How many fretless basses?

[pnchad]

18

[Ian Perge]

I've got two - my original, old-school step-up-from-my-first-"Beginner Bass" 1992 Ibanez SR-800 (which then was MIJ and in the higher-end of their basses) which I had the frets pulled and replaced with inlayed lines in 2001 when I got "serious" about learning to play Fretless... these day it only gets used for 4-string or Dropped-D specific songs, but was a huge part of my learning curve.

My main, everyday fretless is my '07 Custom Spector Euro Bolt-On DLX FM with a Lined 'Board & Epoxy Coating by HG Thor, custom-wound and EMG-sized Nordstrand Big Single Pickups & Aguilar OBP-3SK/PP (the Custom Pickups & Preamp Set-Up I have in all my 4 Spector Euro Bolt-Ons, *my* combination of Bass and Electronic tone), strung with D'Addario EXP Coated XL Nickel strings. Given the bolt-on and non-traditional woods in the Spector and the additional tonal changes from my electronic changes, I've always described it as a "Spector & Jazz Bass that made sweet, sweet love" However, as I've been playing more and more fretless over the last 18 months or so, I've been thinking that my next "Nice" Bass will be a Fretless Mike Lull M5 Jazz, as I own an M4 and fretted M5 and would love to get a "proper" modern Jazz Bass... but lacking Speed Bumps.

[JazznFunk]

Only a 5-string Lakland 55-01 at present. I used to own 3 or 4 fretless basses at a time and then sold most of them for no good reason. Looking to add a 4-string fretless Lakland to the stable soon.

[tabdog]

I have three. The last one I got is the best.
I tend to mostly play one fretted bass and
one fretless most of the time. So, most
my basses don't get a lot of playing time.

Tabdog

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by BbBlues

My most unique bass is an unlined steinberger xl unlined fretless. This is an awesome sounding bass but I feel a little funny playing it live. I do use it about 10 times a year playing it in pit gigs.

:::genuflects madly:::

Nothing like an unlined fretless fingerboard on a headless neck in a dark orchestra pit to force you to wean yourself off visual cues!

[Mojo-Man]

Right now only two.

Stack-knob Jazz de-fretted and epoxied by HG Thor Labs.
My main Bass.

1985 Wal MK1.

[Volney]

Wal MkII 4
F-Bass 6
Status Hellborg 4
7/8 upright
Eminence upright

[petermca17]

I currently have only one fretless: Warwick Streamer 4 LX SE 2010 ; redwood top, ash back, ovankol neck, ebony fretboard ; bartolini pj pickups with a bartolini preamp. The bass has a really nice weight and balance (about 8 lbs) and sounds lovely. I'm very happy with this bass and I don't see myself needing another fretless any time soon.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Matthew_84

For you fretless owners, how many fretless basses do you own?

I'd also like to know why you have the amount that you have. For instance, you may have only one, but it is active with a passive bypass, has two pick-ups and compression wound strings and can get most of the tones you are looking for, or you have three, one is a passive jazz with rounds, and an epoxied board, another is a fretless p bass with flats and a foam mute on a raw ebony board, and the third is an acoustic with tapewounds on a rosewood board, etc.

Thanks,

Matt

In other words, how are they configured, and for what purposes?

I own three in total - one four-string, and two five-strings:

• Carvin LB70F - DiMarzio Model J pickups & Bartolini NTMB onboard preamp, medium-light DR Fat Beams
• Carvin Icon 5 fretless - SGD wide-aperture Neo humbuckers & Audere 3ZB2-VB onboard preamp, medium-gauge DR Fat Beams
• Carvin Bromberg 5 fretless - stock Bromberg humbuckers (for now) & Audere Classic Four-Band onboard preamp, with GraphTech Ghost piezoelectric system & light-gauge DR Fat Beams

All my fretless basses wear DR Fat Beams, but a different gauge for each. Each one has an epoxied ebony fingerboard (the LB70F done by H.G. Thor).

The LB70F and Icon 5F are configured for all-purpose playing - particularly big, powerful groove playing in the case of the Icon, i.e. modern rock, ambient/electronic material, etc.

The Bromberg 5F is my jazz/fusion fretless. Let me tell you, it sounds wonderful - especially with the piezo system engaged. Cool stuff.

MM

[rust_preacher]

I only have a mongrel I built - an ESP neck on a Squier CV body, with a Certainbass varitone tone control.

