Fretless bass? 4 or 5- and which one?

[vindibona1]

I've never played a fretless bass except for 5 minutes in a store years ago. It was a Squier and seemed fun. A 4 string. Right now I've got 5 basses, four 5ers and a 4 banger. I've got my BTB675 up for sale and may even sell it tonight. I also have an Epiphone copy of a Martin D35 listed for sale at the right price. If both of those are sold I will have some extra cash on hand and thinking of a fretless bass.

The first question is, 4 or 5 string? i've been playing 5ers exclusively for almost 6 years. So question 1 is: Do I even want to think about a fretless 4 string? Question 2) As this will be an experiment/journey which bass seems logical. It will probably be my first and last fretless. For reference of what I own currently to get an idea of what I should be looking at, I currently have (in order of my ranking) a Sandberg Ken Taylor, over-improved 2010 Fender jazz bass with Aguilar noiseless pups and Audere preamp, a Yamaha TRBX605, a 2011 over-improved Squier 70'sVM jazz 4 string... and hopefully out the door tonight, the Ibanez BTB675m.

 

[Eric Ryan]

If it's going to be your first & last fretless, go with a 5 IMHO. I just traded a bucket list bass, a MINT Fender Jaco Artist model, for a Pedulla Rapture JJ 5er. The reason? Because I don't play 4's anymore.

I don't live on the B-string, but it sure comes in handy when I need it, & makes a great thumb rest.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Sire makes some great affordable 5 string fretless.

Ibanez does too if you don't mind the string spacing (varies by model)

I'd say go with 5 for sure if that's mostly what you like

Have fun with it!

 

[vindibona1]

I think that a 5 will be the ticket. Why not? I don't play 4 string fretted any more. I guess if I were younger with an idea that I'd play double bass in orchestra I might want to go with 4. My orchestra days are well behind me.

As I think about budget I'm thinking $1200 now? Sadowsky Metro Express hybrid comes to mind but I don't know if I am able to try one or any other for that matter. Maybe Chicago Music Exchange has a fretless that might fill the bill. I don't know. The other question is: Do I really need another bass?????

 

[Riccardo90]

Do I really need another bass???

I'd say if you are thinking about a fretless then you need at least another bass. The tone difference is enough to justify it, and if you dig the fretless sound just go for it.
Have fun!!

 

[poochiecheeks]

Pick your favorite bass you own and find a fretless as similar to it as possible. Anything you can do on a fretted you can do on a fretless and more... except for playing 100% in tune 100% of the time. That doesn't work if your fretless is "missing a string" compared to what you're used to

 

[vindibona1]

I should look at size specs more. Two basses that pop out right away are the Sadowsky pj and Ibanez Gary Willis GWB35. Both are under $1000.

 

[Derek Kay]

A fretless usually has a better tone in the higher registers than a fretted IMO.

If you want 5 strings consider tuning EADGC.

 

[Jefus]

5 string. That low B is so cool on fretless.

Don't believe me? Check out Victor Wooten's solo on this iconic track.

 

[FunkHead]

Well since you're asking for opinions, here's mine: I would jump on the 5 string Stambaugh F/S here on Talkbass. It's hard to beat a Stambaugh fret-less for great tone and play-ability for a fantastic price.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I bought a Ibanez lower end 5 string fretless my 1st 5 string bass as well as fretless not to much invested just in case I did not fall in love with it.

 

[IronLung1986]

I recommend 5 strings for a fretless because it allows you to get the fretless sound on the low E. In standard tuning of course. That is a pretty good benefit. On a 4 string fretless you're playing all these beautiful singing notes and then bongggg the open E sounds like any other bass.

Also, fretless is more intimate. It's nicer to use that 5th fret E on the B string as your base position instead of out at the open E position. It puts your hand in a more comfortable position to get the intonation just right, and feels more cozy which is what you want on fretless.

 

[logdrum]

Since you already have 5's in majority, get a 5.

But eventually, you should at least experience the Zen of a passive fretless Fender 4-string Jazz with 2 no-noise single coils.

This is coming from someone who has a Pedulla Buzz since for more than 30 years and my first bass converted to extended fretless with Barts, active pre-amp and piezos.

I did add a D string de-tuner to this bass, if I need an Eb-E vibrato and other things.

 

[ryco]

I'd go 5er and check out the MTD stuff. Wide range of prices and well crafted.

Seriously gassing for a 535 build, but some of the affordable Kingston, Z5, and Artist series look fun.

 

[Silky Johnson]

Imo 5 string fretless is the best way to go, I don't really like fretted fives, but being able to slide that low b is awesome

Check out MTD Kingston Z or even better ZX, they have the best neck profile I've ever found

 

[Jeff Scott]

I've never played a fretless bass except for 5 minutes in a store years ago. It was a Squier and seemed fun. A 4 string. Right now I've got 5 basses, four 5ers and a 4 banger. I've got my BTB675 up for sale and may even sell it tonight. I also have an Epiphone copy of a Martin D35 listed for sale at the right price. If both of those are sold I will have some extra cash on hand and thinking of a fretless bass.

The first question is, 4 or 5 string? i've been playing 5ers exclusively for almost 6 years. So question 1 is: Do I even want to think about a fretless 4 string? Question 2) As this will be an experiment/journey which bass seems logical. It will probably be my first and last fretless. For reference of what I own currently to get an idea of what I should be looking at, I currently have (in order of my ranking) a Sandberg Ken Taylor, over-improved 2010 Fender jazz bass with Aguilar noiseless pups and Audere preamp, a Yamaha TRBX605, a 2011 over-improved Squier 70'sVM jazz 4 string... and hopefully out the door tonight, the Ibanez BTB675m.

Most of my fretless basses over the decades were 5-string (Yamaha BX-5 I had converted to fretless by John Carruthers, two Zons, and the first Martin Keith Elfin 5 I bought), so, there's that.

As to 4-string fretless basses, my first was the 1972 7ender Telecaster Bass I defretted, and the '84 Alembic Exploiter I had converted to fretless.

 

[logdrum]

But eventually, you should at least experience the Zen of a passive fretless Fender 4-string Jazz with 2 no-noise single coils.


View attachment 5350460

I meant NON noiseless. NOT noise cancelling. True single coils

 

[Chris Chong]

+1 for 5 string

 

[Elusive1]

It will probably be my first and last fretless.

If it’s just gonna be one bass, go for that extra string.
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[BassChap]

I've never played a fretless bass except for 5 minutes in a store years ago. It was a Squier and seemed fun. A 4 string. Right now I've got 5 basses, four 5ers and a 4 banger. I've got my BTB675 up for sale and may even sell it tonight. I also have an Epiphone copy of a Martin D35 listed for sale at the right price. If both of those are sold I will have some extra cash on hand and thinking of a fretless bass.

The first question is, 4 or 5 string? i've been playing 5ers exclusively for almost 6 years. So question 1 is: Do I even want to think about a fretless 4 string? Question 2) As this will be an experiment/journey which bass seems logical. It will probably be my first and last fretless. For reference of what I own currently to get an idea of what I should be looking at, I currently have (in order of my ranking) a Sandberg Ken Taylor, over-improved 2010 Fender jazz bass with Aguilar noiseless pups and Audere preamp, a Yamaha TRBX605, a 2011 over-improved Squier 70'sVM jazz 4 string... and hopefully out the door tonight, the Ibanez BTB675m.

Ibanez GWB35 is great. Ibanez Portamento 5-er is wonderful too. I have both. Play the Portamento more now, probably as that one is newer to me. The piezo bridge gives a great sound, also combined with the magnetic pups.
Good luck!