I think mine checks all the boxes you mentioned. 2 mags and a piezo, too.
NS design CR 5 Radius.
NS design CR 5 Radius.
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Any suggestions for my next fretless?
- Thread starter SC Bassboy
- Start date
D
Deleted member 165050
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On all mine they are at the intonation point, although on older Fenders I've played they weren't.
THAT is my dream bass!!!! Beautiful! My house gets paid off in eight years and if my 71 year old (at that time) fingers are not all knurled up with arthritis, I’ll finally have the money to purchase one of those awesome instruments!!!!
If the M7 is an option, there's also the less expensive M5 model with basically the same features but without the maple top and without matching headstock, and generally with ash body... I don't own any of these but I'd prefer the M5. (I happily do own a V7 4 string ash fretless, however with a maple fretboard, so apparently not what you are looking for.)
I bought it used for 1/3rd of the full price. Keep an eye out for used ones!
I played 6 string fretless for a few years on a couple basses I won't name (because they were actually kind of awful). I can't handle necks that wide full-time anymore, but if I were to do 6 string FL again, I'd do the Ibanez SRF706:
Ibanez SRF706 Fretless Bass Guitar - Brown Burst Flat
The reason I like this one (including the 4 and 5 versions) is they're specifically designed as FL basses from the start. They're not simply one of their fretted basses manufactured as-is just without the frets. Like my current FL's, tho I love em anyway - they do have problems associated with the missing frets but no redesign to compensate for that.
But the bang/buck is just miles ahead of anything else on the market that I can see. To get an equivalent in another brand it either costs a fortune or it's not as good, etc.
I'd do the 5 string if I were going 5-string FL too. I'm not a 5 player anymore either, so I haven't, but that's what I would do on a 5 holer.
For 4 string, the selection is wider and probably the Tony Franklin is the most versatile and interesting sounding 4 string FL you can currently get (I like it so much I have 2 of them). They do have the usual problems of a Fender P bass manufactured without frets and no other changes, but for 4 string fretless it really covers every contingency you could think of.
It's also the only fretless bass that seems to have a decent resale - other FL's are nearly a total loss of investment the moment you walk out the door with them, so they're automatically keepers. But Tony Franklins appear to be sellable later if you decide to sell for some reason.
But you're not in the market for a 4, so my recommendation for 5 and 6 are the Ibanez hands down...
L
Ibanez SRF706 Fretless Bass Guitar - Brown Burst Flat
The reason I like this one (including the 4 and 5 versions) is they're specifically designed as FL basses from the start. They're not simply one of their fretted basses manufactured as-is just without the frets. Like my current FL's, tho I love em anyway - they do have problems associated with the missing frets but no redesign to compensate for that.
But the bang/buck is just miles ahead of anything else on the market that I can see. To get an equivalent in another brand it either costs a fortune or it's not as good, etc.
I'd do the 5 string if I were going 5-string FL too. I'm not a 5 player anymore either, so I haven't, but that's what I would do on a 5 holer.
For 4 string, the selection is wider and probably the Tony Franklin is the most versatile and interesting sounding 4 string FL you can currently get (I like it so much I have 2 of them). They do have the usual problems of a Fender P bass manufactured without frets and no other changes, but for 4 string fretless it really covers every contingency you could think of.
It's also the only fretless bass that seems to have a decent resale - other FL's are nearly a total loss of investment the moment you walk out the door with them, so they're automatically keepers. But Tony Franklins appear to be sellable later if you decide to sell for some reason.
But you're not in the market for a 4, so my recommendation for 5 and 6 are the Ibanez hands down...
L
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I'm a big TF fan, but that bass doesn't check very many of the OP's boxes - just string spacing and price.
I’ll tag in here as well. I just got a sire V7 vintage Fretless, ash body, and I’m over the moon with it. I have always disliked maple boards, ash bodies, and fretlines. But it’s just so good it turned me into a lover of all those things. That thing just sings.
Also, I can vouch for Godin A5. I’ve never owned one, but one of the music shops I frequented as a teen had one and I put a lot of hours on it, like you do as teen with more time than money. It’s an odd bird but the ones I’ve seen have all been very well built and unique sounding.
i think you see that on cheaper necks.
that's right, they're supposed to be that way, but....
right. all of the cheap chinese necks that i've purchased (~7?) have had side dots located where they would be on a fretted ax. if the neck quality was lacking = i wouldn't use them, so i just re-do the side dots. but it's cool that rondo places them correctly!
There's a 6-string Pedulla at the GC in Warwick, RI that I've tried and it's absolutely wonderful.
In all honesty, I'm pretty much a 4-stringer with an itch to someday build myself a 3-string, but I've had a couple of stints with a fretless in the past and I really appreciate them. I even have a Modulus fretless neck stashed at home that I need to find a body for so that I can keep it in service full time. Back when I found it, I swapped it onto the body of my J-bass and had fun with that until I got to missing my fretted neck.
Have a look at the Pedulla I mentioned. I'm pretty sure it's a passive setup, but VERY alive sounding and I doubt it would be much trouble to drop a preamp into the control cavity if you need that. I have no practical use for a 6-string myself these days... but this bass is so nice that buying it to try it (love that 45 day return policy!) really isn't out of the question for me. Pedullas are yummy!!
...and no, I'm not affiliated with GC or anything like that. This beautiful instrument needs a happy home
- Jul 7, 2010
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- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
Good choices. I understand that a Hexabuzz went on Reverb this morning. They're fairly rare!
My advice would just be to scan Reverb for fretless basses but using the search filters. It will throw up results that you might not have expected. I got my Manne fretless on there just doing that and for a very good price too. Italian handmade instrument with solid maple wings, neck thru and a jet black ebony board for the price of a used fretless jazz bass...
There is hidden treasure out there.
So many excellent choices within your requirements! I came here specifically to mention @tjclem , @Cliff Bordwell, and @turindev as candidates for a custom build.
