Fretless search-4 string

[Biggbass]

I need to find a 4 string fretless bass that doesn't too sound jazzy, jaco, or spanky thin, but instead, has a thicker, woody tone that will work well for Americana ballads. Think Angel from Montgomery as done by Bonnie Raitt.
Birdsong is on the radar, as is a Fender T Franklin Sig, and the Lakland hollow body 34.

Am open to other ideas.

 

[bench]

my first thought: ask TB member JRA to get you one of those chinese ones that he plays, let him set it up for a bonus. i' m pretty sure thing would be a killer... and probably budget friendly overall

 

[GrapeBass]

I need to find a 4 string fretless bass that doesn't too sound jazzy, jaco, or spanky thin, but instead, has a thicker, woody tone that will work well for Americana ballads. Think Angel from Montgomery as done by Bonnie Raitt.
Birdsong is on the radar, as is a Fender T Franklin Sig, and the Lakland hollow body 34.

Am open to other ideas.

While I do use a Jaco-ish Fretless Jazz (Squier VM w/Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders) and do highly recommend a Fretless Jazz... they don't just get the Jaco bridge p/up tone, there's a marvelous neck p/up there too LOL.

Here's a taste of my semi-acoustic Jazz/Blues/Classic Rock Trio (w/guests) playing Angel From Montgomery at a local watering hole in Toronto, Canada (Tranzac Club). This particular trio is demanding I use a fretless and use an AGB when I can... Here's a cheapo Aria fretless FEBFLUFFEN AGB (set up to be killer).

 

[GrapeBass]

Here's a Youtube link...

 

[Green Knight]

I need to find a 4 string fretless bass that doesn't too sound jazzy, jaco, or spanky thin, but instead, has a thicker, woody tone that will work well for Americana ballads. Think Angel from Montgomery as done by Bonnie Raitt.
Birdsong is on the radar, as is a Fender T Franklin Sig, and the Lakland hollow body 34.

Am open to other ideas.

I'll soon have a minty Franklin I got in a trade that I intend to sell. I ordered a Peavey T-40 fretless conversion around the same time and don't need two of them. Hit me up if that's the one you're settling on.

 

[Aidil]

This Ibanez SRH500F:

is guaranteed to have warm and woody tone. I own the 5 string fretted mode of the same series. It give me such pleasuring tone for mid tempo and ballad songs. They are very comfort to play as well, cause mine weighs almost nothing for a 5 stringer @ 3.05 kg (6.72 lbs). I imagined the 4 string fretless one should be even lighter.

 

[Jazz Ad]

The description of the needs reads like a Stingray ad.

 

[Trouztrouz]

This Ibanez SRH500F:

is guaranteed to have warm and woody tone. I own the 5 string fretted mode of the same series. It give me such pleasuring tone for mid tempo and ballad songs. They are very comfort to play as well, cause mine weighs almost nothing for a 5 stringer @ 3.05 kg (6.72 lbs). I imagined the 4 string fretless one should be even lighter.

This is a great suggestion, and along these lines you could also check out the SRF700 portamento. In fact, anything with a piezo pickup will do pretty well on the warm and woody side.

 

[Aidil]

This is a great suggestion, and along these lines you could also check out the SRF700 portamento. In fact, anything with a piezo pickup will do pretty well on the warm and woody side.

I own both the SRH and SRF (though mine are 5 string versions). Agree the piezo on the SRF could also deliver warm and woody sound. But still, the semi-hollow body construction on the SRH gives an advantage to this type of warm and woody sounds.

 

[bdgotoh]

Rob Allen MB-2 - amazing feel and tone! Or try Rob's short-scale Mouse if you prefer, the tone is very similar.

