Choosing a fretless: help requested

[Lee Moses]

I'll second the Carvins. If you're willing to go used, you can get pretty much any model within your price range.

 

[hobbes1]

yes, the carvins are definitely attractive...especially with the headstock seen earlier in this thread. i'm not really a fan of some of their other headstocks but this one is more gibson like and i LIKE that!

I've been thinking about a Spector Spectorcore as a possibility too. Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks

 

[boristhespider9]

Carvin PB4 will have the more comfortable neck. And yes, the traditional headstock looks sweet.

 

[Marial]

Yes, I'd give Carvin a call and discuss the tone you're looking for. You can probably get what you're looking for from Warmoth, but it will be plain-Jane aesthetically, especially if you're not assembling/wiring it up yourself.

 

[WaldoNova]

If you decide to go with a Warwick make sure you play it first. I've played some clunkers and some that played like butter. They're all gorgeous. I've seen plenty of Streamer's and Corvettes available for $800 and less.

 

[hobbes1]

Anyone with Spectorcore commentary?

re: Warwick's: yes, I've played some I liked and some not so much. Try Before Buy would be ideal!

 

[Marial]

I've had a USA Spector custom and a couple of their import models. I found the lower cost Spectors pretty lacking tonally, but that was probably a decade ago. Things have probably improved since then.

This certainly looks like nice, though.

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[LarryWooten]

Oh the the Squier VM fretless' is ripe for easy dress up...heres mine after mods ( Tuners, Thru solid brass thru bridge, pickguard..etc)

Is that a squier VM fretless neck? I have owned three of those fake Jaco basses made by squier, I still own one of them and none could be played above the 14th fret, the necks were warped. Also had trouble with the fret insert markers buzzing.

 

[Nephilymbass]

For under $800 there are a lot of options. The ibanez gwb is a nice player but not as i guess "woody" as id prefer.

My fretless journey started on a mim jazz which i got for about $300 on the bay.

I think the biggest factor if your just getting into fretless is to get a bass with lines. Or at least partial lines. Bad Intonation causes a lot of people to give up on fretless before they've really given it a fair shot

 

[west al]

I just got this Sterling Ray34CAFL instead of an Am. Std. fretless. No regrets here. $799.

 

[west al]

 

[1stnamebassist]

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with the Warwick Rockbass Streamer in fretless. I would love to get a five string unlined fretless for short money (around 500 to 600). I tried a Warwick fretless a few years back and loved the sound and feel, but it was out of my price range. Can't recall which model it was but it was 4 string, used and about $800.

 

[pb9717]

That's a stunner.....get your Pino on bro.

 

[Sid Fang]

yes...you know, adjusting the truss rod and bridge saddles to get the best setup of action and intonation?

I think DieterVDW's point was that, on a fretless, your intonation comes 100% from your fingers. Bridge saddle adjustments on the axis of the strings serve only to make the fingering positions *exactly* the same for every string, which may be what you meant by "intonation", but in theory a player can compensate by shifting his/her fingers a millimeter or two from one string to the next.

 

[jim777]

I like the idea of a used Carvin as well, great bang for the buck with Carvin. The Bunny Brunel models do have the option of the asymetrical carve on the 5 strings, so I would imagine that is an option on other models as well - you might feel right at home on a fretless BB75 if you can find one used. The Ibanez GWB35 is a nice fretless too, and the newer Portamento 705 looks promising but I haven't played one. Fretless is a lot of fun to play in general, so happy hunting! There is a fretless club thread on here as well, should be tons of good info on different models in there too.