First fretless, which one?

[larrysb]

Some good thoughts there!

I had a look at some local shops, tried the Squier Classic Vibe fretless this afternoon. I have to admit, I didn't like for some reason. It had roundwounds on it, the neck just felt sticky or something. The Fender Jaco which looked a lot like sounded and felt a lot better, even though it too, somehow had roundwounds on it.

Other local stuff included a Sterling Fretless, couple of Warwicks with active electronics (kinda not into the battery thing). There were some vintage P-basses that I didn't try, since they were more money.

I'll go try to find some Ibanez basses to try out, even fretted.

For whatever reason, seems like not a lot bass guitars in stock lately and very few fretless.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Try the Squire Classic Vibe 60s Fretless Jazz Bass. It has a lined neck which will help you acclimate to fretless playing. It is an excellent first fretless bass at a very affordable price and is a lot of fun to play.

 

[JRA]

Suggestions?

another/different option if you have an interest: putting together a parts bass can net you a very nice instrument for less than a comparable ax off the rack. for less than $500 USD this one plays superbly, way beyond its price point:


good luck with your search for a nice fretless!

 

[theduke1]

My first choice is always G&L
Duke

 

[getrhythm]

I bought a Glarry fretless Precision knock-off. Very decent, very light, very cheap $100.

 

[EliasA]

Try the Ibanez SR370EF. (In my pic) It's my main bass, only $420. Always sold out though so pick one up when you can. The coil split gives perfect Jaco/J-bass tones.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

I asked around about this recently and got some recommendations for the Ibanez Gary Willis. There are two models, one is more affordable than the other but both are 5 string lined fretless basses that people regard well.

I might lean toward the Squier Classic Vibe in principle because I think that series is pretty well made, but the fretted ones I picked up in a store recently were all very heavy.

 

[B Luigi V]

I highly recommend a used Fender Japan JB62 fretless.
Those are great instruments and as a plus they gain in value over the years.
Mine pictured here is an Ocean Turquoise one and was built in 1989.

 

[logdrum]

My oldest to me bass is a fretless but when I needed another 4, all I did was get a cheap squire with a bad neck and bought a AllParts ebony fretboard fretless neck for 189 shipped (reverb). I moved the tuners to the new neck but at that time, I haven't really done any assembly and I headed to the Luthier and he transferred it while we were talking and I paid him like 30 bucks. It took him 10 minutes including adjusting the action. He is a good one though because he can shape a neck from scratch with hand tools in just over an hour

 

[SteveCS]

I’m interested in getting a fretless bass, would be my first fretless though I’ve been playing a long time.
...
Suggestions?

Sire ... have good options that are good values.
...

Sire V5.

Something to be wary of if you consider the Sire . I was noodling around on the bunch of Sire fretless 'Jazz' style basses the other day - nice glossed fingerboards, lovely finishes and great-feeling necks. BUT - some of them (e.g. V5 and V7 2nd Gen.) fingerboards were lined with no face dots and with side dots set into the bindings at the 'in-between' positions. Normally with a lined board you would expect to see the ends of the fret-lines showing along the edge of the fingerboard and use those as a visual guide rather than the dots, but the binding meant there was nothing. No line ends and the dots out of position. There is no point looking over at the fingerboard because the high gloss renders the dark-stained lines invisible at such shallow angles - peering over to the point where you can see creates such a contorted body posture that holding hand-shape becomes impossible. After 40 years playing fretless it was not a problem for me as I tend not to look very much and have good posture/handshape, but I can see this causing real problems for inexperienced or occasional players.

 

[nickpc]

If you can find a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz bass grab it - they're well built, decent electronics, not too heavy (mine is under 9 pounds) and the ebanol fingerboard plays really well (even if it feels a little plastic-y at first). The only thin I don't like on mine is the "Jaco relic" job a previous owner did - with a screwdriver, apparently.

 

[George Himmel]

I’m interested in getting a fretless bass, would be my first fretless though I’ve been playing a long time.

Got inspired after putting a set of TI flat wounds on my Geddy Lee bass.

I have some general parameters:

Not too expensive. (??? Whatever that means)
Not too heavy. ( under 9lbs)
Good balance.
Four strings are good.
Lines probably, not necessarily.
Tend to favor Jazz Bass style but not a rule.
Used or new, don’t care.

