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35 inch scale fretless

B

ByahBass

Feb 18, 2009
69
0
Montreal, Qc
#1
Hey everyone! I'm looking into getting a proper fretless bass (i have an SX, time to upgrade) for around 1000-1600 bucks. My fretted bass, Spector rebop5, has a 35 inch scale and i really like that. I went to a local guitar store and played a fretless stingray today and although it played nicely, the scale just felt uncomfortable. I wanna know if there are unlined fretless 5-string 35 inch scale basses in my price range.
Appreciate the help!
 
#4
LilRay said:
Byah,

Look for a used Roscoe Standard model.

There is a Custom SKB bodied unlined fretless in the Classifieds but it's a Sixer.

Great deal though.

Good luck.

:D

God Bless, Ray
Click to expand...

BIG + 1.
Best bass [DEL]for the price[/DEL]. My friends with MIA fender and lakland skyline constantly complain that my bass shouldnt be better than theirs. but it is.
Youd have to get it used or get lucky and find a store thats had one on the floor too long (i did)

also, look into WARMOTH
you can get it brand spankin' new, with all the fancy woods or lack thereof that you could want, plus any pickups you desire.
The gecko it the only 35'' but i think its a damned fine looking instrument, and the one iv'e touched played GREAT. $35 to have no gecko is a little crummy... but alot of people like it anyway/
 
#5
I have a Carvin LB75 with ebony fretboard that I converted to fretless. I also have a Roscoe Century 5-string with frets. From my experience, when I got the Carvin (with frets), I was never satisfied with the way the B string sounded. I finally broke down and got the Roscoe. The B string is just as solid as the other strings, I couldn't be happier. When I converted the Carvin to fretless I made it a high C 5-string which was the right thing to do for that bass.

If you can afford a Roscoe, go for it.
 
#6
piling onto the Roscoe fretless suggestion. They can be had used for close to your price range, and they can go from mellow P-ish to go-for-the-throat cut and grind.

I was discussing fretlesses with another builder who tends to specialize in fretless. He said that a lot of builders do fretless as basically the same bass as their fretted, they just don't put the frets on. And that really doesn't fly if you're serious about fretless. They are a different beast and require some different build approaches and different things that you need to be picky about.

My other recommendation would be a Rob Allen (tougher to find used though), but that is a totally different beast, and you'd have to really want/need that sound/vibe.
 
#7
nostatic said:
I was discussing fretlesses with another builder who tends to specialize in fretless. He said that a lot of builders do fretless as basically the same bass as their fretted, they just don't put the frets on. And that really doesn't fly if you're serious about fretless. They are a different beast and require some different build approaches and different things that you need to be picky about.
Click to expand...

Very much so!!!!! Fretless with so many companies is just an afterthought.
 
#8
YES! Major +1 on the fretless as an afterthought! That's always been a problem I've had with several companies. When I play most fretless basses the just feel like unfinished fretted ones.
The Roscoe sounds great, but the 3800 dollar pricetag says "nope!"
As for the carvin, I've never tried one but I have heard that they don't have character or soul. Carvin players, tell me otherwise!
 
#10
ByahBass said:
YES! Major +1 on the fretless as an afterthought! That's always been a problem I've had with several companies. When I play most fretless basses the just feel like unfinished fretted ones.
The Roscoe sounds great, but the 3800 dollar pricetag says "nope!"
As for the carvin, I've never tried one but I have heard that they don't have character or soul. Carvin players, tell me otherwise!
Click to expand...

You might be able to find some good deals in the TB Classifieds. Most of TB is currently convinced that 35" scale basses are unplayable and will quickly put them back up for sale. :p
 
#12
nostatic said:
My other recommendation would be a Rob Allen (tougher to find used though), but that is a totally different beast, and you'd have to really want/need that sound/vibe.
Click to expand...

I just got a Rob Allen Mouse 30 to play for the gigs where the amplified upright is too much trouble and the Roscoe is just too much. I've only played it a couple of gigs but I'm lovin' it. Great sound if you like that tone that leans to upright vibe.
 
#13
spade2you said:
You might be able to find some good deals in the TB Classifieds. Most of TB is currently convinced that 35" scale basses are unplayable and will quickly put them back up for sale. :p
Click to expand...

... a Lakland 55-02 fretless is on the boards now.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=712513&highlight=lakland+fretless

Every once in a while a Zon or Modulus will pop up, if you're looking for something a bit more modern sounding.

If you're not stuck on a particular string spacing or tend to prefer a tighter (17.5mm) spacing ... nice deals on fretless' pop up in that range quite often. Sometimes you just have to wait. OR you could post a WTB thread and perhaps will get some offers on one's you haven't even thought about.


Good Luck! :)
 
#15
I have a Lakland 55-02 fretless, and it's the most amazing FL ever! I had a lot of them, and this one is sooooo versatile with the 3-way splitable humbucker at the bridge. It produces 3 VERY different flavors of tone - and all of them suits FL and MWAAHHH amazingly well. Oh, and then you can also play around with blending in the single coil PU at the neck.... PLUS the 3-band boost/cut EQ. I highly recommend this for FL and it's within your price range - even as new!
 

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