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Getting into fretless

B

bardban

Sep 28, 2009
10
0
37
Thessaloniki
#1
Hello everybody! As you can see I'm a new member in this huge community and I would like your help/opinion.

I am in search for my first fretless bass and as a result I have not the proper experience in this sector. From the instruments I've seen and test (not many though) I would say that I liked most cort curbow 4FL and Ibanez Gary Willis' signature GWB35 (altough I would prefer a 4-string).

I would be greatful to listen to your opinions and suggestions for an affortable fretless model, let's say between 650-800$.

Thanks in advance
 
#3
I'm an exclusive fretless player for about the last 8 years.

IMO (in my opinion) it's hard to find a decent fretless in that price range.
(Might be also that around here there is less on the market than in the US.)

8 years ago I bought a Yamaha RBX260F that was my first venture into fretless. And it was very cheap for how good it was.
I got a MIM Fender fretless Jazz wich not suited me. It's in your price range but I personally didn't liked that bass very much. (Just my opinion and experience.)

Cort Curbow fretless is a nice and awesome bass... but too much of an oddball. It's something very special.

I've been hearing people raving about the Squier Vintage Modified fretless Jazz.
I haven't picked one up because I'm biased to jazz basses, and I prefer unlined. (Another thing, don't be afraid to start out on an unlined fretless.)


If you are into modifying bass, swapping necks and such, you can build a good fretless on a budget.
 
#4
Get a Fender Jazz MIM(?) with lines. It should be in your price range. For the price they are well made and dependable. The squire vintage basses are very nice too in that range. For a fretless though I highly recommend trying it out before you buy it. Don't buy one (at that $ range) without doing so. Make sure the neck is straight (not warped as opposed to relief) and you have room to adjust the action (neck and strings).

The GWB35 is nice but if your going to buy one get the high end model. Worlds of difference between the two.

Peace
 
#5
First of all thanks all of you for your help! I really appreciate it.

Headless Llama, I am definitely going to check this out cause I really like warwick series although this model is quite expensive for me here... 950-1100 euros or 1500$ approximately.

René Julien, I know exactly what you mean about curbow...it's really a bass with not such a standard sound. I am playing in a stoner and prog metal band and I believe that this would satisfy both my will for getting into fretless and our bands' sound. That's why I'm thinking about this.

I am not afraid to start out on an unlined fretless, I'm afraid to start out on a fretless without the marks on the neck too, like curbow if you know what I mean...

Thanks for your recommendations once more I'll check out those models

gre107's, those are some useful advices for my search. Thanks a lot mate
 
#6
As previously stated, if you are comfortable modifying (or paying someone to modify) a bass, you can build a great fretless fairly inexpensively. I built my fretless from a '98 MIM Standard Jazz. I was on a huge Jaco kick as I was reading his biography at the time and I had the itch to mess with something. I removed my frets with fret pliers and filled the notches with wood filler then applied a light coat of Marine Epoxy. That combination mixed with the Rotosounds digging into the fretboard has created an awesome sound out of my fretless, very comparable to that of Jaco. Now, you don't have to go quite as extreme as I did but, you can easily take any inexpensive fretted bass that you like and make it fretless. And as previously stated, you can also just swap the neck over on any other bass to a fretless neck. Sky is the limit.
 
#7
The key to a good fretless bass is a stable, straight neck and a good set up which includes proper neck relief and string nut adjustment. I have been impressed w/Squier basses, they are inexpensive and seem to be pretty well made. I agree about trying out the instrument before buying - the bass should have a nice acoustic sound. Pickups can be swapped in/out but the bass should have a good tone and vibe w/out plugging it in. That being said a good set up is super important.
 
#8
I picked up a Carvin in that price range it it's awesome. Fretless basses require a precise setup to get the proper MWAH sound. Keep this in mind when you shop around. When my Carvin arrived it sounded almost like a fretted bass. The best fretless can sound horrible if not set up properly. It took me a about 5 sessions of playing around before I dialed in the sound I wanted by basically lowering the action and adjusting the truss rod. Now it's just right and I couldn't be happier.
 
#9
bardban said:
First of all thanks all of you for your help! I really appreciate it.

Headless Llama, I am definitely going to check this out cause I really like warwick series although this model is quite expensive for me here... 950-1100 euros or 1500$ approximately.

René Julien, I know exactly what you mean about curbow...it's really a bass with not such a standard sound. I am playing in a stoner and prog metal band and I believe that this would satisfy both my will for getting into fretless and our bands' sound. That's why I'm thinking about this.

I am not afraid to start out on an unlined fretless, I'm afraid to start out on a fretless without the marks on the neck too, like curbow if you know what I mean...

Thanks for your recommendations once more I'll check out those models

gre107's, those are some useful advices for my search. Thanks a lot mate
Click to expand...

Prog metal.... by all means you can use a Curbow for that. :)

It's not a bad bass, but you have to be satisfied with the sound.

I play metal with my fretless basses.
Fender Tony Franklin fretless Precision bass and a Roscoe Century Signature with solid maple body and humbucker at the bridge.
Although... those basses are in a higher price range.
(And I'm having another fretless bass that is going to be custom build stateside. :ninja:)

Don't get me wrong, it's not because I can afford expensive basses that I am an awesome fretless bassist, or a good bassist overall. :)


If I was still a student strapped for cash I'd be happy playing a Cort Curbow in my prog metal project.
 
#10
I got the aforementioned Squire Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz bass and I love it. It is lined but for me, that was a big plus. I had always wanted a fretless and after 22 years of playing I got one. However, it took me a little bit to get accustomed to the fingering to get the note in tune. At first I was getting discouraged but I kept at it and now I could use it for the entire set and most people wouldnt even notice a difference from a fretted bass.

I am glad that I didnt go out and spend a ton of money on one initially though.
 

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