5 strings fretless bass /2 humbuckers

[VSmolsky]

Hi all,
I have a fretted Yamaha BB425 bass, but sometimes I miss a fretless. The slide effect of a finger that slides on a fretless keyboard, it is impossible to replicate on a fretted bass, so in this 2020 I'd like to treat myself to a new bass with these features:
- 5 strings fretless
- smooth keyboard*
- 2 humbuckers (preferably active)
- modern look (no J-style or P-style)
- budget 300-500€

*where by "smooth" I mean without the signs of the frets, completely dark and uniform, because some fretless are actually traditional basses defretted, so you see the place where frets was.

The Cort B5FL has all the features I request (2 HB, modern look, smooth keyboard, not too expensive), but it is practically impossible to find. I have searched on many websites for both new and used, nothing! The only one that is found is the Cort B4FL, but I say goodbye to the B string.
There are zillions of fretted basses with these characteristics, but by inserting the "fretless" constraint the choice becomes much narrower.
Do you have any idea if there is something similar to the Cort B5FL, without breaking the bank?

Thank you!

 

[joel406]

Ibanez

 

[VSmolsky]

Ibanez

What models? Ibanez has a huge catalogue.

 

[Inara]

The only fretless 5 Ibanez makes that doesn't have lines is the SRF705. There is also the SRH505F, which has lines, but they're dark. But it has dots on the fingerboard. The SRF705 is a great, versatile bass, but it's a little unusual. Extended fingerboard, 2 humbuckers plus a piezo.

 

[VSmolsky]

The only fretless 5 Ibanez makes that doesn't have lines is the SRF705. There is also the SRH505F, which has lines, but they're dark. But it has dots on the fingerboard. The SRF705 is a great, versatile bass, but it's a little unusual. Extended fingerboard, 2 humbuckers plus a piezo.

The SRH505 is a semi-hollow bass...well, I would play classic rock, so I don't know if a semi-hollow instruments is suitable. I see it better for jazz stuff.

The SRF705 is perfect, even if a little bit expensive. It's 1000€ new, so I have to search a used one. How this bass sound? I see it uses 2 Bartolini pickups, how good they are? How they compare to a set of EMG DC40 or EMG Hz?
Is it comfortable to play? How is the fingerboard?

 

[jamro217]

Welcome to TB. Check out used Carvin/Kiesel basses. Hope this helps.

 

[Inara]

The SRH505 is a semi-hollow bass...well, I would play classic rock, so I don't know if a semi-hollow instruments is suitable. I see it better for jazz stuff.

The SRF705 is perfect, even if a little bit expensive. It's 1000€ new, so I have to search a used one. How this bass sound? I see it uses 2 Bartolini pickups, how good they are? How they compare to a set of EMG DC40 or EMG Hz?
Is it comfortable to play? How is the fingerboard?

I owned one of these for a couple of years, and found mine to be very comfortable, with a very nice fingerboard. I can't compare to EMG, as I've never played anything with EMG pickups. I liked the Bartolinis, but they've always sort of been my preference in the past. My gut feeling tells me that these Bartolinis would be warmer and less aggressive than EMGs, but that's not based on actual experience, just what I've heard about EMG. Overall I thought this was a really nice bass. A bassist friend of mine liked it so much that he also bought one lol. Yeah it's over the price range you quoted ... I'm having trouble thinking of anything unlined in that price range, but maybe something's out there? Good luck, whatever you end up finding!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I guess some questions for you are, what country are you in, and how much can you spend?
Cort basses are hard to find in the US, but probably have a larger market in Asia and/or Europe...

the aforementioned Ibanez SRF705 is probably the closest thing to the Cort B5FL, but it costs $1000 USD brand new.

 

[nilorius]

I think, what you want is minimally possible to find for this money.

 

[Persona87]

You might find a used Conklin GT5. They don't make them anymore, but I think you could find a used one in your price range. They come with Asian-made Bartolini pickups which sound okay, but I swapped them for Aguilar single coils, which sound much better to my ears.

EDIT: make sure you look for the GT5 fretless; they have a fretted version too.

 

[Dabndug]

A new Warwick Rockbass $$ 5 FL has the required features, but it will cost around EUR 1k new. Maybe a used one would work?

