• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Help me decide on a fretless bass

VinnyIuspa

VinnyIuspa

Nov 12, 2013
344
233
North Jersey
#1
Within the next few months I hope to be purchasing a 4 string fretless bass. My two current basses are a Music Man Bongo and a mexican Jazz Bass. I play all kinds of metal, from death to doom and lots in between. The main fretless basses I have been looking into are of course a fretless bongo, some kind of fretless fender (USA), a warwick thumb, a peavey cirrus, a stingray, or even a lightwave bass. I love the feel and sound of my bongo but I wonder if I might want a tone that is a tad less aggressive and more organic for a fretless. The only basses id be able to try out in a store would be the warwick, the ray, and a fender. I always feel the need to try before I buy but no ones going to have a fretless bongo or lightwave bass for me to try. Just looking for some kind of advice based on experience.
 
#2
VinnyIuspa said:
Within the next few months I hope to be purchasing a 4 string fretless bass. My two current basses are a Music Man Bongo and a mexican Jazz Bass. I play all kinds of metal, from death to doom and lots in between. The main fretless basses I have been looking into are of course a fretless bongo, some kind of fretless fender (USA), a warwick thumb, a peavey cirrus, a stingray, or even a lightwave bass. I love the feel and sound of my bongo but I wonder if I might want a tone that is a tad less aggressive and more organic for a fretless. The only basses id be able to try out in a store would be the warwick, the ray, and a fender. I always feel the need to try before I buy but no ones going to have a fretless bongo or lightwave bass for me to try. Just looking for some kind of advice based on experience.
Click to expand...

Based only on MY experience, I like to have fretless-fretted pairs. Like say my pair of blueburst G&L L2500s. Those are my main axes. They are sort of the same thing yet together they cover a much wider range than either one alone. I"m not a big fan of Fender fretless basses, though I have a number of SX Fender clone fretless basses. Which is what I'd recommend. Namely if you want to find out what it is about Fender-style fretless Jazz basses, just pick up a cheap Rondo SX and live with it for a while before you you plunk down the big cash for a Fretless USA Fender. I've never moved on beyond that stage. But the trial will give you a good idea if a Fretless Fender is for you. The other basses you mention are obviously great too, but like I said, I sort of like a fretted-fretless pair best.

Your choice.
 
#4
I like the fretless Jazz basses, haven't tried the other ones you mentioned.

I bought an Ibanez SR500F over the J Bass, as I like the necks a bit better on the SRs than the J basses, & prefer the feel they have over the J Bass but I do really like both.

I'd have been happy with either one of them.
 
#13
I'm going to try out as many fretless basses as I can. I do like some fenders but the majority of the ones I pick up to play just don't do it for me. For example I think my mexi jazz bass feels and plays a lot better than many american ones I've played. I'm aware much of that is do to set ups but fender does seem to be a pretty inconsistent brand and for that reason I would definitely have to try before I buy. I have encountered something similar with stingrays albeit to a much lesser extent; some have been real winners while others didn't sing to me as much. I really do like musicman basses though I've never played a fretless one.

I wish I could try a fretless bongo to pair with my regular fretted one but the chances of me finding one of those is slim to none. I could take a risk and order one but I do have hesitations buying a bass I haven't played, as I mentioned even basses of the same make and model can sound and feel different.

The lightwave basses do seem very cool and sound great on the demos I've heard but the fact that I can't hold it in my hands will probably steer me away. It is very cool technology though. If anyone has hands on experience with them I would love to hear about it.

Anyone here play warwick fretless basses? That's one brand I've never had the opportunity to try. They do seem like great basses though. I wonder how they compare to musicman. I have a warwick 115 with four ports on the front and that is one bad ass cab. Super loud, especially after I threw an 3015 in there.
 
#14
VinnyIuspa said:
Within the next few months I hope to be purchasing a 4 string fretless bass. My two current basses are a Music Man Bongo and a mexican Jazz Bass. I play all kinds of metal, from death to doom and lots in between. The main fretless basses I have been looking into are of course a fretless bongo, some kind of fretless fender (USA), a warwick thumb, a peavey cirrus, a stingray, or even a lightwave bass. I love the feel and sound of my bongo but I wonder if I might want a tone that is a tad less aggressive and more organic for a fretless. The only basses id be able to try out in a store would be the warwick, the ray, and a fender. I always feel the need to try before I buy but no ones going to have a fretless bongo or lightwave bass for me to try. Just looking for some kind of advice based on experience.
Click to expand...
I just found one its really special and pretty rare when i get it i will post it
 
#15
VinnyIuspa said:
Within the next few months I hope to be purchasing a 4 string fretless bass. My two current basses are a Music Man Bongo and a mexican Jazz Bass. I play all kinds of metal, from death to doom and lots in between. The main fretless basses I have been looking into are of course a fretless bongo, some kind of fretless fender (USA), a warwick thumb, a peavey cirrus, a stingray, or even a lightwave bass. I love the feel and sound of my bongo but I wonder if I might want a tone that is a tad less aggressive and more organic for a fretless. The only basses id be able to try out in a store would be the warwick, the ray, and a fender. I always feel the need to try before I buy but no ones going to have a fretless bongo or lightwave bass for me to try. Just looking for some kind of advice based on experience.
Click to expand...
Find a mid 90's lined AM Jazz or P bass they can be had for under 600
 
