The Once-in-a-Lifetime ABG /EABG purchase.

[Haroldo]

Thanks folks.

The Godins resemble a bass guitar too much for my liking, I'm afraid. To my eyes they're a similar idea to the Rob Allens in resembling an 'ordinary' bass guitar.

The Taylors are, of course, lovely. But (like CF Martin) they don't do a fretless instrument as far as my research goes. Whether they did at one time is another thing but, so far, I've not found anything.

Thanks.

J

You can search out an old Taylor AB1. I've a lined frettless version, so they do exist. A biggish body, but, again, fun to play.

 

[timonvh]

Santa Cruz True Acoustic Bass. I played one (fretted) some years ago and was pretty impressed. Don't know if they make a fretless version though.
Timon

 

[justjake]

tried them all , guild , tac, boulder creek , thunderchief, breedlove and sold them all.
just this week I re-purchased a breedlove ( like the one listed in prior post ) as it was the best of the bunch for the money. these are great players and the amplified sound is real nice. won't break the bank either. YMMV.

 

[bholder]

I had professionally defretted Guild B50 for years. Pretty sure the current owner would like to sell it. I gave it up for a much less expensive Boulder Creek which I prefer. Anyway, I'm sure Pete Langdell at Rigel would build you one of his basses without frets and it would be amazing. I believe I saw one of those very cool Takamines in the Talkbass classified ads just the other day.

Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I know someone who wants to buy that defretted Guild B50.

 

[3rdWatch]

Been on my radar for awhile...might be a fit: Rigel instruments
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[bholder]

Been on my radar for awhile...might be a fit: Rigel instruments
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Mine too, I'm not sure he's still making them, though, he hasn't been responsive to my emails.

 

[johnson79]

Don't know the likelihood of finding a Taylor/Klein fretless, but they are pretty incredible basses. I had the chance to play one once and it was stunning.

 

[brianrost]

Here ya go:

You took the words out of my mouth!

 

[MD]

A FB swap might open up the field a bit too.

 

[funkinbottom]

I think Bob Groat in N California is making some of the best AEBs on the planet. I don't currently own one (saving for one now) but have played a couple in his shop and oh my. Absolutely beautiful sounding and a gorgeous looking bass. IMO, they don't get any better than this.

Groat Instruments Acoustic Bass Guitar

 

[3rdWatch]

Mine too, I'm not sure he's still making them, though, he hasn't been responsive to my emails.

Bummer! I love the looks of his stuff.

 

[Chico Ruger]

Rockin John...This is my Fender MIJ fretless Precision with Piezo bridge PUP. It has the highly desired Cafe Walter P-1 Piezo Buffer high impedance buffer amp installed, which tames the "clacky", trebly issues of piezos. It produces a miles deep, clean, warm and woody tone from this semi-hollow bodied bass.

I have been thinking of moving this bass, as I rarely play it anymore...Chico

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Taylor AB-1 is the one. It's what I landed on after trying several. I used to gig a Thunderchief, which was great but a bit fragile. The AB-1 is built like a tank and sounds better to my ears.

Here's a megathread I started that points you in many directions on the AB series:
Taylor AB acoustic bass guitars (ABG) megathread

 

[bearhart74]

+ 1 for ribbecke, rick turner, taylor, rob allen, and warwick alien..
These also deserve looks...
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[bholder]

If semi-acoustics are in the running, I'll go ahead and nominate the Christopher Double Bass Guitar:

(Edited to clarify: these basses are fully hollow but intended to be amplified to get as close as possible to upright tone. This one's going to be mine soon. )

 

[sowilson]

If you want a Taylor AB-1 fretless buy a fretted one (if you can find one) and have a new fretless board installed.

 

[Worldeeeter]

I'm always mildly interested in these as well. I owned a Michael Kelly for a short time, but it didn't do anything for me. If you have $2K - $4K to spend, I recommend one (or both) of these:

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There are YouTube videos of Adrian Marusczyk playing a fretless Svoboda ABG. I want one of those SOOOO bad!!!

 

[BlueShox]

I'm assuming you would prefer something freltess and 5 string, if possible. Have you considered a Kiesel AC50? They can make them fretless, it's a "semi-custom" shop.

Here's a fretless one I found on their site:

You can see a gallery of them here on their site. They have a ton topwood and finish options.

 

[MrLenny1]

Two of my friends have Rob Allens.
One is a fretless 4 and the other a fretted 5.
It's hard to beat a Rob Allen IMHO.

 

[cavemanbass]

tried them all , guild , tac, boulder creek , thunderchief, breedlove and sold them all.
just this week I re-purchased a breedlove ( like the one listed in prior post ) as it was the best of the bunch for the money. these are great players and the amplified sound is real nice. won't break the bank either. YMMV.

+1 for Breedlove, my favorite even though it's made in China and fairly low cost. I own Martin b65, Thunderchief, Ovation custom shop, and others but the Breedlove is best combo of playability/ ergonomics, acoustic sound, and plugged in sound.