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If you had $2K to spend on a 4 string fretless...

#41
pbasswil said:
The suggestions here are great -- all worthy candidates.

But boy, I'd get out there and try every fretless you can get your hands on -- at, above, and below your target price. You just never know what is going to click with you, for your hands and for your sound.

In my experience, the worst thing you can do is get distracted by looks, brand names, and price tags. It's about hands and ears.
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well said....t
 
#42
tjclem said:
well said....t
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Agree 100%. Got a Peavey Foundation fretless for Christmas. Picked it up for $300.00 used with the original HSC(with ALL case candy). Very nice sounding and great playing bass, and IMO, blew away the twice-the-price MIM Jazz fretless I was considering. You just never know what you really want until you get out there and play a few. Of course, I really do want a Tony Franklin in the worst way!!!:D
 
#44
BigOldHarry said:
The fact is, buying used, $2000 is *PLENTY* of money to get a world-class bass. Pedulla, Zon, Rob Allen - the world is your oyster! New... not so much.
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bucephylus said:
Both the Pedulla and the Zon would be top notch. Mike used to build both the Buzz, which is an MVP derivative, and a fretless Thunderbass. You would also find fretless Thunderbolts out there. Probably any would work, but the Buzz comes with the stock polyester fingerboard coating.

You need to understand whether you would prefer the coated board vs wood, and if coated, which coating - since they all sound a bit different.

I played a fretless Thunderbass (now owned by TB'er Shelly) for quite a few years. I currently have a Zon Sonus Special, and actually prefer the sound of the Zon.

Fretless prefs are quite varied and really very subjective. So, you might be best to play a few first, if possible. GL
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embellisher said:
Good luck getting a Wal for that!

Get a used Zon. A used Pedulla Buzz or Roscoe would be my 2nd choice. Hard to beat those 3, at any price.
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You can pick up a used Zon at far less than $2000. Even a new Vinny would be barely above 2k, but prepared to wait.

That would be my choice.
 
#48
I vote......Tom Clement bass. Have you been to his web page. Go spend a while there, he has numerous bodies and will let you customize it the way you want. I am looking at fretless also and I think I am going to let tom make me one. Or like everyone else said just go with the Pedulla, Zon or Rosco. Those are all nice I'm sure. Low End could make you a fretless 7 string if your feeling crazy...
 
#49
pbasswil said:
The suggestions here are great -- all worthy candidates.

But boy, I'd get out there and try every fretless you can get your hands on -- at, above, and below your target price. You just never know what is going to click with you, for your hands and for your sound.

In my experience, the worst thing you can do is get distracted by looks, brand names, and price tags. It's about hands and ears.
Click to expand...

Having said that, I've never met anyone who wasn't blown away by my Pedulla.
 
#50
You should have no lack of excellent options in that price range. I do agree that Mike Pedulla makes some of the nicest fretless basses around, and a used Buzz should be on your short list, for sure. The same thing goes for Rob Allen. Be sure to check out a Mouse 30, if you can. Pete Skjold is also a master fretless builder, IMHO, but a used Skjold would likely be out of your price range. In the sub-$1k category, a fretless Warwick Corvette Standard is a great choice, and a lot of bass for the buck. I have not tried a fretless Roscoe Century Standard, but based upon the other Century's I have played, I would expect great things.

All that being said, I definitely have to back up the Tom Clement recommendations. You can get a new, entirely custom fretless from Tom for under $2k, and his basses are truly excellent. Ed Friedland reviewed a 5-string Clement fretless in [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], and after playing that bass, I ordered this from Tom:

186fullfrontfinished.jpg


And it just kills!

But once again, there are many great options, both new and used, available to you in that price range. Play all the basses that you can, and go with the one that speaks to you the most.
 
#51
Longshot said:
...What would YOU buy.

In the market for one. Want to make sure it is a lined fretless. (no flame wars please...I have a very good reason to go lined) :)

Thanks in advance.

Longshot
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Honestly, Id pick up another SX Lined Fretless Jazz like Im using right now and put the rest of the $ away. Or, Id find a Lined Fretless Fender Jazz.

As soon as I get my tax return Im picking up a Brice HXB-405 Unlined Fretless 5er, only $289! Cant wait!
 
#52
I once listened to a Guild B-301F (unlined), it had an awesome tone. Otherwise, I love to use my fretted 1998 Fender Am Deluxe J, so I bought a fretless version (2007) of it. It has a more earthy/woody sound than the fretted one, the flatwounds on the fretless make a difference too. But I like that bass, great fretless tone. Has lines too (well, I need them sometimes).
 
#56
HeadyVan Halen said:
I couldn't spend $2,000 on a bass. Wouldn't do it.

Squier CV= $350 (roughly)
Hartke LH 1000 =$500
Hydrive 4x10= $550
Hydrive 1x15= $500

=$1,908

Keep the remaining $92 and buy beer.
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Sounds like a good plan for you, but the OP clearly has the discretionary funds to drop on a fretless, and honestly, a Squier CV and a Pedulla aren't in the same league in any respect.
 
#58
GrooveWarrior said:
Having said that, I've never met anyone who wasn't blown away by my Pedulla.
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Well, I guess somebody has to do it, so guess it'll be me.... I never liked the Pedullas, especially the Buzz. They're very well made with good wood and hardware, but the neck dive was so bad on the Buzz I could barely play it.

I also wasn't a fan of the P/J pickup configuration, sounded too thin for me.

Nowadays, knowing what else you can get of equivalent quality without design problems like neck dive and for far less money, they don't really make sense to me....

Ok, done my duty as a Carvin FanBoi... ;)

LS
 
#59
unclejane said:
Well, I guess somebody has to do it, so guess it'll be me.... I never liked the Pedullas, especially the Buzz. They're very well made with good wood and hardware, but the neck dive was so bad on the Buzz I could barely play it.

I also wasn't a fan of the P/J pickup configuration, sounded too thin for me.

Nowadays, knowing what else you can get of equivalent quality without design problems like neck dive and for far less money, they don't really make sense to me....

Ok, done my duty as a Carvin FanBoi... ;)

LS
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I've never experienced neck dive on mine, and the bottom is huge on it. Not thin at all.
 

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