#17
I own a Lightwave Classica which is an old iteration of the line. Having said that - I LOVE IT!. Mine is a 2004 fretless 4 string and the neck plays like butter. You have essentially 2 pickups per string. One is the lightwave pickup and the other is a piezo that you can use to dial in the upper ranges with. You have individual volume controls for each string (internal setting) as well as the capability to physically dial in the Lightwave pickup itself on each string - which you have to do when you change string types and sizes. Once you have it set for a particular string type you don't have to touch it. The adjustment is clearly laid out and if you can turn a hex wrench and look at a light at the same time, you can do it. I am running DR Legends (flats) and am quite pleased with the sound. At some point I will try a set of Thomastik Jazz Flats - but I need to take the time to get to know the instrument better and I chose to do that with the DR's (a crime of convenience.)

The current model is the Sabre and I can say that you will get exceptional customer service from Lightwave-Systems. Even though my bass was made by a different company (Lightwave-Music - there is a long story behind all of this...), Mr. Wilcox, who is the brains behind the system and the current company, was very responsive to me and my inquiries. I do plan to get a 5 string Sabre in the next year or so and probably move my current Classica out at that time.

In my opinion, the Lightwave system is amazing and worth the trip into new bass territory. I have had to change my technique to play this and get the most out of the sound, but that's alright. I come form using a Hagstrom H8 8 string as my go to bass, which could not be more different. My other basses are a Palantino upright, lightly modded for tone and a Dean acoustic fretless.

As soon as I plugged in the Lightwave, the band mostly said 'Wow' and variations on it. The harmonics are fabulous and the depth of the bass is far beyond anything else I have. (My poor Hagstrom now lives in it's case... I have been playing it since 1969 and I'm sure it feels neglected.) Be well informed on your decision. Lightwave Systems' Sabre is the one to look for. Check out their return policy and take the plunge.
 
#19
In recent years I, too, have done the "pairs" thing, first with a pair of fretted/fretless ZON Sonus 5/1 basses; now I have a couple of Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses that are similar but not identical (the most basic and significant being pickup placement although the pickups and passive electronics are identical). The Elfin 5 fretless is the best fretless tone I have ever experienced, and I have played and/or owned quite a few others, too (Fender, Yamaha, Alembic, Rick Turner, Pedulla, Rickenbacker, Warwick, F Bass, and more....). Lots of choices out there.

Given you have a Bongo already, I would suspect a fretless version would sound great (going by the sound of fretless Stingrays I have heard over the years, my favorite being Patrick O'Hearn's Stingray in his music). If you have never played fretless before try and spend time with one any way you can for a while before plunking down serious $$$ on one. IME the better ones (more $$$) are better :D than the cheaper ones and worth the entry fee. I have been playing fretless basses since the mid '70s, after hearing Unorthodox Behavior the first time; I took the frets out of my '72 Telecaster Bass for my first fretless bass.

Re: the Lightwave bass, I played the first one! :hyper: Actually it was the first bass to ever have a Lightwave pickup system installed (long before Lightwave created their first bass of their own). It was a ZON Sonus fretless with a spalted maple top on it, some may remember the bass from a Bass Player review in the mid '90s (I think Flea was on the cover). :bassist:
 
#20
Jeff Scott said:
In recent years I, too, have done the "pairs" thing, first with a pair of fretted/fretless ZON Sonus 5/1 basses; now I have a couple of Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses that are similar but not identical (the most basic and significant being pickup placement although the pickups and passive electronics are identical). The Elfin 5 fretless is the best fretless tone I have ever experienced, and I have played and/or owned quite a few others, too (Fender, Yamaha, Alembic, Rick Turner, Pedulla, Rickenbacker, Warwick, F Bass, and more....). Lots of choices out there.

Given you have a Bongo already, I would suspect a fretless version would sound great (going by the sound of fretless Stingrays I have heard over the years, my favorite being Patrick O'Hearn's Stingray in his music). If you have never played fretless before try and spend time with one any way you can for a while before plunking down serious $$$ on one. IME the better ones (more $$$) are better :D than the cheaper ones and worth the entry fee. I have been playing fretless basses since the mid '70s, after hearing Unorthodox Behavior the first time; I took the frets out of my '72 Telecaster Bass for my first fretless bass.

Re: the Lightwave bass, I played the first one! :hyper: Actually it was the first bass to ever have a Lightwave pickup system installed (long before Lightwave created their first bass of their own). It was a ZON Sonus fretless with a spalted maple top on it, some may remember the bass from a Bass Player review in the mid '90s (I think Flea was on the cover). :bassist:
Click to expand...
Oh man, yeah. Very Jealous. :D
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back