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I need a new fretless, any thoughts ???
- Thread starter LePL
- Start date
While I freely admit my personal bias in instruments here, I'd say what you're describing is a Carvin...with the one exception that you won't have to pay $2,500 to get one - a very, very nice one - and very likely won't have to pay even as much as $2,000. For as nice as Carvin's fretted basses usually are, I'd say that they're fretless basses are even a bit better. Given the close tolerances in which a good fretless set-up must perform, Carvin's precision CNC construction really gives them the edge there.
As for the other items on your wish list, they're all either stock features on Carvin instruments, or readily available as an option - including some desirable things that you haven't even mentioned: neck-through construction, dual passive humbucker or single-coil pickups (with the front pickup not too close to the fingerboard), active electronics, ebony fingerboard, epoxy fingerboard finish, piezoelectric system, etc. etc.
I own three (3) fretless Carvin basses thus far, and I can tell you: they're nice.
MM
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The ultimate fretless is the Pedulla Pentabuzz. Hands down the best fretless I've ever played or heard.
Given your stated goals (5-string, under $2500), there are some good choices but a few other variables to consider (scale length and string spacing preference, pickups, etc). Carvin could scratch your itch, but you need to know what you want when you go custom. I've owned a lot of different fretli and imho it is harder to make a good sounding/playing fretless than fretted. Especially if you want to actually use your low-B string. A Music Man fretless 5 would probably be my first choice in a production instrument. If you want to go 35" scale then a used Roscoe or an NS could be interesting.
I've got a Rob Allen but that wouldn't be my first choice for metal. My Smith would kill for metal or anything where you want to cut through - but they are hard to find used.
I've got a Rob Allen but that wouldn't be my first choice for metal. My Smith would kill for metal or anything where you want to cut through - but they are hard to find used.
That is what I thought, too. And then I bought my Roscoe and changed my mind. I could be happy with either of those two basses.
And really comfortable, too!
Dan K
I play similar music (both the Michael Manring and the extreme metal) with a Zon Sonus Custom 6. I found it used for $1900, but it took a bit of searching. I feel like the graphite neck and composite fingerboard really help it bite through dense mixes.
I would also second the recommendation of the Pedulla Buzz series. Joe Lester used to use one in Intronaut (switched to Zon
) and it sounded just great in their mix. One of the best fretless metal sounds I can think of.
I would also second the recommendation of the Pedulla Buzz series. Joe Lester used to use one in Intronaut (switched to Zon
) and it sounded just great in their mix. One of the best fretless metal sounds I can think of.
Whole thread is a 'best fretless for metal' joke ...3 pages and no "what's the best fretless for metal?" joke?
This is a Bacchus BJP-JP from Deviser - hand made - out of Japan. Expect to pay well under a grand, if you can find one - very nice basses in more ways than one and mostly faithful to the '62 - reverse tuners - copper grounding strap - passive circuitry etc. Good luck!
Invalid Link Removed
Bacchus BJP-JP - the JP stands for Jaco Pastorius
Bacchus BJP-JP - the JP stands for Jaco Pastorius
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I agree. I do think though that it does take some experience to really piece something great together. At least it did for me.
As long as you don't want something flashy Carvin will get you in the door around $1k and you'll have a wonderful bass. Though my Status parts fretless cost me about the same.
Based on his location (Chicago) I'm curious about the lyrics...what's silly about it? Could you enlight me with your cleverness?
Sorry, I didn't mean to offend, just thought you might know some French bands like this one. OP could be living in Chicago temporarily for all we know, but the band itself is from the Brittany region.
Wow ! Thanks everybody, I didn't expect to get that many replies so quickly !
The Ibanez Portamento does look really nice for the price, but from what I've heard on the internet I think it lacks a little bit of bite, maybe because it has a rosewood fingerboard instead of the usual ebony?
Warwick basses: they do sound really nice and have a very distinct sound, especially the Dolphin (even though I don't like how it looks) and the Streamer, however from what I've seen these are out of my price range unless I manage to find one used.
As for the more expensive stuff, I'd love a Pedulla or Le Fay but these are going to be way out of my price range... Other expensive but yet more affordable brands like Zon or Roscoe would be good options IMO but I don't think I'll consider buying one new. As for buying one used, I'd consider it if the price is not too high but I'd prefer to try it out before buying, and unfortunately since I live in France now I won't have that many opportunities to find such instruments. There is however a used fretless 5 string Roscoe for sale on a French website that I'll try to check out. Here's a link if you want to take a look: Invalid Link Removed
In the end the custom options were the ones that I found most interesting. Warmoth is nice but I don't know anybody who would assemble it for me nor a good luthier that I could trust... So I was thinking of going with Carvin, they have pretty much all the custom options I want and a very good price.