 

[arbiterusa]

The Cort B5FL has all the features I request (2 HB, modern look, smooth keyboard, not too expensive), but it is practically impossible to find.

The B5FL hasn't been made since the late 1990s. I've been looking for one for a while. My current gigging bass is a B4FL. Amazing bass for the price.

 

[Hercules]

MTD Kingston

 

[nnnnnn]

a fretless keyboard

 

[Maxdusty]

I don't know which country you live but Thomann has the Harley Benton B-550FL which checks all your boxes including the price - It sells for 133 Euros at Thomann Music. Never tried one, but have heard some good things about these Harley Benton basses being good for the relatively inexpensive prices they go for, perhaps someone who has tried one will chime in.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_b_550fl_bk_progressive_series.htm

 

[VSmolsky]

I guess some questions for you are, what country are you in, and how much can you spend?
Cort basses are hard to find in the US, but probably have a larger market in Asia and/or Europe...

the aforementioned Ibanez SRF705 is probably the closest thing to the Cort B5FL, but it costs $1000 USD brand new.

I'm from Italy, Cort guitars and basses are quite usual here.
Budget, around 500€ max, even used. I could raise it to 600€ for a very appealing bass like the Ibanez SRF705.
This is not a entry level bass, but you spend more money in the buy-and-resell loop.

You might find a used Conklin GT5. They don't make them anymore, but I think you could find a used one in your price range. They come with Asian-made Bartolini pickups which sound okay, but I swapped them for Aguilar single coils, which sound much better to my ears.

EDIT: make sure you look for the GT5 fretless; they have a fretted version too.

Found your topic!
N(ish)BD: Conklin GT5 Fretless

It has all the features I love on a fretless bass, even if I'd prefer a fingerboard without fret markers.
How much you paid it? I read it had some problems on PUs and electronics.

MTD Kingston

Something like this?
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Anyway, never heard of this brand in my entire life! Thanks for the suggestion. MTD Kingston, as well as Conklin, have no market in Europe. "Kingston" here means "128GB SD memory card", and Conk...what?!

 

[VSmolsky]

A new Warwick Rockbass $$ 5 FL has the required features, but it will cost around EUR 1k new. Maybe a used one would work?

Did you mean the Streamer line?
Warwick RockBass Streamer 5 FL NBT ▷ iMuso
https://www.thomann.de/it/warwick_rockbass_streamer_5_fl_nbt.htm

Never considered until now, thanks a lot!

 

[Aidil]

The SRH505 is a semi-hollow bass...well, I would play classic rock, so I don't know if a semi-hollow instruments is suitable. I see it better for jazz stuff.

The SRF705 is perfect, even if a little bit expensive. It's 1000€ new, so I have to search a used one. How this bass sound? I see it uses 2 Bartolini pickups, how good they are? How they compare to a set of EMG DC40 or EMG Hz?
Is it comfortable to play? How is the fingerboard?

The 2 soapbars on the Ibanez SRF are Bartolini MK1 pickups, so they are actually the same pickups used on the last productions of Cort B5FL or even the current B4FL.

I'd say the MK1s suit well on fretless application due to their more of midrangy sound. Though they aren't typical humbucker pickups in the sense of having dual full width coil inside, as the internal of the MK1 is split reverse P coil. While OTOH, the EMG DC or Hz, which has dual full width coil inside, is more of typical heavy thick sounding pickup, which I'm not sure it would be better sounding for fretless applications.

 

[Bad_tattoo]

the Sire m7 comes to mind. It comes in black (and blue and red!) if the natural look is not your thing

BADEDIT: ah, no fretlines. Hmm, might be able to find a used Warwick GPS fretless 5'er that fits

 

[JRA]

- 5 strings fretless
- smooth keyboard*
- 2 humbuckers (preferably active)
- modern look (no J-style or P-style)
- budget 300-500€

i think you'd open up a magnitude of possibilities just by eliminating the "2 humbuckers (preferably active)" from your list... as you could always modify if you still felt those electronics to be important after you played the piece for awhile!

inara's suggestion of the ibanez SRF705 looked to be spot on (probably a lot better!?) but i realize it's out of your current budget.

great that you want a fretless! good luck finding one that you like!