5 String Fretless Acoustic Bass

i think you should get the upright
if I had the chance to get one i wouldnt think it twice

 

Godin makes a semi-acoustic:




Also Tacoma made a 5 string fretless, not sure if they still do:




And if you can find one used the Washburn AB35 was available in fretless:





And you can always drop by the Acoustic Fetish Club and ask around, there's a few 5 string fretless owners there as well that may have suggestions.

Good luck.

 

https://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=ac50

I have the 4 string version. I really like it.

FG

 

Considered an Electric Upright (EUB)? They aren't for everyone, but if the AEB is a half-measure towards playing an URB the EUB is a different half-measure that might fit you better.

My guess is they'd receive more acceptance than an AEB as being "authentic" with jazz'ers & perhaps equal with bluegrass'ers.

 

$1,000 isn't going to go very far towards getting a decent upright. Then there's a good set up, good string ($175), good pickup system ($175) a decent amp that'll take that style of input.
Plus the room to store one.
Did you say you have an electric upright now?

 

There's also the learning curve that comes from going vertical.
If you have a good amp I'd suggest looking at an electric upright.
I have and play all three, Fender/el upright/acoustic and my el upright gets to more gigs than the other two.
Having the frets removed from your bass you play now and adding flatwounds to it might be an alternative for the time being. They'll be a learning curve of the fretless and it'll give you the woody tone you're looking for.

 

Check out Rob Allen Basses

 

Wow, awesome that your wife is backing the upright route.

I'll go ahead and say it (but since you already have the Epiphone, you probably already know) that even a very expensive ABG is probably not going to cut it volume wise in a bluegrass band without some sort of amplification. And once you start factoring in an amp (both the money and extra lugging around) then a proper upright sounds like the way to go.

I don't play an upright myself, but I have a sneaking suspicion if you got one you would not regret it, even if you had to start w/ a Chinese and put a little money towards a setup (although the Englehardt sounds nice).

Good luck.


PS, I agree w/ your opinions on the earlier ABGs, I liked the Washburn myself and was very disappointed when they discontinued the AB34 and AB35 several years ago. They show up on ebay every now and then.

 

Why 5 string ABG?
If you're considering an upright (I think we all assume 4 string), then why limit your ABG choices to 5 string?

 

Sorry, but what's wrong with the Michael Kellys???

 

I intend to pick up a 5 string, fretless, acoustic bass and have been looking around at what's available for $650-$750. I see Micheal Kelly's instruments all over. Anyone have any experience with this instrument?
Thanks,
Woody

 

I have had My Tacoma fretless 5-sring for about 8 years now and it stil is great. I just switched back from Thomastik Acousticore strings but they have so little tension I couldn't get the truss rod set right so I put some D'addario's back on it. It has a great sound acoustically and is probably the one of the loudest out there maybe besides a Taylor/Klien if you can find one. Plugged in it's anything you want it to be....very woody. Early this year, I picked up an NS CR-4T for about a grand and just love it. Play it all the time. Learning (very slowly) to bow it. The CR's above the WAV and t NXT's hhave a blend knob instead of a switch for the Arco/Pizz Piezo pick ups that gives you so much in the way of sound variance. I don't haave the Mag pickups on mine which give it even more of Fretless electric sound. I have a PentaBuzz for that. I did want a 5 string but could not let this one let away! I wanted the 5 because of everything else I have is a 5er so it would have been a no-brainer for me. You WILL have to retink your fingering for the upright to 4 fingers for 3 (fret/note) spaces versus the 4 fingers for 4 frets on a regular bass!
Lucky,lucky man to have a supportive Wife like that.....a blessing!

 

Oh yeah.......Turner Rennaisance Basses really played and sounded very woody as well. Fretless and fretted in 4 and 5 strings.