Gig-worthy Fretless 5, Under $1000?

[Koshchei]

A used GWB35 will get you the closest, a schecter stiletto 5 fretless will be close as well. I prefer the GWB35 to the stiletto, but both sound killer. I think the biggest thing that might be a deal breaker are the the string spacing on the gwb as its tighter than other 5 string basses I've played.

With any fretless bass you'll have to spend some time playing it and adjusting it to fully get it dialed in to your preferences for intonation, action, relief, nut adjustment, pup height and all that stuff but I'm sure you know that.

What are your tonal goals? Whats your play style like?
I think some of the bigger issues faced by trying to find a decent mid level fretless is so few of them end up in a place that we can test out. The GWB35 is the only fretless 5 I've seen out in the world and after I played it, I bought one used from another TB member.

Have you resurfaced the board? If so, how often, and how difficult was it?

 

[rutrho]

Have you resurfaced the board? If so, how often, and how difficult was it?

I have not, other than some surface marks and scuffing from the strings, the fingerboard in good shape still.

 

[nostatic]

or even 'didactic'

I just wanted to quote someone using an SAT word

 

[JRA]

I just wanted to quote someone using an SAT word

i was punting!

 

[tylerwylie]

What aspects of the design that he explained made you get more out of the bass exactly?

The pickup on the 205/1005 senses the strings in very specific locations, and each string is only sensed in one location meaning you get a full range tone much like that of a jazz-bass split coil angled in the bass. I was wondering why when I was recording direct or through cabinets with tweeters the sound wasn't what I was expecting. Running through a LPF or a tweeterless cabinet helped a ton. There's a ton of low end that comes from this single pickup as well, so adjusting the right hand picking place and being more peculiar with that was another component. On all my other fretless basses with humbuckers I've always used SS strings, on these basses those strings do not sound as good as I was expecting, so I've gone for warmer nickel rounds. I could go on a bit about relief, sustain, and muting as well... Gary said in one of his videos on YT that he wants his students to think of the bass as an interface that you can modify and it shows with this model.

The 205 is the same as the 1005 from a purely functional perspective. It differs in that it doesn't have threaded inserts, allen-keyed bolts, or the ebonol fingerboard (uses ebony). I like mine alot, but recommend care when you take it out of your house because the body is basically unfinished, and swamp ash is ridiculously soft (in perspective, the bass weighs LESS than my kid did when he was born).

The 1005's used finished rosewood until last year when they changed to Ebony. The 205's and 1005's use Ebony now.

 

[tylerwylie]

Thanks, I feel like the GW35 needs some upgrades, what do you think? From what I can gather from the internet its a CNC'd basswood body with a heavier finish and stock Ibanaz electronics and potentially a thicker neck that the more expensive models. Obviously I'm not going to get the Japan built one, but the model in between the 2 seems to be right in that range I would pay.

The Ebonol GWB35's had issues with the neck not being rigid enough to handle string tension. If you get one with an ebony fingerboard, that neck should be solid. The pickup and electronics can be upgraded, however they're actually quite good in the more recent models. If you go for the GWB205 be prepared to have to dedicate time to your right hand technique, with the detail that pickup pulls out of your playing, there's a huge reward to putting the time in and practicing, that may not be evident on the humbuckers on the 20th anniversary or the GWB35

 

[Old P Bass Guy]

but it is: relative to 'within reason' for any particular player. you are a particular player, so: your 'within reason' suits you.


i'm your "first guy!" and your huckleberry!

