I should buy this... right?

[Fat Freddy]

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I play fretless pretty much exclusively so if it's fretted I'll end up defretting anyway.

Im almost wondering if piezo is worth looking into and just using a nice semi hollow electric.

Now you're on the right track! And a hollow body will give you a small bit of volume without an amp. If you wanted a little amplification, Roland makes a very nice battery bass amp for on the cheap. Good luck!

 

[Steve Dallman]

I’ve got that JB Player. It is not loud enough acoustically to keep up with an acoustic guitar. The low B, while sounding as good as the other strings, is not as loud plugged in. It doesn’t press on the saddle as hard as the other, higher tension strings. But it is a fun bass.

I have the big, 5 string Dean. It is uncomfortable for me to play while standing for very long.

 

[Lenny JG]

What are you hoping to achieve?

A bass I like to play ideally

 

[mikeoso]

A bass I like to play ideally

Sounds like your target is a fretless 5 string acoustic. They are out there. If you need inexpensive as well, you just have to relentlessly search ebay, reverb, etc...one will show up. If you dont want Dean, watch for Ibanez, Alvarez, Boulder Creek, Olympia, Warwick...the usual suspects

 

[jd56hawk]

A bass I like to play ideally

Of course, but since you posted a pic of an acoustic bass, I thought you might be interested in getting that upright tone.
(Not sure if you already had a solid-body bass and simply wanted something different. Not sure whether or not you actually wanted a 5-stting bass or the one you posted simply happened to be one.)

 

[coy garcia]

I agree with this. Also, if the OP really needs an acoustic emulation, he can get a foot pedal to give him that simulated effect. Even better, buy an acoustic fretless bass. That will really sound acoustic but will present itself with a learning curve that turns off a lot of bass players.

I only play fretless basses now . At one time

I play fretless pretty much exclusively so if it's fretted I'll end up defretting anyway.

Im almost wondering if piezo is worth looking into and just using a nice semi hollow electric.

It's subjective like everything. I prefer passive high output pickups myself.

 

[Ken R]

I voted yes, because we always need another bass. But, my comment is, Yes, for $35 plus actual shipping, or $75 local pickup.