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02-20-2013, 08:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | | Recommend me a fretless
Hey guys, I think for my next bass purchase( in the next few months), I'd like to go with a fretless. More specifically a four string, lined or unlined, doesn't matter to me. I know that it's pretty early to be asking for recommendations as this purchase will probably be in May, but nonetheless, I'd like to see what you guys think, and I like to research a lot before I buy anything. Preferably around the $500 mark. Thanks.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-20-2013, 08:02 PM
|  | Fretless Player | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Champaign, IL | | | 500$ mark, I'd go with the MTD Kingston Saratoga 4 string fretless.
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Clement Bass Member #100
Clement #255, Clement #274, PDN Honey Roasted Bongo 5 HS
"Government is to society, what rape is to lovemaking"
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02-20-2013, 08:03 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerwylie  500$ mark, I'd go with the MTD Kingston Saratoga 4 string fretless. | Wow, that was fast, I'll check it out. Thanks.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-20-2013, 09:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | | How is the MTD Kingston CRB? I realize they generally get a lot of flack for their looks, but how's the tone? Playability? I've never played anything with Precision pickups, so this intrigues me.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-20-2013, 10:09 PM
| | Fretless Player | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Champaign, IL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RxFunk How is the MTD Kingston CRB? I realize they generally get a lot of flack for their looks, but how's the tone? Playability? I've never played anything with Precision pickups, so this intrigues me. | I've heard great things about both basses, though I've only heard fretted versions. The Saratoga is one of the only fretless instruments you can find under 1000$ that comes with an Ebony board. Though some come with Ebonol too..which is nice as well.
If you're into the 5 string thing, I like the Ibanez GWB35 as well though it really begs for an electronics upgrade when you get it.
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Clement Bass Member #100
Clement #255, Clement #274, PDN Honey Roasted Bongo 5 HS
"Government is to society, what rape is to lovemaking"
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02-20-2013, 11:33 PM
|  | Registered User | | | | Fender Standard JB fretless. Great sound (better than the Jaco tribute JB in a lot of ways). They go for around $600. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/...less-jazz-bass
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Lone Wolf Club #2, Fretless Club #714, Danelectro Owners Club Member #37
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02-21-2013, 04:16 AM
| | Fretless Player | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Champaign, IL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicdog | If you're alright with flatwounds it's not a bad call, rounds will chew that rosewood up though.
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Clement Bass Member #100
Clement #255, Clement #274, PDN Honey Roasted Bongo 5 HS
"Government is to society, what rape is to lovemaking"
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02-21-2013, 04:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Edinburgh & Dundee, Scotland | | | Squier VM?
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EB Musicman/Ibanez/Ampeg/Peavey/Marshall/Tech 21
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02-21-2013, 06:34 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerwylie I've heard great things about both basses, though I've only heard fretted versions. The Saratoga is one of the only fretless instruments you can find under 1000$ that comes with an Ebony board. Though some come with Ebonol too..which is nice as well.
If you're into the 5 string thing, I like the Ibanez GWB35 as well though it really begs for an electronics upgrade when you get it. | I haven't actually tried out a 5 string before, so I don't if I like them or not. I'll try out a fiver and see how it feels, don't know how easily I could find the GWB35 in a store though.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-21-2013, 06:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicdog | I'll try and see if I can find one locally to play. Out of curiosity, why would you say that it's any better than the Jaco tribute bass?
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-21-2013, 06:38 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk Squier VM? | This is actually one of the only fretless I've ever played. I liked it pretty good as well. If I went this route, I would have enough left over to do some mods... Something to think about for sure.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
Last edited by RxFunk : 03-02-2013 at 11:21 AM.
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02-21-2013, 06:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Seattle, Wa | | | If you shop around you can find a Warwick Corvette Frettless for $600. Then you have a pro level bass. Which a class above a MTD Kingston, or a squire. |
02-21-2013, 07:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by svlilioukalani If you shop around you can find a Warwick Corvette Frettless for $600. Then you have a pro level bass. Which a class above a MTD Kingston, or a squire. | I normally like to buy used anyway, and I've definitely seen some good deals on Warwicks in the TB classifieds before.
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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02-21-2013, 07:51 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Queens NYC | | | Used Carvin. American made with ebony boards. You can easily get a bass that was $1200+ when it was new for $500 used. Damn fine basses. |
02-21-2013, 07:54 AM
|  | If Mark is your Queen that must make me King ;)
Endorsing Artist Cataldo Basses and manufacturer of the Badbird Bridge | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rochester NY USA | | | The Jazz bass is a good call, I have a '75 Fretless precision I love, is Fender making a MIM fretless P at the moment ?
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Scott Dasson maker of the Badbird Bridge. The direct replacement bridge for vintage Gibson Thunderbirds. "Intonation without modification"
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02-21-2013, 07:59 AM
|  | Registered User | | | | | |
02-21-2013, 08:02 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RxFunk How is the MTD Kingston CRB? I realize they generally get a lot of flack for their looks, but how's the tone? Playability? I've never played anything with Precision pickups, so this intrigues me. | Personally, I think fretless basses really need either 2 pickups, or one that is positioned closer to the bridge. Depending on the tone you want. Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerwylie The Saratoga is one of the only fretless instruments you can find under 1000$ that comes with an Ebony board. | -Except for Carvins which are custom made in the US... Quote:
Originally Posted by 3234718 Used Carvin. American made with ebony boards. You can easily get a bass that was $1200+ when it was new for $500 used. Damn fine basses. | +1. Carvin makes amazing fretless basses. Look for a used LB70, B40, BB70 etc...
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Carvin 149/5 String 90/Ergo 33/L.O.G. 266/Chi-Love 3/California Bassists 65 |
02-21-2013, 08:05 AM
| | If Mark is your Queen that must make me King ;)
Endorsing Artist Cataldo Basses and manufacturer of the Badbird Bridge | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rochester NY USA | | I like the look of that! Quote:
Originally Posted by tylerwylie 500$ mark, I'd go with the MTD Kingston Saratoga 4 string fretless. |
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Scott Dasson maker of the Badbird Bridge. The direct replacement bridge for vintage Gibson Thunderbirds. "Intonation without modification"
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02-21-2013, 08:43 AM
|  | I ain't got no time to play... | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northeast Ohio | | |
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02-21-2013, 12:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Arizona | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Grateful Personally, I think fretless basses really need either 2 pickups, or one that is positioned closer to the bridge. Depending on the tone you want.
-Except for Carvins which are custom made in the US...
+1. Carvin makes amazing fretless basses. Look for a used LB70, B40, BB70 etc... | There's actually a Carvin LB20F at the local GC for $480, hope it's still there in May!
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The Lone Wolf Club #73
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