Production Fretless, NO LINES

[matante]

Musicman also makes unlined Stingrays.

 

[smidgley]

 

[twinjet]

It seems that most manufacturers have their token Fretless but they all have lines. Even fender really only makes one, the Tony Franklin. So everyone chime in with any production Fretless I don’t really care about price, however once we start getting toward 2k it might as well be custom to a point.

ESP LTD Vintage 214.

No affiliation.

 

[gregouille23]

View attachment 3265785

Thats exactly what I did in your situation. Ordered a beautiful roasted maple neck with pau ferro fingerboard from warmoth and mounted it on my matt freeman P body. Love it!

 

[Jimtoonz]

As previously mentioned, G&L. This one is a custom build, but there are many out there with unlined rosewood and mahogany fingerboards.

 

[Leo Thunder]

Harley Benton B-450FL
Harley Benton HBZ-2005FL

 

[equill]

I really can’t see myself getting cozy with any Ibanez SR

Definitely try the Portamento, then.

I A/B-ed it with the SR370EF, and it was night and day - they're totally different animals. I walked in fully intending to buy the more expensive, more refined option, and walked out with the cheaper one and a startled expression. The A/B test wasn't even in my plan, because I expected to give the Portamento a quick test-play to confirm it was the one; in practice, it and I didn't get on at all.

So if you dislike SRs, there's a good chance you'll have the opposite experience.

 

[dBChad]

I'll second Carvin/Keisel. They will build any of their basses fretless lined or unlined.

 

[smtp4me]

Ibanez Portamento.

^^^ This. I have also seen new/used Stingrays with no fretlines.

 

[micguy]

Mighty Mite makes a decent fretless neck with an ebonol board. Although I’m picky about necks (my fretted basses have roasted Warmoth necks), I still like it just fine. It’s about $150, so a decent bass plus that will fit your budget.

 

[rtav]

Kiesel/Carvin

 

[B-Mac]

my unlined:

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Tony Franklin

 

[aproud1]

Used Warwick Corvette fretless can be had for around $600 used. That would be my top pick. The Ibanez Aerium would be next even though it has black fretlines (which are silly but easily ignored) followed by the Ibanez portamento.

If you can find an unlined Cort B4 those are pretty great for under $500.

Used presents a lot more options than buying new. If you have to have new and want a jazz style bass I'd go for Keisel.

 

[deernaes]

What difference does it make?
If you don't need the lines then don't pay attention to them....

 

[wizerd]

Another shout for the Portamento. Also don't overlook the Warwick. Maybe find an old beater and use it as a platform for a partscaster? Happy hunting.

 

[InhumanResource]

It seems that most manufacturers have their token Fretless but they all have lines. Even fender really only makes one, the Tony Franklin. So everyone chime in with any production Fretless I don’t really care about price, however once we start getting toward 2k it might as well be custom to a point.

If you don't mind used, 90s MIJ fender jazz basses were unlined and also ridiculously comfortable to play. 500 to 700 USD.

 

[Pirate Captain]

Tony Franklin sig doesn't have lines...

 

[SteveCS]

What difference does it make?
If you don't need the lines then don't pay attention to them....

I guess it depends on personal taste. I don't need them and have owned a lined Wal in the past, but for me they ruin the aesthetic, hence...

 

[monkeyland]

What difference does it make?
If you don't need the lines then don't pay attention to them....

1. Because thats what I want and thats really all that matters.

2. I've owned a couple of lined fretless over the years(Ibanez ATK and Squier VM Jazz) and two without lines(Corvette Standard and an old Kramer PJ), as well as spent a lot of time on upright. I also currently own an NS Design NXT upright. There is a different mindset that happens with that big open fretboard. For me, the mind goes to a more bass guitar place when the lines are present, but without them I subconsciously end up in a different creative mindset.

3. I feel that the lines present a false sense of security. Just like the creative part of it above, things will be more in tune if you use your ears and play music vs see line and it must be right. It's for this reason that I also would shy away from an unlined fretboard that has little markers at every single note. That part isn't a total deal breaker, but I would prefer to only have the marker on the side at the 3,5,7,9,12 and so on. Either that or something like what NS does with their instruments.

I have a whole list of other things that I do and do not like. I was really just trying to get people to chime in on what is out there and available since searching the online retailers is only turning up a few things, most of which have been mentioned.