I've tried to build an instrument on their site and here's what I came up with: Icon (or maybe LB, they both look good) with walnut body, 1-piece maple neck, standard radiused humbuckers. There are however a few things I'm not quite sure about:
-5-pc neck: is it really worth paying an additional $100-200?
-hard as nails fretless finish: I'm quite sure that's what I want given the sound I'm after, but $250 seems a bit much... Do you think a local luthier might do the same kind of thing for cheaper?
-piezo pickup: not too sure about this one, it does sound interesting and adds a brittle top-end attack to the sound that might help the bass cut through the mix... Thoughts on this?
-pickups: I actually don't know how Carvin pickups sound. For those who do, do you think the radiused humbuckers are good for the sound I'm after or would you recommend a different configuration?
Thanks for all the comments about our band's new album! As BioWeapon pointed out, we are a French band with only French lyrics. I was living in Chicago at the time I joined TB and just forgot to update my location to France when I came back
The Ibanez Portamento does look really nice for the price, but from what I've heard on the internet I think it lacks a little bit of bite, maybe because it has a rosewood fingerboard instead of the usual ebony?
Warwick basses: they do sound really nice and have a very distinct sound, especially the Dolphin (even though I don't like how it looks) and the Streamer, however from what I've seen these are out of my price range unless I manage to find one used.
As for the more expensive stuff, I'd love a Pedulla or Le Fay but these are going to be way out of my price range... Other expensive but yet more affordable brands like Zon or Roscoe would be good options IMO but I don't think I'll consider buying one new. As for buying one used, I'd consider it if the price is not too high but I'd prefer to try it out before buying, and unfortunately since I live in France now I won't have that many opportunities to find such instruments. There is however a used fretless 5 string Roscoe for sale on a French website that I'll try to check out. Here's a link if you want to take a look: Invalid Link Removed
In the end the custom options were the ones that I found most interesting. Warmoth is nice but I don't know anybody who would assemble it for me nor a good luthier that I could trust... So I was thinking of going with Carvin, they have pretty much all the custom options I want and a very good price.
I've tried to build an instrument on their site and here's what I came up with: Icon (or maybe LB, they both look good) with walnut body, 1-piece maple neck, standard radiused humbuckers. There are however a few things I'm not quite sure about:
-5-pc neck: is it really worth paying an additional $100-200?
-hard as nails fretless finish: I'm quite sure that's what I want given the sound I'm after, but $250 seems a bit much... Do you think a local luthier might do the same kind of thing for cheaper?
-piezo pickup: not too sure about this one, it does sound interesting and adds a brittle top-end attack to the sound that might help the bass cut through the mix... Thoughts on this?
-pickups: I actually don't know how Carvin pickups sound. For those who do, do you think the radiused humbuckers are good for the sound I'm after or would you recommend a different configuration?
Thanks for all the comments about our band's new album! As BioWeapon pointed out, we are a French band with only French lyrics. I was living in Chicago at the time I joined TB and just forgot to update my location to France when I came back
I didn't realize you were looking in a lower price range when I mentioned the Pedulla. A very decent and affordable fretless is the Spector semi hollow Spectorcore bass. It has a very nice sound and usually runs around $600 new. Here's a link that will give you an idea on how flexible the bass is...
They make both a fretted and fretless version and Amazon frequently has them on discount sales.
They make both a fretted and fretless version and Amazon frequently has them on discount sales.
When I think fretless mwahh I gravitate toward jazz basses (like really, when do I not?). Add rounds into the mix and I'm feeling the Fender Jaco fretless. Quality bass, in your range. Not five string but that sounded like a maybe. Classic fretless look.
I think it would be hard to call ebony 'usual.' It's out there, it has its desirable characteristics, but I don't believe it's present in the majority of fretless instruments, unless you're including orchestral instruments...
My French sucks but I don't think that site tells you much. Probably worth checking out, tho. Good price - ad doesn't say what style - looks like an SKB but could be an LG.
if that's all they want, it would be to me. neck setup is so important to fretless...
No, but you never know... CA is a fairly unpleasant job and personally, I'd consider $250 a fair price. A Roscoe fretless will come with a Diamondwood board from the factory... Something to consider - buyers in Canada complain about general unavailability or price of Carvin products. Make sure they're -really- available in your locale at a reasonable price before getting fixated...
