got mine with the piezo bridge pickup. This bass sings, and at this price I haven't found many other fretless basses that stack up.

I have a Steinberger L2 lined fretless. The only fretless I've played that has made me think twice about perhaps getting something else was a 4-string Stingray with the piezos.

[fedenybass]

I've played many including a pedulla buzz bass. It was awesome. The best fretless I've ever owned was a Carvin LB. it was extremely light weight and ergonomic ally very comfortable. I actually felt, for me, it played better then then the pedulla. Carvin builds to your specs, and they are quite affordable. Good luck.

[tjnkoo]

Honestly man, I urge you to try a Fender Tony Franklin. Inly unlined neck they make, and it's a beautiful piece of wood. I recorded and gigged it just this past week and it just keeps hitting me how great of a piece of furniture it is. I got mine used for about $1000 (new is $1,700), put some tung oil on the fingerboard, put some nickel wound strings on it, and it was good to go!

[henry2513]

I'd find a nice used Gary Willis higher end model Gary Willis sig bass, a GWB-1. It's very warm sounding, nice mids too.

[henry2513]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Agreed, but the problem with lines for me is two-fold:

2. Fret lines impart a false sense of proper pitch. Intonation on an FL is a different animal from a fretted bass. Action and string thickness play a bigger role in proper pitch relative to fretted basses, so fret lines are not necessarily reliable from the E to the G string.

Very true, I find myself having to play in front of the line the higher up the fretboard I get, especially on the G string. For me the lines are important, mainly because of the way I view the fretboard (a bunch of geometric shapes) so they're an important frame of reference to have.

[steve f]

Originally Posted by fretster

Check out Rob Allen basses. There is an owners thread here, and different models are passing through Talkbass classifieds frequently.

+1 on Rob Allen basses, particularly the MB-2 - awesome sound, very lightweight, beautiful instruments, and extremely easy and comfortable to play.
There's a used one for sale at Bass Northwest in your price range!
Good luck

[seang15]

Originally Posted by MyMusic

Carvin. They are not on the east coast, but for your indicated budget, you can get something really nice. I've seen four strings available for under $800.

+1. They Make chambered basses now. SB5001 would be an amazing choice for you.

[Indiedog]

I am very pleased with my Warwick Corvette and my Carvin ICON 6...both are fretless.

[SteveC]

If you want that "upright" kind of sound, there is nothing better than a Rob Allen.
I just bought a Roscoe fretless and it has mwah for days.Fantastic bass.

[toddoutloud]

Originally Posted by jbossolo

May I suggest this?:
http://www.birdsongguitars.com/embrace.htm

I have the anniversary edition #3 of 8, and LOVE it.
Sounds amazing, super light, and extremely comfortable and well-balanced.

I own the anniversary edition Embrace #4 of 8 and it is a wonderful instrument. I have a fretted 5 string Birdsong as well. They are well worth the money and are extremely comfortable on long gigs.

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Another vote for Carvin.

Originally Posted by phillybass101

Carvin Bunny Brunel Model

Originally Posted by unclejane

The quality of the Carvin is really impeccable and, at least judging by mine both of which I bought new, they're very consistent in quality.

The nice thing about the Carvins for FL players is fretless is a no-cost, no-extra-wait-or-fuss option when you order it, lined or unlined.

Originally Posted by seang15

+1. They Make chambered basses now. SB5001 would be an amazing choice for you.

Originally Posted by Indiedog

I am very pleased with my Warwick Corvette and my Carvin ICON 6...both are fretless.

Originally Posted by MyMusic

Carvin. They are not on the east coast, but for your indicated budget, you can get something really nice. I've seen four strings available for under $800.

Originally Posted by gumbynotpokey

Carvin and Clement would be great in your price range. I suggest you look around both of those websites.

Originally Posted by GM60466

Carvin makes several models .

Originally Posted by el basso

definitely consider Carvin; several models and hundreds of options combos for under $2,000.]

Originally Posted by fedenybass

The best fretless I've ever owned was a Carvin LB. it was extremely light weight and ergonomic ally very comfortable. Carvin builds to your specs, and they are quite affordable. Good luck.

Count me as another fan. This one was around $1400 new and 8.5 pounds:

[Southside Pip]

The best fretless I've to this day was a stock 90's Peavey Foundation with high action. Poplar is a great wood for this.