Fretless Bass Suggestions

[Swamp_Ronin]

Hi all!

Been playing for 20 years, and after playing a few in the store, have decided I’d love a fretless. I like all kinds of basses, but have always been a Jazz Bass guy. I’m looking for something lined, 4 string preferably, either a stingray or a jazz. Fretless stingrays are very hard to find, and very expensive even used.

I’ve found a new Pro II jazz bass for $1400, which seems like an ok price for a new one, and I like the necks on those. I would also like a used Standard if I could find one.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[Gorn]

I’d start cheap to see how you like it before spending a significant amount on something fancier. Squier makes a good lined fretless jazz bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

There are some MiM lined Jazz that are a great deal. They’re nice basses. I think it’s Player series. You can find them used under $600.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

thanks. I played a player in a store, and liked it. I’m not a modder/upgrader, however.

I’m not necessarily going for as cheap as possible. Maybe I didn’t make that very clear.

 

[jdaunt]

I think people were just making cheaper suggestions so you can get used to fretless and make sure it’s for you before investing a lot. That’s what i did, got a Player series Jazz and have since upgraded to a Tony Franklin P and a fretless Stingray.
But if you want to go with the Pro II J, go for it! I’ve played a few and enjoyed them, actually had ordered one last year but it kept getting delayed so i cancelled that order and got the Tony Franklin instead.

 

[nonohmic]

I'd go the Sire V5 fretless, if I were you.

 

[bobyoung53]

Tony Franklin P/J, the necks feel almost as shallow as a Jazz bass and they're ebony so you can put any string you like on them without worrying about excessive wear.

 

[jdaunt]

Tony Franklin P/J, the necks feel almost as shallow as a Jazz bass and they're ebony so you can put any string you like on them without worrying about excessive wear.

No lines though, unfortunately.

 

[Jari Kurri]

You might be interested in a fretless Sterling Ray34 CA. I was in the same boat as you: longtime fretted player who was looking to get something fretless a step above entry-level. I got a Ray34 CA a little over two years ago and I'm really happy with it. I've found that I really dig fretless and am actually in the process of upgrading. The Ray34 CA is pretty similar to the pre-EB Stingrays (2-band EQ, slab body) with a Jazz-width neck. I'm moving on to something more versatile, but if you have any interest in a Stingray a fretless Ray34 CA is worth checking out. It's a really solid, well-crafted bass that does not feel anything like all the other lower-level Stingrays that are for sale these days.

 

[bobyoung53]

Tony Franklin P/J, the necks feel almost as shallow as a Jazz bass and they're ebony so you can put any string you like on them without worrying about excessive wear.

Sorry, missed that.

 

[Gorn]

The ebony on the Tony Franklin bass can get chewed up by rounds if you’re heavy handed. I think lines help but not all that much. It’s easy to be terrible at fretless.

 

[burgerdj]

I would recommend one with a well placed and voiced bridge pick up. I really like my PJ Warwick, but I secretly lust for a fretless Stingray. Also, don’t get too hung up on lines. They are just imperfect guides and you’ll still need to develop your ear. Good luck!

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I’m not a modder/upgrader, however.

 

[BassFalcon]

+1 on the Sire rec. I had an order in for a sadowsky metro express Fretless that I waited on for like 9 months, supply chain issues. Ended up cancelling that order and with that type of wait in mind for ordering something else I looked at my local inventory of 5 string fretlesses. There’s never many…but Chicago Music exchange had some Sires in stock. Being a bit of a contrarian I never looked at Sire because all the hype. This bass CME had was white, and had lined maple board, all three things I have historically despised. I went in with an open mind, because pickings were slim. They had it waiting for me when I got there, and it blew me away. The tone, the playability, the fit and finish, everything about it was superb. It made me totally forget that I don’t like white basses, or lined Fretless, or maple fingerboards. I play it almost daily and I love it. The white finish is really something to see in person too, it’s more of a translucent white so you can still faintly make out the grain of the Ash below it.

 

[pbass2]

The ebony on the Tony Franklin bass can get chewed up by rounds if you’re heavy handed. I think lines help but not all that much. It’s easy to be terrible at fretless.

Having had a few, both lined and unlined, as someone who has mostly just dabbled in fretless, FWIW I play at least as well (in tune) on an unlined as lined. In some ways, it's actually easier...

 

[drumvsbass]

It’s easy to be terrible at fretless.

So much truth in one phrase...

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Lots of good feedback, I appreciate all of you.

I wish I could get my hands on some, but there aren’t many around, and I live in a decent sized city.

 

[syncword]

I played a lined fretless Ibanez for a long time (TR500 FL) and finally upgraded to an SRF700 Portamento last fall, also an Ibanez.

Liked it so much I also bought its sibling the SRF705. It has short lines on the side of the neck exactly where frets would be. It's technically unlined yet easy to play. I read many others say the same, even coming from fretted.

If interested, check out the Portamento club thread for more info.

 

[coy garcia]

Lines seem like a good idea but then the dots are not where the fret should be and in order to see the lines you have to lean way over. There is also something cool looking about unlined and I also find it much easier to play IMHO.
I started on fretless by switching necks on one of my fenders..it's a easy reversible decision. Once I truly got comfortable on fretless I was hooked...No fret noise, expressive, clean slides, interesting vibratos...it's addicting. Now I only play fretless even pounding out open string ac/dc tunes. For me they also seem to cut through a mix better on stage.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Yes I love the expressive possibility a fretless provides. Honestly, I’ll be fine without lines- I know I could adapt. Those portamentos look great. There are some small builders that look great but I’d have to try them out first.

Because I’ve played a jazz so long, those professionals/standards keep appealing to me. The used market for those has all but dried up!