Any suggestions for my next fretless?

[SC Bassboy]

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

Absolutely. If I wanted another 4 string I would get the Tony Franklin. I have been lucky enough to chat with him a lot on Instagram and respect his playing. My main current fretless is a Warwick Rockbass Streamer NT which features the P/J pickup setup like a TF. The Ibanez SRF has definately crossed my radar. It has every feature I'm looking for but I'm having trouble warming up to the brown burst finish. Its a petty issue but I does bother me. Also, I notice the saddles on that bridge are some sort of composite and not metal which gives me pause as well

 

[SC Bassboy]

What kind of sound qualities do you gravitate towards in a fretless?

I'm all about the "Mwah" sound but that's more in the setup and plucking position than components. My favorite fretless is a 4 string that has a alder body and it just sings. I do have a 5 string with a wenge neck and a bubinga body but it doesnt sing like the other one. It sounds good but notes just jump off the 4 string, which I attribute to the different body material.

 

[SC Bassboy]

If fretlines are a must, I'd go MTD or an Ibanez Gary Willis.

They're not. In fact I only want them if they have fret markers on the face of the fingerboard like a traditional fretted bass. I get lost on a lined board without the markers. Both my current fretless basses have un-lined boards

 

[Reedeaux]

I have looked at some of the Sire fretless models. Do you have the alder or ash body? Also, could you post a few pictures of your fingerboard? Thank you

I have the alder model. Nice and lightweight. But I wanted the blue finish and that only comes in alder.
I'm away from home right now but I can take pics when I get back.
The fretboard is very smooth and gives the bass a nice, round tone, I think....

 

[SC Bassboy]

Well, my search has led me to these two beauties. Completely different animals but I ended up liking them both.

I already had the Warwick but didn't love it at the time. Some setup work and adjustments made it come to life. The Carvin popped up on Reverb and it checked all the boxes. I used to drool over Carvin catalogs back in the day so it appealed to me. Eventually the wife will make me pick one and sell the other but for now I can bounce back and forth between them. If the Warwick had a MM pickup at the bridge it would be the winner. Any thoughts from you guys? Butcher the Warwick and change the pickup or put a little love and new hardware on the Carvin?

 

[mjm0]

I've never had one with misplaced side dots, but apparently some cheap instruments are off? My MiJ fender is right, and the cheep rondo i just sold was, too.

On all mine they are at the intonation point, although on older Fenders I've played they weren't.

I have several unlined fretless basses (many Music Man, others), and the side dots are at the intonation point on all of them. The only fretless basses i have where the dots are in between, like they are on fretted basses, were converted Fenders (frets removed and filled with lines). I DO look down a bit when i play, and with lines, i can easily look past the misplaced dots, but if i had no lines and ONLY misplaced side dots, that would mess with my head too much. My preference is for unlined and correctly-placed side dots, or no side dots.

I think mine checks all the boxes you mentioned. 2 mags and a piezo, too.
NS design CR 5 Radius.
View attachment 4415751

Awesome. And i really like the way they did the front dots on that. I kinda wish more (but not all) unlined fretless boards had some front markers like that, just for looks. But of course a big, blank slab can look awesome as well.

Also, I notice the saddles on that bridge are some sort of composite and not metal which gives me pause as well

From Ibanez's website, that seems to be deliberate, to get a bit more upright quality with the piezos.

 

[GTHintz]

So some of my favorite fretless tones come from a Warwick thumb, Ibanez sr, pedulla, mtd, music man. I would say that Warwick is a safe bet because they have so much tone in there and since you don't mind heavy it won't matter if you get a heavy one. If you get a prestige edition made japanese Ibanez it'll be a great bass too. The only other one that is worth mentioning would be a fretless Ken Smith. Good luck keeping it under 3k but it's another beast of an instrument that would give you lots of tone and excellent build quality.