Thinking about a Modern Fretless

[MichaelPatrick]

Ok, I'm in the lucky position of getting the green light to buy another bass. My main bass is a Fender Jaco sig fretless and I love it. It's the bass I typically reach for among a fretted Fender AMRI 62 jazz and a mid-90's Tobias Growler. The Growler has a killer preamp and I really like both jazz bases.

But recently, I've been thinking about another fretless, but something with more modern flavors. I've looked at Skjold and Bordwell, as well as getting a little more familiar with Shawn May basses. I'd be buying used to stretch the dollars a little further.

What other builders should I consider looking at for something like this. I typically play a blend of soul, jazz and a bit of folk, backing a singer songwriter. I do use some effects, but mostly octaves, delays and reverbs. I've been eyeing an eBow, so you see where this is going.

 

[Jogobass]

I'm a fan of the Gary Willis line from Ibanez. It's a different sound, perhaps you like it perhaps not. The best ones are the 25th anniversary or the GWB205, which both come with the custom bart pickup. The cheaper black one doesn't sound the same.

 

[godofthunder59]

The Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision is a excellent bass. Another bass I really love is the Epiphone Fretless Jack Casady, unique, beautifully built and with a MAP of $849 a absolute bargain.

 

[bholder]

Another bass I really love is the Epiphone Fretless Jack Casady, unique, beautifully built and with a MAP of $849 a absolute bargain.

+ a lot. Love mine.

 

[ardgedee]

But recently, I've been thinking about another fretless, but something with more modern flavors. I've looked at Skjold and Bordwell, as well as getting a little more familiar with Shawn May basses. I'd be buying used to stretch the dollars a little further.

What have you tried so far? At the upper end of non-custom fretless there's the Ibanez SRF700 and SRD900F (Soundgear series, narrow bridge spacing), Gary Willis models (a bunch of variations, especially if you shop used), EHB1005F (headless, 5-string), SDGB1 (signature model, 5-string)... Most of Sire's basses are available fretless, including the F10, F10dx regular and headless models, M5 and M7. Cort, Dean etc. have fretless models too but as far as I can tell they don't offer the range that Sire and Ibanez do, especially in modern bass designs.

 

[Bodeeni]

If I was looking for a modern fretless today my first choice would be a MTD or Sadowsky. If the price is too much I would seriously consider their import versions.
I loved my MTD Kingston fretless. They have great necks and, I think, that modern sound.

 

[SC Bassboy]

Ok, I'm in the lucky position of getting the green light to buy another bass. My main bass is a Fender Jaco sig fretless and I love it. It's the bass I typically reach for among a fretted Fender AMRI 62 jazz and a mid-90's Tobias Growler. The Growler has a killer preamp and I really like both jazz bases.

But recently, I've been thinking about another fretless, but something with more modern flavors. I've looked at Skjold and Bordwell, as well as getting a little more familiar with Shawn May basses. I'd be buying used to stretch the dollars a little further.

What other builders should I consider looking at for something like this. I typically play a blend of soul, jazz and a bit of folk, backing a singer songwriter. I do use some effects, but mostly octaves, delays and reverbs. I've been eyeing an eBow, so you see where this is going.

I've been eyeing a Swan custom bass for years now. They are down in Argentina and I like their style. Regardless of which builder/brand you pick, I would suggest a big fat pickup in the bridge position if you want something more modern. There's really no substitute for a MM or multi-coil pickup sitting at the bridge to make a fretless SING.

 

[JazznFunk]

Sadowsky Modern or Lakland Skyline -02 series, or USA -94 series.

 

[BassJuju]

I have played a dozen or more brands of Fretless basses. I would say the top of the pile is the F Bass AC, but Stradi and Marleaux are very close behind. I am a 5 string guy, but if you play 4's and like the Jaco, the Fender Tony Franklin is really nice too.

 

[Brother Goose]

Not modern in aesthetic but I LOVE my 1st Gen Sire Fretless 5. Not sure of the exact model but it's one of the Marcus Miller jazz basses. Dense and articulate with plenty of flexibility with the 3 band preamp and passive tone

 

[drumvsbass]

If their business wasn't in the tank I'd recommend a Zon. Maybe find a used one. I have never played anything that even comes close to mine. Sounds like Jaco and Bakithi Kumalo had a love child.