I think the OP came in to this thread with a "chip" on his shoulder. Unfortunately sometimes it takes a good £i$$in match to get a thread going.

unfortunately, per your statement: i didn't say, imply, or want what you're stating --- that "you don't need a good bass to gig." sorry, junior! it just ain't so. i have never, ever, ever made that statement on TB or anywhere else in life. i have mocked other posers for gear-snobbery, but i have always preached "competence" (chops/instruments/gear). my take on the subject is that price is not always a measure of competence. and now here you are, shopping on a budget, finding out some great ideas and deals on axes that others play...even some of us "pros."

per the "seek motivation" comment: you were whining about never having the poop to pick up your $9000 ax and play it.

lowendmafia : i was attempting to help you. i think you misinterpreted my motive for asking questions...defensive: from the git

but: i'm genuinely glad that you're getting useful information here...even "pros" can learn! good luck with your fretless choice(s)...you've gotten some great suggestions!


you're kidding, this has been a great thread! entertaining in every way! and: i'm sure = very useful for others who are fleshing out their own 'fretless urges'! i only play fretless so i'm a cheerleader them. all good stuff!

 

[mexicanyella]

I just wanted to quote someone using an SAT word

i was punting!

So if a four-string fretted player is reading a five-string fretless thread, does that make him an autodidact?

(Full disclosure: I just learned that word.)

 

[JRA]

an autodidact?

you da man!

 

[rutrho]

The Ebonol GWB35's had issues with the neck not being rigid enough to handle string tension. If you get one with an ebony fingerboard, that neck should be solid. The pickup and electronics can be upgraded, however they're actually quite good in the more recent models. If you go for the GWB205 be prepared to have to dedicate time to your right hand technique, with the detail that pickup pulls out of your playing, there's a huge reward to putting the time in and practicing, that may not be evident on the humbuckers on the 20th anniversary or the GWB35

Is that the one with the magic pickup with one pair of coils for each string thing going on?

 

[Koshchei]

The pickup on the 205/1005 senses the strings in very specific locations, and each string is only sensed in one location meaning you get a full range tone much like that of a jazz-bass split coil angled in the bass. I was wondering why when I was recording direct or through cabinets with tweeters the sound wasn't what I was expecting. Running through a LPF or a tweeterless cabinet helped a ton. There's a ton of low end that comes from this single pickup as well, so adjusting the right hand picking place and being more peculiar with that was another component. On all my other fretless basses with humbuckers I've always used SS strings, on these basses those strings do not sound as good as I was expecting, so I've gone for warmer nickel rounds. I could go on a bit about relief, sustain, and muting as well... Gary said in one of his videos on YT that he wants his students to think of the bass as an interface that you can modify and it shows with this model.

The 1005's used finished rosewood until last year when they changed to Ebony. The 205's and 1005's use Ebony now.

I was under the impression that Gary wanted to take another run at ebonol (based on a YT interview). Might be wrong though.

I absolutely love the GWB bart pickup, especially when cranked right up to the strings; it broadcasts the nuance of your playing beautifully, particularly the mistakes It's a fantastic teacher in this regard.

 

[lowendmafia]

That's my concern with the 20th anniversary is that it doesn't have that Bartolini pickup.

Is that the one with the magic pickup with one pair of coils for each string thing going on?

 

[tylerwylie]

Is that the one with the magic pickup with one pair of coils for each string thing going on?

I believe so.

I was under the impression that Gary wanted to take another run at ebonol (based on a YT interview). Might be wrong though.

I absolutely love the GWB bart pickup, especially when cranked right up to the strings; it broadcasts the nuance of your playing beautifully, particularly the mistakes It's a fantastic teacher in this regard.

Yes, every sound that you produce should have purpose.

That's my concern with the 20th anniversary is that it doesn't have that Bartolini pickup.

That bass is still a great bass, I have a few fretless basses with the Aguilar DCB and they are great pickups. I prefer them in certain scenarios to the GWB bartolini pickup.

 

[Les Fret]

That's my concern with the 20th anniversary is that it doesn't have that Bartolini pickup.

It has the Aguilar. I think that should be just as good or even better than the Barts.

 

[Koshchei]

That's my concern with the 20th anniversary is that it doesn't have that Bartolini pickup.

The new 205 is essentially the sunburst finish of the 20th with everything else from the old 205... you could do worse

It has the Aguilar. I think that should be just as good or even better than the Barts.

