Any recommendations for a 5-string fretless?

[r0ckb0tt0m]

Could anyone recommend a good brand/model of a 5-string fretless bass?

 

[KERMITNT]

http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/

 

[Hollow Man]

Skjold, Roscoe, or Zon.

 

[snyderz]

EBMM Stingray or Sterling.

 

[Debased]

Bee, Jerzy Drozd, MTD USA, and F-Bass make the best sounding and playing fretless basses I've tried, and the build quality from each is top-notch.

 

[bassteban]

A friend recently grabbed a Godin semi-hollow. Very nice, w/a touch of natural reverb in the upper register. I'd like one of these, or a similar 4.

 

[pmaraziti]

Pedulla Pentabuzz!

 

[K.Ross]

Carvin has a NICE price on 5-string fretlesses.( I LOVE mine.)They are American made,and you're bypassing the middle-man,so you save LOTS of dollars. Check out Carvin.com,and see what they have...you won't be dissapointed.
Kent

 

[Marcury]

Rob Allen

 

[Chasarms]

The variety that is available in fretless basses is mostly equal to the variety of fretted basses. There are many, many very nice fretless five string basses out there, and they are going to have very different voices.

My current fretless and very recent purchase is a Roscoe LG3005 fretless. It is a very nice bass that is amazingly easy to play. I have owned a Modulus Genesis fretless five that was noteworthy for sure.

Most all of the reputable makers offer a bass sans frets. If you like the fretted version, you are likely to enjoy the fretless.

If you are looking for a classic "Fenderish" tone, you can't go wrong with Lakland or, oddly enough, Fender.

My experience with the modern tone basses such as Modulus and Roscoe has been great. Zon fretless basses are highly thought of as well.

If you want a woody, puffy acoustic tone, Rob Allen is nice. I also really like Godin basses for that vibe.

Without understanding what kind of fretless sound is in your head and what kind of budget you are working with, it is hard to offer any pointed advice.

 

[Jazzdogg]

The variety that is available in fretless basses is mostly equal to the variety of fretted basses. There are many, many very nice fretless five string basses out there, and they are going to have very different voices.

My current fretless and very recent purchase is a Roscoe LG3005 fretless. It is a very nice bass that is amazingly easy to play. I have owned a Modulus Genesis fretless five that was noteworthy for sure.

Most all of the reputable makers offer a bass sans frets. If you like the fretted version, you are likely to enjoy the fretless.

If you are looking for a classic "Fenderish" tone, you can't go wrong with Lakland or, oddly enough, Fender.

My experience with the modern tone basses such as Modulus and Roscoe has been great. Zon fretless basses are highly thought of as well.

If you want a woody, puffy acoustic tone, Rob Allen is nice. I also really like Godin basses for that vibe.

Without understanding what kind of fretless sound is in your head and what kind of budget you are working with, it is hard to offer any pointed advice.

+100 Without descriptions of the OP's tonal goals, and the tonal qualities of the basses that are being recommended, this thread isn't particularly useful.

 

[JonathanD]

Cough...see my signature...cough

 

[fullrangebass]

There are different approaches over the tone of a fretless. I am more partial to Mick Karn's tone than to Jaco's. Unless you know what you are after there is not much room left for suggestions. Having said that, I have owned few superb fretless basses. None comes close to my fretless Dingwall

 

[lowtide]

For the bucks . . . see the Brice basses at Rondo . . . very impressive.

 

[lowtide]

Cough...see my signature...cough

For Sale is the best playing fretless I have ever played.

You're obviously not a true fretless lover . . . I'd love to have your fretless for sale item though . . .

 

[DanielleMuscato]

What's your budget, r0ckb0tt0m?
What kind of music do you play?
What string spacing do you like?
Have a preference for pickups and preamps?
Bodyshape? Single/double-cut?
Are you looking for an acoustic, woody tone like a Rob Allen, or like a Jaco tone, or...?

The more you tell us, the easier it will be for us to recommend something ideally suited to you.

 

[p0k]

Pedulla Pentabuzz!

+1

 

[chrisp2u]

Plenty of good suggestions so far, depending on your budget. I just picked up a couple fretless 5's from the classifieds here over the past couple weeks... a Bee Bass Queen Bee, and a Pedulla Pentabzz.

Out of the 3 fretless 5'rs that I currently own, the Bee is the best sounding and plays fantastic. Has a better B string than any of my Lakland's and it's only 34" scale. The Pedulla is a beautifully made instrument and plays extremely well, too. The Stambaugh (see sig) is a great instrument as well, and has one of the best feeling necks I've played for a 5'er. My pick, with what I've owned, overall would be the Bee.

With all that said, it's all subjective, and you never know til you play them yourself. Each bass certainly has its own character... which one is right for you is up to you.
---
c

 

[nrssab]

A sandberg plasmabass 5-string made out of diamond and 18 carat gold hardware!

If you cant afford that then just a Sandberg Custom 5, Custom Thinline, Basic 5 Ken Taylor...