Who Makes a Kick Ass Fretless Jazz?

[gre107]

Hello Bass Brethren!
Looking to get a Fretless Jazz bass and am looking for any suggestions for Luthiers I should be looking into.

Specifically, I'm looking for a Jazz style bass with:
34" scale
Full size Ash body (crazy top not necessary)
Maple Neck 12"+ radius
Ebony fretboard (no lines and epoxied)
21 + frets
Active / Passive preamp
High Mass bridge
And can handle insane low action if needed
And most importantly sound full and punchy!

And I'd like to do all of this for no more than 2K.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Duckwater]

Squire VM Fretless Jazz with an active preamp added

[Geroi Asfalta]

May be able to find under 2K
http://www.fender.com/products/tony-...precision-bass

[spector_boogie]

Ever considered a Modulus VJ? You could probably find a fretless in that $2k and under range pretty easy.

[StuartV]

I put my own together using a Warmoth body (with a crazy top ) and an Allparts neck.

I did not epoxy the fretboard or put a preamp in it. But, I have well under $1K in it.

I did put good pickups in it (which were not expensive) and it sounds very full and punchy.

Oh, and mine is the standard 20 fret Fender style. But you can get a 21 fret neck from Warmoth that will fit in a standard Fender neck pocket. The fretboard just overhangs the body a little bit to add the 21st fret. I.e. the body's neck pocket would be sized for a Fender 20 fret neck.

[zon6c-f]

Don't know your budget, but ZON Sonus was designed as the "ultimate jazz"; composite neck and fingerboard; Bartolini pups, can achieve insanely low action, sustain.

Used above $1500. New above $3-$4,000 depending on exotic tops, which you probably don't want. Zon has an off-shiore line as well; less bucks.

You can spend more $$ but probably won't get a noticeably better bass than Zon. Check out their site for accurate details.

[Grateful]

Carvin, hands down.

You have your choice of many different models that you can custom build to your exact spec, including choice of woods etc... Ebony necks are standard (no extra cost) and the hard-as-nails finish is an option.

Unless you go nuts, you will also walk away with plenty of cash left over. You'll also have a bass that will rival any pretty much fretless in your price range.

[Marial]

Originally Posted by spector_boogie

Ever considered a Modulus VJ? You could probably find a fretless in that $2k and under range pretty easy.

Mileages clearly vary, but I had one and it was absolutely the most disappointing bass I've ever owned. Maybe I just got a bad one, but it was just lifeless, I don't know how else to describe the tone.

[3234718]

Originally Posted by Grateful

Carvin, hands down

+1

[jim777]

Originally Posted by Grateful

Carvin, hands down.

Originally Posted by 3234718

+1

+2

[Ivan R]

Not exactly a Jazz, but the Tony Franklin Fretless Precision has a Jazz pickup and the unlined ebony board you want.

It is the best bass I've ever played in my life, bar none.

[bigsnaketex]

Lakland AJ - hand's down!!

[tylerwylie]

Call Tom Clement; clementbass.com

Custom built and can do it under 2k.

[grisezd]

Here's another vote for Warmoth. I did a swamp ash body, wenge neck, pau ferro unlined board, no pickguard, then added a generic J at the bridge and a Model One at the standard Jazz neck position (routed towards the neck from the original cut). I plan to put a preamp in in some day, but it sounds so great I've just left it alone. I dyed, tung oiled, and waxed the body with the natural grain "exposed" (not buried in gloss). Neck and board don't need or want finish! I have well under a grand in it, and the only "special" skills I used were cutting a nut from stock I had on hand (Warmoth will be happy to do it for you) and soldering.

I don't feel like I'd appreciate an epoxied board, but I've heard of people famous for doing that job. Maybe drop cash into your electronics and neck finishing, then screw it together yourself!

Downside is resale, but since you put it together yourself you can part it out or change it as you go and keep your value.

The funny thing is that I was a little worried that I'd treat this bass roughly as I do all my home-builds and frankensteins. But it turned out so nice I tend to, not quite baby it, but I try to make sure it doesn't fall off my amp!

[Ivan M]

I have tried a few, but the nicest sounding and playing to me was a PEDULLA PENTA BUZZ. Man it does not look like a Jazz Bass, but WOW is all i can say. Here is a link from the tube Penta being used......Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKAE2...eature=related

[BassChuck]

One more for Warmoth. Solid walnut body, Mighty Mite neck, Dimarzio humbuckers, and Audere 3z. Less than $1K. I'm very happy with it.

[DaveAceofBass]

I picked up a Hamer CruiseBass fretless 5-string with 2Tek bridge from the classifieds and had the FB epoxied by my tech. I probably have under $800 in it and it's freaking awesome. Great fretless jazz! Specs very close to what you're looking for. Another one recently was sold to Fretno...maybe he's not using it...

[lfmn16]

Ben Lindsey. He made me a Jaco repro that kicks ass. Get someone to make a bass for you, it was the best thing I ever did.

[bassdude51]

My suggestion for a nice J fretless for under $1,000, find a nice used Jazz Bass for around $400 to $800 (depending if you are ok with MIM, MIJ or MIA). (hummm, I have a USA Fender Jazz loaded body on TB right now Loaded Fender Jazz Body Hwy One Trans Red Wine)

Remove the neck and sell it getting back around $150 to $250.

Buy a Warmoth fretless neck (hummm, I have one you might like, PM me.) new or used for $190 to $250.

Then buy an Audere active pre-amp for $149 to $179.

Bingo! A super nice fretless with money left over.

Keep in mind, many of us have gone the fretless route and very quickly decided that we'd better stick with frets. So, don't spend too much on a fretless. You might change your mind.

[bassyj]

Another vote for warmoth... But I've heard that this company called fender can make pretty decent jazz basses