• 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.

Looking for fretless recommendations

TNCreature

TNCreature

Jinkies!
Jan 25, 2010
3,802
5,832
Philadelphia Burbs
www.green-cathedral.com
#1
Hello All,
I want to finally seriously apply myself to incorporating fretless bass into my repertoire.
I would like to spend up to $1,000.
I would like a lined neck fretless to start.
I play rock and pop, this would be for my rock original band, classic rock, post punk, prog light kind of sound.
My main and favorite bass is my Warwick Corvette $$, I also comfortably play a jazz bass, a steinberger, which have similar widths, and less comfortable on my precision bass.
I was recently inspired by playing the Tony Levin and Gail Anne Dorsey versions of Slip Away by Bowie, so that may be a good sound reference. However, I am not interested in playing a Stingray, I like the sound, but they have never felt good to me.
I am considering these 2 based solely on review videos (and they look pretty darn cool):
WL4DX-ASH-HOLLOW-FL BLK-OIL .png
Front-152.jpg

I should look at a Warwick if I could find an affordable lined fretless, but I do like a nice jazz sound.
I am open to your suggestions.
Thank you!
 
#8
Nunovsky said:
Ibanez SR705 or SRH505F
Click to expand...

Or their 4 strings counterparts, the SR700 or the SRH500F, since I've only noticed now that you've used 4 strings photos above.
From these, I think that the one that best suits your sonic references is the SR700 Portamento. It's a lot of bass for the money, super versatile and great sounding tone as well. But it's unlined, altought it's easy to adapt to an unlined bass with side dots in my experience.
The SRH500F has less tonal options since it's has single piezo and no eq, only tone. But it's such a great sounding and expressive bass. I have the 5 strings version and I love it how it sounds. And it's lined with black lines on a dark fingerboard that allows for visual reference but also has that unlined look which I personally prefer.
Another great option is the Gary Willis model. The GWB35 has lined board has you prefer and is one of the best fretless around. Altough it's the lowest level of the line model, Gary uses one regularly. It only has a 5 strings model and you've used 4 strings photos but it's worth to check.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TNCreature
#9
Nunovsky said:
Or their 4 strings counterparts, the SR700 or the SRH500F, since I've only noticed now that you've used 4 strings photos above.
From these, I think that the one that best suits your sonic references is the SR700 Portamento. It's a lot of bass for the money, super versatile and great sounding tone as well. But it's unlined, altought it's easy to adapt to an unlined bass with side dots in my experience.
The SRH500F has less tonal options since it's has single piezo and no eq, only tone. But it's such a great sounding and expressive bass. I have the 5 strings version and I love it how it sounds. And it's lined with black lines on a dark fingerboard that allows for visual reference but also has that unlined look which I personally prefer.
Another great option is the Gary Willis model. The GWB35 has lined board has you prefer and is one of the best fretless around. Altough it's the lowest level of the line model, Gary uses one regularly. It only has a 5 strings model and you've used 4 strings photos but it's worth to check.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the detailed response! I'll check them out, asap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nunovsky
#10
WillyW said:
Warmoth neck for your favorite jazz...

I’m fixin to order my 4th fretless neck from them (P)
Click to expand...

Good idea. When I wanted to try fretless, I bought a new MIM Fender fretless J neck on eBay from the Stratosphere. If they still exist, that could be a good option. I used it with an MIM P body, MIA pickup, and a Gotoh bridge. Great bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thegrandwazoo and TNCreature
#11
i promote fretless axes and fretless playing a lot around here but i have no experience with the axes you're considering so i can only say: "yay!" :hyper: i think there are so many great fretless options these days --- you'd have to be 'unlucky' to get a truly bad one if you have an idea of what you want re: feel.

but if you go the parts route (and buy a neck) you have lots of choices in all price ranges. and if you're the least bit handy = you can further shape/work a well-built neck to personalize it for an all-time keeper!

welcome to fretless! good luck! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thegrandwazoo and TNCreature
#15
WillyW said:
Warmoth neck for your favorite jazz...

I’m fixin to order my 4th fretless neck from them (P)
Click to expand...
Ding ding ding! My response as well, only Warmoth fretless Jazz neck for the P-bass you don't especially enjoy (unless it's the body shape you can do without). Fretless Ps sound fantabulous. Might turn a bass that doesn't get played into one that gets played every day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TNCreature and JRA
#17
JRA said:
they can be real fun! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
My fretless 'JazzCision' (defretted 88 Japanese Jazz Bass Special neck, flame maple over alder Warmoth Dinky J body routed for a P pickup, EMG GZR-P pickup and electronics) is one of the best playing and sounding Fender-style basses I've ever played. The university here where a bunch of my buddies went to music school (while I went to stupid work) has a '70s fretless Precision with a maple fingerboard that also totally kicks ass, one or the other of us used to borrow it constantly for various gigs or jams. I think they're way more useful tonally than a fretless Jazz for most stuff, and I'm generally not really a P-bass guy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA and TNCreature
#18
Thegrandwazoo said:
My fretless 'JazzCision' (defretted 88 Japanese Jazz Bass Special neck, flame maple over alder Warmoth Dinky J body routed for a P pickup, EMG GZR-P pickup and electronics) is one of the best playing and sounding Fender-style basses I've ever played. The university here where a bunch of my buddies went to music school (while I went to stupid work) has a '70s fretless Precision with a maple fingerboard that also totally kicks ass, one or the other of us used to borrow it constantly for various gigs or jams. I think they're way more useful tonally than a fretless Jazz for most stuff, and I'm generally not really a P-bass guy.
Click to expand...
Show it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back