I have an early G & L that was converted to fretless but I felt it would be better with actual frets so I had a new fretboard made for it. Suddenly, I had "the need" and found the parts for the Frankenfretless online (partly in classifieds here). Tapewound Labellas.

I use it for getting the "Mwah" sound, for fooling around with glissandos, vibratos etc. and for getting better discipline on scale practice. I won't probably ever play it live so no need for another.

[Groove Doctor]

Ibanez Musician Fretless '84, Dean Markley Fret Masters
Rob Allen Mouse, La Bella tapes
Takamine B10 '99 acoustic/quasi-URB, La Bella tapes.

Bought the Ibby in '92 because I fell in love with it. I figured an unlined Fretless was a step closer to being able to play DB in a jazz band.
I bought the Mouse and Taki because I wanted to get BACK INTO into playing jazz, and because they're light enough to take to a gig for only a few songs.

[SteveC]

I have one. Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5 Fretless - mahogany body, flame maple top, maple neck, lined diamondwood board, Bart pups and pre...



If I was gigging more "traditional" jazz gigs I'd probably have one of these...



But honestly, I am loving the Roscoe right now.

[baba]

One Jazz. Need to dust it off.

[woodyng]

One nice beginner bass Yamaha RBX250f,with a Lollar pbass pickup added. I like it a lot,but being more of Ric player,am thinking about having my 4004 cii converted to a fretless. (Holding out hope of one from the manufacturer....)

[mark beem]

Originally Posted by mark beem

Four currently..

Ibanez GWB35
ESP LTD B205SM FL
Bass Mods K4VV
ESP LTD B204SM FL (currently for sale)

Add one more..



Carvin LB76PF

[bassbenj]

A few.

6ers:
Alembic Epic (unlined) Only active.
SX-6 (modded) Ebony unlined board, Only passive.

Chinese ABG-6 currently unplayable.

5ers.

Carvin AC50 lined Semi-hollow (nylon wrapped) Piezo. (blues bass)
G&L L2500 lined, passive or active (main fretless axe)
SX Rosewood Passive. (bar bass)
SX Ebony unlined Ursa passive (modded) (also has fretted neck)
SX non-Jazz bass rosewood passive (Leo's last circuit) ($10 bass)

Also

Two Wishbasses. 1 Kewel 1 Fantasy. Not quite ready for prime time.

[Roy Vogt]

2 Carvin fretless 6s (one with J pickups and one with MM bridge and piezos), one Modulus 6 string w/EMGs, one Hotwire Fretless 6 with piezos in the body and a Bartolini pickup near the bridge, a 1978 Silver Series Ibanez fretless P Bass copy with Bartolini J bridge pickup and a cheap Yamaha RBX that I loan out to students/friends from time to time.
Each one has a different sound and I tend to keep basses for a while. I'm the original owner on the Ibanez (my first fretless), I've had the first Carvin since 1992 and the Modulus since 1993, the Hotwire since 2000 and the later Carvin since 2003.
Here they all are (mostly) in one photo shoot:

[zon6c-f]

Direct answer : I own one fretless, but I want a 5er.

I had my 2001 Zon Sonus Custom lined 6 fretless[ beadgc] designed for me. I only wanted/ needed a 5er W/low B, but sales clerk said for $100 more, I could get a 6...and a 6 I got.

I don't do Manring or Nitti 2 handed stuff; just straight ahead bass playing. I can stay in one position longer without shifting; using the the 6.

In 2009, my wife gifted me with a Squire Jazz Active 5..got me past my gear snobbery. It's now my main go-to bass, as the Zon is "too precious " for me to use often.

Last year, I tried a Squier Jazz fretless 4, "jaco Jr". It had stock flats and played like its ebonal fingerboard had been sprayed with silicone spray or WD-40.

I prefer round wounds; today's music requires a 5er with low B.

When Squier makes a 5er fretless I will buy one. Frankly, if I could justify buying another bass, I would choose Squier fretless 4. Best passive 4-fretless for the $, IMHO.

[JBFLA]

2 -
Karl Hoyt 5 with Lawrence pups and a piezo in the bridge, strung E-C.
Roscoe LG3000, stock Roscoe Bart pups and pre.

Both unlined fingerboards. The high C on the Hoyt is nice to have but I almost always use the Roscoe.

[theduke1]

1 1997 G&L L2500 Actives removed for full coil tapping with LA Bella black tape wound flats. It Rocks