Fretless suggestions

[jon5252]

Hello all- I a player in what I would call a progressive jazz trio, 35 years experience. Played string bass for a short period in college, most of my career has been 5 string electric bass. Currently I am playing a Stingray 5 HP which is a pretty decent bass, but just does not have the rich, almost acoustic voice I am looking for. I have thought about maybe one of Rob Allen's basses, but they almost seem too one dimensional to me. I have considered maybe a fretless Bongo, and was curious if anyone had experience with one, or had another builder to suggest.

 

[mattj1stc]

I really like my Fender Tony Franklin fretless. P/J pickups and definitely one of the best basses that Fender makes

 

[mp40smg]

Depending on your price range... You can get a ren6 for under 2k right now. Viellette might be another good choice but 2x the price.

 

[jon5252]

The Viellette looks interesting. I owned a Ren for a time, and was not keen on the upper register access and neck dive. I hav

 

[jon5252]

I have owned a Ren, not keen on the upper register access or neck dive. The Viellette is interesting. I have also thought about taking a run at a NS Design CR5m, but just am not sure I want that drastic of a change.

 

[kesslari]

If you want to approach the acoustic sound, it's hard to beat a Rob Allen.

 

[Jim Carr]

If you want to approach the acoustic sound, it's hard to beat a Rob Allen.

+1

I must agree about the Rob Allen, though a CR5 would nail it even more. Much of it is what you play and how, not the exact timbre, IMHO. What about a nice Upton Professor upright with gut strings, and several months of lessons and wood-shedding—don't forget a DB-sized vehicle, LOL!

All that said, if you want a nice fretless 4 or 5 slab, I recommend a Nino Valenti. Many choices...

 

[jon5252]

I am toying with that as well. Funny I stopped the DB thing because my car was too small.

 

[cnltb]

Hello all- I a player in what I would call a progressive jazz trio, 35 years experience. Played string bass for a short period in college, most of my career has been 5 string electric bass. Currently I am playing a Stingray 5 HP which is a pretty decent bass, but just does not have the rich, almost acoustic voice I am looking for. I have thought about maybe one of Rob Allen's basses, but they almost seem too one dimensional to me. I have considered maybe a fretless Bongo, and was curious if anyone had experience with one, or had another builder to suggest.

Marleaux have a new-ish instrument in their program.
They call it "diva".
It is amongst the very few very best I have heard.
It is very, very good indeed.
...and here the relevant link:
Invalid Link Removed