 

[BassicJazzy]

If their business wasn't in the tank I'd recommend a Zon. Maybe find a used one. I have never played anything that even comes close to mine. Sounds like Jaco and Bakithi Kumalo had a love child.

View attachment 7460881

You just cannot find them, made of pure "unobtainium."

 

[nonohmic]

Ok, I'm in the lucky position of getting the green light to buy another bass. My main bass is a Fender Jaco sig fretless and I love it. It's the bass I typically reach for among a fretted Fender AMRI 62 jazz and a mid-90's Tobias Growler. The Growler has a killer preamp and I really like both jazz bases.

But recently, I've been thinking about another fretless, but something with more modern flavors. I've looked at Skjold and Bordwell, as well as getting a little more familiar with Shawn May basses. I'd be buying used to stretch the dollars a little further.

What other builders should I consider looking at for something like this. I typically play a blend of soul, jazz and a bit of folk, backing a singer songwriter. I do use some effects, but mostly octaves, delays and reverbs. I've been eyeing an eBow, so you see where this is going.

I have two basses. A USA Jaco Sig, and a fretted Bordwell. If I were to get another fretless, getting Cliff to build me one would be hiiigh on the list.

Could you go 6 strings?

For sale Cliff Bordwell Scroll Bass Piezo Fretless 6

A killer fretless 6 with piezo!

• Bernie Connors (+26 /0 /-0)
• Mar 18, 2026
• Updated Mar 26, 2026
• Views: 756
• Reaction score: 9
• Comments: 13
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars
• 6 string cliff bordwell fretless

$2,100.00

12 watching

 

[ardgedee]

You just cannot find them, made of pure "unobtainium."

Rare but I wouldn't call them "unobtainium". There's one in the tb classifieds right now and another on Reverb.

For sale ZON Sonus 5 Fretless - 2013 - Burled Maple

Best Fretless Money Can Buy

• Benko (+25 /0 /-0)
• Mar 23, 2026
• Updated Jun 3, 2026
• Views: 1K
• Reaction score: 7
• Comments: 6
• Category: For Sale: Bass Guitars

$3,500.00

$3,250.00

5 watching

 

[sawzalot]

I am super picky about my fretless tone. I want a bass that absolutely "sings", even when played unplugged. Very very few do that. I can listen to about five seconds of a youtube video demo and figure out if a fretless is a good one. The ones I really like (and choose to play) are MusicMan's. The EBMM USA-made Sterling model is amazing, as is the Stingray 5, all generations of them. The newer Stingray Special 5 fretlesses are especially great sounding, and there are a few of them for sale in the Talkbass classifieds and on Reverb right now (none of them for sale by me, btw). Other than that, Zon and Pedulla Buzz/Pentabuzz (even tho no longer being made) are my all-time favorites. Honestly, hardly any of the others outside of Fender Jazz designs even grab my ears attention.

 

[Element Zero]

Of all the fretless basses I've owned… Pedulla, Ibanez, Music Man (my current)… the Fodera Emperor Standard I had years ago was hands down my favorite sounding. The tone was amazeballz. If only that neck had been less wide and had been on a Monarch body I'd never have sold it.

BUT

I'm really happy with my Music Man BFR StingRay fretless. Plays and sounds precisely like you'd expect a fretless StingRay to.

 

[Bass Viking]

Roscoe makes a great fretless. Mine has a diamondwood fingerboard and it growls unplugged!

 

[trothwell]

I had a Fender Jaco for years, loved it. I sold it to help buy a fretless bass that I like even more, a Rob Allen MB-2 (5-string). For my tastes, this is just an absolutely superlative fretless bass; I don't know if there exists another fretless that I would prefer. But it also isn't quite as multi-purpose as the Fender. When it fits in the music, it's just totally awesome, but some styles it doesn't really gel with.

But given your goal for using something with soul, jazz, folk... it might suit you well.

 

[ColinR]

I have 4 fretless basses and by far my favorite and #1 bass is a Yamaha (JP2). Thats a 6, but Yamaha makes the TRB series which is the base model for that and it's available in any string count.
Now.... they don't make a fretless - I had mine converted. and it's still the finest bass I've ever played. I have owned several fine fretless basses and have played countless others, and this one is it. The ONLY thing that touches it is Fodera, and frankly those are at a price point that for me did not make sense.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I have been smitten by the Ibanez SRF 705. The tiny fret markers are on the bass side only. Two humbuckers and a piezo bridge, does it for me! Retails for a little more than a grand.