Fretless memories from days gone by?

[CaribooBass]

There are a lot of beautiful fretless bases being made these days.

We all know what they are and yes they will down the road become Iconic and much loved.

But what about fretless basses from years gone by?
I recently saw a video on the Ibanez Musician basses from the 70’s and 80’s, where the presenter feels very strongly that the fretless versions of these instruments are the best fretless basses ever made.

So this brings me to my question; What fretless basses from decades gone by do you feel could still stand up well today ?

Thanks
Clayton

 

[godofthunder59]

My favorite are 70s fretless Precision Basses! I own two at the moment.

 

[Lo-E]

Any of the fretted basses from days gone by that still hold up today will be just as relevant in their fretless versions. I tend to favor fretless basses so when I think of cool basses from the past I often imagine them as fretless but their fretlessness (or fretedness) isn’t what made them good basses.

 

[Ed Goode]

This was one of my favorite fretless basses from the late ‘60s/early ‘70s … not the actual bass I owned at the time, this one is a current eBay item for waayyy toooo much money (no affiliation). It was a great bass ….

 

[who]

So this brings me to my question; What fretless basses from decades gone by do you feel could still stand up well today ?

Does the Pedulla Buzz count? Introduced in the mid 80s but were built up until Michael Pedulla retired in 2019. I'd love to own a Pentabuzz one day.

 

[Stewie]

I bought a fretless P neck in 1976. Its on a MIM P from 98. I'd love an old single coil. They never made them so I had to make my own from a Squier. I'd say the 70s Ps are about as cool as you can get (except for that Ampeg)

 

[Pauly 4001]

My avatar is a late 60s production fretless made by Hohner/Bartell.
It's dead gorgeous but doesn't sound like a modern Jazz fretless bass.

Meet the Bartell Bass

 

[Passinwind]

Ampeg Scroll, Dan Armstrong, Travis Bean.

I owned a fretless Bean for forty years and it was my only bass for over half that time.

 

[Fernando Costa]

My favorite are 70s fretless Precision Basses! I own two at the moment.

This is my bandmate in 1981 (I played organ), I don't know what year this P-Bass is from, it had a wonderful sound, besides being a beautiful bass! The photo is edited because unfortunately he has passed away.

 

[Ggaa]

I think Rick Danko had an Ampeg fretless with a P pickup.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Some of the 1980s Peavey basses that were available in both fretted and fretless were great then and would be now as long as they haven’t developed problems from age or abuse. A Foundation fretless is much like a fretless Jazz, if not better.

 

[wysiwyg248]

 

[MIMike]

A 1970 P-Bass is kind of a classic:

 

[80jazz]

I recently saw a video on the Ibanez Musician basses from the 70’s and 80’s, where the presenter feels very strongly that the fretless versions of these instruments are the best fretless basses ever made.

If a fretless Musician like Sting's in natural popped up (appeared to be used from February-April 1980 and again in January-February 1981), I'd grab it in a heartbeat.

I realize the odds are slim to none.

 

[kesslari]

Zon and Pedulla were both making amazing fretless basses in the 1980's.

 

[JimmyM]

Any bass that sounds good to me with frets will sound good to me without.

 

[pingvuiini]

Another vote for the Pedulla Buzz series. Total GAS.

 

[cxcxcx]

The only fretless basses I recall hearing on huge hits on the radio were Pino on Music Man Stingray and Bathiki Kumalo on his Washburn B20/Vulture. Mick Karn was not all over the radio on but his but his fretless Wal was amazing.

Keeping with the fretless P theme of this thread, Tony Franklin sounded good with The Firm with his. He played a nice fretless JayDee as well, which I saw him play live with Blue Murder.

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

4000FL would be preferable, but a 4003FL is still a nice thing.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

My avatar is a late 60s production fretless made by Hohner/Bartell.
It's dead gorgeous but doesn't sound like a modern Jazz fretless bass.

Meet the Bartell Bass

View attachment 5126520

'67? Bartell (pre Hohner/no branding/serial #) Favorite fretless that I have ever, and still own. Bonus... the leather back pad makes it smell like an old Chevy.