The GWB pickup is different from your standard Bart - it's quite growly and present if you pluck over it (more Ric-like than Jazz bass, but still its own thing).

Using an Allen key, the coils seem to be placed similar to an Original Splits, but at different heights to match the 12" radius of the playing surface:

B - at the bottom of the b
E - at the bottom of the a
A - at the bottom of the t
D - above the n
G - above the i

 

[Boomer54]

I don't do this much, but looking for recommendations for a gigable fretless 5 string bass for around $1000.

I'm looking at the Gary Willis bass, but looking for other options.

for the record, I play Skjold basses as my main instruments.
Thanks

Hi Lowend,

There are 2 different Gary Willis basses available, the GWB35 at $800, the GWB205 for about $1075 if you ask for best price. I own a 20th Anniversary bass and love it. Ibanez is now selling a sunburst version of the 205 with a Bartolini pickup, brand new edition.

gwb | Sweetwater

Good luck and let us know what you decided on!

Boomer54

 

[PeteCarlton]

do you have a recommendation or are you here to be difficult?

Oof!

 

[lowendmafia]

Thanks, I have seen these. I actually like the sunburst, but would definitely prefer the Bart electronics.

Hi Lowend,

There are 2 different Gary Willis basses available, the GWB35 at $800, the GWB205 for about $1075 if you ask for best price. I own a 20th Anniversary bass and love it. Ibanez is now selling a sunburst version of the 205 with a Bartolini pickup, brand new edition.

gwb | Sweetwater

Good luck and let us know what you decided on!

Boomer54

 

[Xjenrbcjsmsbfjw]

It's going to sound like I'm just trying to be a pain, I'm not, and I can't possibly be the first on this thread to say something along these lines, but aside from basses I would consider to be damaged/broken e.g. truly warped/twisted neck, electronics that aren't dependable for some reason, tuners that actually slip and won't tune (not ones that are just fiddly and annoying), it's hard to find a bass that isn't gigable.

I'm no legend of the bass world and have quite successfully gigged on basses that I picked up that day from guitar center for $200ish bucks after mine didn't arrive in time, and a <$400 dollar house-owned abused warhorse bass that I used when some friends and I filled in on about ten minutes' warning at a kind of open jam night, which is to say nothing of the cheapo specials I played when I was just starting and still find perfectly serviceable.

IMHO 80% of the quality of a bass is found in the first 20% of the cost. That last 20% of quality is awesome, and often worth the cost, but almost everything is gig worthy.

If you are asking what is the nicest bass I'm going to get for under $1,000? or I have this list of specific features I would like, is it possible to get them for under $1,000? I imagine you can get a lot more help than asking something, excuse the bluntness, kind of meaningless.

Also, listing another bass you like does me no good since I have no idea what you do or don't like about that bass. It obviously has features you would change if you are looking for alternatives. What are they? What features would you keep. Maybe others can intuit what you mean, but I'm just a little to simple to manage it.

 

[Manuel Bass]

Look Man, whatever your intent is/was (and perhaps I am inferring tone), you are still attempting to talk down to me. You literally just called me "junior." This is why there is such a disconnect between older pros and younger ones. We feel like we have some level of experience that needs to be imparted on the other and that may not be true. I will admit, I have a hard time dealing with older hobbyist type bassists on the internet because I have done pretty much anything that anyone has done from a live music performance perspective (huge crowds, arena gigs, crazy bars, dead casinos, you name it). I have also studied under legends like Todd Johnson and Juan Alderete. So, with the information I gave, I felt that it was plenty to get my point across. If you spend 2 minutes on this forum, you can find a thread where someone asks a legitimate question and another member comes in and starts preaching something to the contrary because people love to fight on the internet.

I will apologize for coming off as snobbish or dismissive, but I stick with my point that a $112 Amazon P bass is not a pro-level, gigable instrument.

What about this? No brand no $$$$ no look just sound fine you wanna hear it?