 

[Biggbass]

Ok, after lots of looking and listening I'm really drawn to the Ibanez SRH500F. I tried locating one locally and there's none to be had. The last time I put hands on an Ibanez bass I found the neck to be oddly narrow and thin. And being used to a Fender neck, as well as my Sadowskys, I don't want an uber slim/thin neck.
My best course of action is to order the Ibanez on line from Sweetwater or a similar vendor.
The nut width is in the J bass range and I'm looking at specs on the neck for more measurements up the neck and profile. However, the sound of the 500 is exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[bearfoot]

Fretless P-bass will be great.
Jazz bass neck pickup will probably be fine also, but you've ruled that out.

Another option you might consider for Americana is fretless hollowbody. Harder to find, but I know they're out there.

 

[Biggbass]

I'm going with the Ibanez SRH500F. Not in a big hurry so will wait until Black Friday/Cyber Monday to try to find one at a good price. Wish they made that model in the Dragoneye finish but looks like it only comes in the one finish option.

 

[CTBassGuy]

A Carvin/Keisel with humbucker pickups, and strings to taste would likely fit the bill. There seem to be a good number of used fretless Carvins out there for a decent price.

My ‘88 LB90F is excellent for this kind of stuff; round, warm, and a little woody sounding if I play close to the neck, and with the tone rolled off, even more so. I like to think it’s the ebony fretboard, but I’m sure the pickups have a lot to do with it. I don’t get a lot of “mwah” out of it, but I like it that way.

It can do snappy too if I solo the bridge pickup.

 

[Biggbass]

I ended up with the Ibanez SRH500F. Received it today. Just spent a while with it and am liking it so far. I'll test drive it with the band next week at rehearsal. I spent almost 30 years playing fretless but it's been 15 years since I sold my old one. So some adjustment time will be needed to get the fingerboard intonation down solid, but it's kinda like riding a bike...it all comes back!

 

[Eilif]

EDIT: Just realized you got an Ibanez. Enjoy!

I've heard rumors that he may have stopped building them, but Dave Wendler builds a fretless that
-Can nail the fretless P-bass tone
-Can sound more like an upright than any other solidbody under 2k
-Weighs less than 6 pounds
-Has your choice of neck specs.
-costs less than $1300 new.
Instruments | Guitar Repair Kansas City | Luthier Acoustic Electric Guitar
I adore mine.

If your budget suddenly drops, hunt down a used ESP/LTD Vintage 214 Fretless. It's a lovely P/J clone. Easily MIM Fender quality at Squire prices. If I hadn't gotten my Wendler I'd still have mine.

Both of the above are unlined.

 

[Aidil]

I ended up with the Ibanez SRH500F. Received it today. Just spent a while with it and am liking it so far. I'll test drive it with the band next week at rehearsal. I spent almost 30 years playing fretless but it's been 15 years since I sold my old one. So some adjustment time will be needed to get the fingerboard intonation down solid, but it's kinda like riding a bike...it all comes back!

Congrats!

Now, treat your fingers by swapping stock D'Addario Chromes (those are the ECB81 45-100 set) with Chromes ECB84 40-100 set or better yet, ECB80 40-95 set. You'll still get the same Chromes trademark sound that cut thru in most band mix, but your fingers will appreciate the lower tension of either lighter gauge replacements sets.

 

[jamro217]

This may sound ridiculous, but if you can find a decent used Ric, it'll do the job for you. The avatar pic is my stock '78 walnut 4001FL strung with Ric round wounds. It can sound like as much like a DB as a fretless P or an old Ampeg EUB can. I never would have believed it until hearing it. Check out Chris Brubeck's work. I think his has aftermarket pups, though. They are kind of rare and may be pricey, but you'll stand out in a crowd with one. Does Paul Boyer have production numbers for fretless models in the latest edition of his book? Hope this helps.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I second the LTD 214, unreal for the cash.

 

[Biggbass]

Well, as it turns out, I like the sound of the Ibanez a lot and ordered the Fretted version of the same bass on Saturday. It arrives on Wed so I'm going to play the two and decide whether to keep just one or keep both.
The price is right so even if I keep both the total cost is still tolerable. And, knowing the tone of this bass is going to work well with our original music, having one of each might be a good set up.
My wife is supportive of the plan so it's all good!