Looking to buy a cheap fretless bass

The new(ish) Sqiuer Vintage Modified fretless has a great look and sound for the price. You should consider it.

 

SX basses are fantastic, and so is the Squier VM. Either of those would be great for that price range.

 

I have one of each. The SX has the a great tone and is easy to play, but the Squier VM is a finer instrument and is better made with a much better neck. Don't know about the Douglas.

 

save a little more and get the squire modded jazz bass...

if located in california, id sell you mine...

 

I picked up the Squier FVM Fretless recently and I'm really enjoying it. I've also got the new 08' MIA Fender Jazz V so I know what quality is and the Squier for a bass that's cheap def holds it's own.
Here's a couple of pics-

 

Man, I wish that thing came in a 5-string version...

 

i played the same squire in a local store here in aus. i went in with my home defretted to get some phone numbers for a luthier who can do fretless nuts and setups. they had one on show and the bloke said it had just come in. ebanol fretboard was very impressive. i only played unamplified but it sounded nice and round with a good mwah.

 

Am I the only guy that hates "mwah" when I play fretless? lol

 

i love mine

 

You should also, if you have the chance, try a Yamaha RBX270F, or a used RBX260F (like mine).

The ideal fretless for beginners.

The Squier VM Jazz also looks very cool. I believe that bass is as good as my MIM fretless Jazz.
I don't play my fretless Jazz because it isn't my style. Neck too thick compared to an RBX.

The Jazz and the RBX are entirely different basses.

It depends on what you want.
What genre or style do you play?
What sound are you after?

If you are going for a classic sounding electric bass. Go for the Squier VM Jazz. (I think this is the coolest Squier ever made.)

If you wanna do more complex and fast pieces of music: search for an RBX. (I play metal and classical with mine, very suited for it.)

Recently in a local music store I tried a Stagg fretless. Not as good as the RBX I think. But at a very reasonable price for a beginner.

 

You're not alone. I don't like it either.

 

today i got my Brice 6-string fretless from RondoMusic. It's pretty solid, ~$300. I got it for three reasons. 1. see if I like fretless (I love it) 2. see if I like 6 strings (not convinced yet) 3. and to dismantle and put back together (looking forward to it).

Anyway it's a fantastic instrument for it's price. The strings it comes with, well... I don't even know what to say.

 

I only recommend the SX versions from rondo, douglas and brice aren't that great. But yes go for the SX, I haven't touched my 70 p in months.

 

I don't know if its just me with the sx fretless .. but they need alot more setup than any bass I have ever owned and the pole peices sticking out of the pickups bugged me so much I had to swap them out .. buy the sx 5 if you like it but mine needed a serious neck adjustment and the nut worked on as the action was too high at that end .. but after that .. nice bass ..
haven't played a squire fretless but I would assume the setup on them would be better

good luck with the fretless much funness

 

+100

 

dito to what C'thulhu said about the Yamaha RBX270F. A very underrated bass that IMHO sounds much better than more expensive basses. Easy to play and easy to learn on (well, fretless is hard to master).
It does not look as sexy as the Squire VM, but you learn to love it.

good luck.

Al

 

+1 on that ...

D.Don

 

Yamaha BB series fretlesses are also really good value. I used to have one, and dug it a lot. They're a little more traditional than the RBX, if that's your thang.

 

+1 on the Squier VM Fretless... I was really impressed when I first played it. I finally bought it and it was definitely worth it. I got mine for $240 because Musician's Friend had it on sale one day and GC price-matched it. Luckily I got one fresh out the box.

This bass is one of the best you can buy for this price range, and as far as fretlesses go, there's no equal.