Best 5 string fretless for under $3000?

[SonofJud]

What do you think the best option would be/reasons why? Including used basses.

 

[raventepes]

You just asked about 90% of them with that price. At that point, it's basically a question of the tone you're after. Do you want a neck through? A bolt on? Single or double pickup? What kind of music are you playing? How many strings? What would you think is your current proficiency?

The question is entirely too broad and needs to be narrowed down. What I like may not reflect what you like. My needs may not be your needs. "Best" is really subjective.

This is almost like asking "What's the best air to breathe?

 

[Deleted member 264575]

My favorite fretless is the Ernie Ball Stingray 5. I have 2 fretless basses now, and have owned a few others. I love the 'Ray' more than any fretless I've played so far. Reasons why; It's very consistent, not as 'moody' as my other basses, which seem to have good days and bad (for sound and playability). Also, it's very dynamic. It can go from a whisper to a scream, depending on how you touch it. It's also incredibly comfortable to play, ergonomically. It's very easy to play (mine is lined, thank god. I suck at intonation). The active circuit does wonderful things with effects, too. It makes my Big Muff Pi (for instance), sound "Muff-ier" than my other basses. Lastly, its tone. My wife has said things like: "She sings", and "She has a voice like a human" (yes, my 'Ray' is a girl...) . It's uncanny. I'll post an example at the end of this, but it's my first You tube link. If it doesn't work, type "Tony Levin Belle", into Youtubes' search engine and you'll hear what I mean. Any of Tony Levins' Waters of Eden album will let you know what it sounds like. He used it a lot on the 'Pieces of the Sun' album, too. I had Tony sign the back of mine in '05 and when he did he said: "This is EXACTLY like my bass!" Anyway, sorry for the rant. Here's the link and a pic of my babe (2nd from the left);



Cheers,
Neal.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Funny. I bought a used sadowsky NYC 24 5 string a few months ago for - $3000. It's as nice a 34" 5 string as I've played. I think I liked my Ken Lawrence 5 a bit more, but it was a 35" and cost me closer to $4K 13 years ago!

 

[chris_b]

Lull , Lakland or Sadowsky would be my choice.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Roscoe...
Roscoe fretless are legendary.
I've heard a bunch, played two, own one.
They come up in the classifieds from time to time.

 

[FA108208usat2]

Modulus Q5 Quantum.

 

[J.Wolf]

Subjective preferences aside, at that budget you could snag used versions of what IMO are the companies that consistently make the best Fretless basses: roscoe, Zon, and F bass. They're all quite different from one another, but they each kill in their own right.

to massively generalize and oversimplify ( I'll surely get in trouble for this):

Roscoe- thickest sounding (assuming standard bart/bart recipe), best B string in the biz
Zon- Best clarity and "dimension"
F bass- woodiest and most dynamic/responsive

 

[SonofJud]

What

You just asked about 90% of them with that price. At that point, it's basically a question of the tone you're after. Do you want a neck through? A bolt on? Single or double pickup? What kind of music are you playing? How many strings? What would you think is your current proficiency?

The question is entirely too broad and needs to be narrowed down. What I like may not reflect what you like. My needs may not be your needs. "Best" is really subjective.

This is almost like asking "What's the best air to breathe?

would you pick for yourself?

 

[guitarflinger]

Used Pedulla Pentabuzz. There is one in the Talkbass classified right now for $2000. Also frequently seen on ebay.

 

[cv115505]

With that budget, I don;t see you having to do much compromising... I'm sure it's already been said, but I'd at least look at Pedulla

 

[GilGB]

Curbow IEP,Zon Sonus,Roscoe SKB With diamondwood fretboard.

 

[xabicho]

The best so far my MTD 535 FL, very deep lows quasi an upright sound.

My Fodera NYC Empire 5 FL, I just changed the Flatwounds for Roundwounds DR's amazing growling this bass sings.

Hanewinckel 6 strings lined amazing growling on a extended range

Aria 6 String FL, the widest neck I ever played nice sound for the price

Ken Smith 4 string nice mid range

 

[halfjackson]

I agree that for $3000 your options are wide open, especially because you'll consider used basses. It's really going to come down to what sound that you're after, as well as specs, comfort and playability.

All that being said, if Ihad $3000 for a fretless bass, I'd consider heavily Zon; Pedulla Pentabuzz (they really do live up to the hype, and Roscoe (I love mine), with an outside chance for a Stingray, Lakland, Lull, or something else that I was less familiar with. I know they're out there!

Good luck!

 

[drumsnbass]

Used Pedulla Pentabuzz. There is one in the Talkbass classified right now for $2000. Also frequently seen on ebay.

I 2nd that!

And for the OP, if you're patient I can part with a Zon 519F in about 3 weeks (just moved -- in storage) that is in LN condition or a 'players' Pedulla 5 string 19mm. I won't part with my Pedulla Hexabuzz 17.5mm though!

I am sticking to 17.5-18mm spacing.

 

[raventepes]

If I were to choose something for myself in that range, I'd go for a Spector Euro 6XL.

 

[nostatic]

Lull , Lakland or Sadowsky would be my choice.

I wouldn't pick any of those for a fretless but ymmv. They make great fretted basses though.

Depending on what you want from a fretless, used Zon, Rob Allen, Roscoe, Ernie Ball would be my top 4 at the price (with the EB coming in lower).

 

[theduke1]

I have a 1997 G&L 2500 fretless I would not trade for 5 of anything else. The one on the right.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

For $3,000, there is not a single brand you can't buy, including Fodera if you are patient and look hard enough. I would probably look for some sort of Sadowsky with a lined ebony fingerboard.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Another thought...
I have a Zon 5 string fretless that I really, REALLY like - I bought it here for $1500 about 4 years ago. GREAT bass. Zon's are the shiz for fretless.