The Harley Benton are the cheapest bang for buck, but I don’t think I can live with the weight. They seem to be rolling in at 10lbs for the JB models. The price is crazy low though.

On the higher budget side, there are some deals on Jaco signature J-basses and I like the one I played, under 9lbs but it was a scratch and dent for too much money.

Saw a good deal on a fretless 5-string, but I’m not motivated to also take up 5 string at the same time.


Suggestions?

I always recommend one bass for a punches-above-its-weight fretless, and that’s the Ibanez/Soundgear SRF700 Portamento (for a 4-string). The mag pickups aren’t my favorite sound, and it tends to wanna neck dive a touch, but the playability and flexibility with the piezo on board more than make up for it. It’s like the most budget version of an FBass AC, and can be had for under $1k pretty reliably.

And for what it’s worth, you usually gotta pay $3500-4k more for a “scratch-and-dent” Jaco Signature

 

[SunByrne]

My first fretless was a Sire V9, which has since been discontinued—basically, a V7 with a quilted maple top. I’ve been very happy with it, and would recommend a fretless V7.

They seem hard to come by in the U.S. but both Thomann and Anderton’s usually have them in stock.

 

[Wyrdlow]

I wouldn't discount the Harley Benton JB40FL. I've had mine since 2017 and all I've changed is the strings - RS88 flats. It would be a great instrument at four times the price, and whilst it is heavy - mine clocks in at over ten pounds - in a two hour set I'm using it for six songs, maximum, so it really isn't an issue.
Good luck with your search -I look forward to seeing what you get.

 

[charliethomas]

I had a look at some local shops, tried the Squier Classic Vibe fretless this afternoon. I have to admit, I didn't like for some reason. It had roundwounds on it, the neck just felt sticky or something.

...

For whatever reason, seems like not a lot bass guitars in stock lately and very few fretless.

Squiers can be very hit-or-miss. I was lucky to nab a used CV fretless from a local GC and it plays great. Goes without saying that you can replace the strings yourself - that was one of the first things I did after bringing it home (DR Sunbeams are very nice on it).

If the gloss finish on the back of the neck annoys you, you can always use some very fine steel wool to smooth it out.

The only fretless option I ever see at GC is the Fender Player fretless (which does come stock with flats). None of those I've tried did much for me. Hope you find something you like!

 

[fauxtoe]

The Fender Jaco which looked a lot like sounded and felt a lot better, even though it too, somehow had roundwounds on it.

Jaco played with Rototsound 66's, which are roundwounds. Only makes sense!

 

[larrysb]

I had a G&L ASAT Bass from the 1990's. I loved the way it sounded and played, but with the light swamp ash body and placement of the body horns, it was so neck-divey that I couldn't do much with it on a strap and didn't get much use out of it, so let it go eventually.

Hence my desire for good balance, especially on a strap.

I

 

[PFDarkside]

I got a MIM Standard Jazz Bass recently. Lined fretless with Chromes, it sounds fantastic and plays great. They are pretty reasonably priced on Reverb.

 

[larrysb]

I wouldn't discount the Harley Benton JB40FL. I've had mine since 2017 and all I've changed is the strings - RS88 flats. It would be a great instrument at four times the price, and whilst it is heavy - mine clocks in at over ten pounds - in a two hour set I'm using it for six songs, maximum, so it really isn't an issue.
Good luck with your search -I look forward to seeing what you get.

The JB40FL is back ordered for 8-10 weeks. Thomann have an alternate model the JB75FL which is the same with a pick guard. It is routed under the pick guard but is otherwise the same and $10 cheaper, and in stock. Most reports are indicating well over 10lbs as well.

Unfortunately my L2 and L3 disks will not agree to anything over 9lbs anymore.

 

[Sternodox]

I've had my first fretless for around a week and a half now. I simply cannot put it down. Installed LaBella Deep Talkin' flats and this bass just sings. I've been playing it through a compressor and a phaser and OMG ... the sound is beautiful and haunting. I don't play jazz and will be using this bass for experimental improv with some like-minded cats.

The bass is heavier than it looks. The neck is one of the fastest I've ever played and it feels perfect to my hands. I was considering a Sire, since I already own two, and it played just as well as the ESP, but I went with the old "fell in love with the look" thing. I think this bass is a stunner and, although inexperienced on fretless, I feel comfortable recommending this axe. Not expensive, not cheap. Right at that price point where so many amazing instruments seem to reside these days.