Top Fretless brands

[K.Ross]

I have a Carvin XB75PF and a Wendler 4-string BOTH sound REALLY nice and both have their qualities. Look up the Carvins if you are going for the price...You're cutting out the middle-man buying directly from the factory..they're American made and their service dept.is REALLY good. My warrenty was out,and I sent it in for repairs. They put in new electronics and did a "set-up" for me. When it came back,my bill was only $59.00.(That was for the set-up and freight...the new electronics,which are an upgrade from what I had was FREE.)You can't beat that for service!!!
Kent

 

[BigRedX]

Squier VM Jazz -> Ibanez GW35 -> Pedulla Buzz -> Wal

All those who love Mick Karn's fretless tone remember that the classic Japan tracks were all recorded with a fretless Travis Bean TB2000.

 

[WoodyG3]

Pino sounds great on a Stingray, Jaco sounds great on a Fender Jazz, Jack Bruce sounds great on a Warwick, I sound gr..., well, pretty okay on a Peavey Foundation. Really, just try as many as you can get your hands on and see what you think. Your first purchase will be a guess anyway.

 

[ScreaminSGs]

I've got an old Hondo II that has a nice maple neck. I had the frets pulled and filled the slots with strips of rosewood. Then I refinished the neck. It didn't turn out too bad and it is easy to play thanks to the contrast of the rosewood on the maple neck. Plus I think I only have $200 invested in the project!

 

[rob2966]

Your first purchase will be a guess anyway.

I guessed a Rob Allen MB-2 5-string. I think I guessed right

Later
Rob

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This was a great fretless that I special ordered and foolishly let go. I feel fretless calling me back, and I may order the exact bass again except with no ghostlines next time, and I will keep it if I do it again!

BTW, the bass is a G&L L-1505 fretless.

 

[spade2you]

I guessed a Rob Allen MB-2 5-string. I think I guessed right

Later
Rob

I don't know if he ordered an MB-2, but I just ordered another one.

 

[Webtroll]

I'm quite fond of warwick fretlesses...then again the could just be me

+1 My fretless LX5 is the first fretless that blew me away. Went into the store looking to buy a cab, went back 2 hours later to buy the bass because I couldn't stop thinking about how great it sounded and played. Oddly enough I only like it with round wound strings.

 

[pjmuck]

No mention of Zon? Michael Manring gets a pretty sweet sound out of his Zons.

 

[PilbaraBass]

without reading anything but the title...I'll say, this...when you say "fretless", Zon automatically pops into my head. Never even touched one, however.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I have five fretlesses: all have somewhat different sounds and feel.

Dave Maize ABG: A decent upright tone due to its size.
Warwick Corvette: Growl at me, baby!
Pedulla Buzz: Easy-playing mwah. Sings in the high notes.
LightWave Saber: Smoooth TI flats. Clean and smooth.
Peavey Foundation: Like a Jazz fretless on steroids.

I usually play 'em sounding "non-fretless," unless I want to exploit the fretless tone. Occasionally a spectator says he didn't realize it was fretless. (At least for the lined Buzz and Foundation.)

 

[1954bassman]

A the risk of sounding boring, I would reccommend a fretless version of whatever fretted bass you already have.

 

[jsingles]

zon

 

[scottm]

Cliff makes an awsome sounding fretless!
Here's the url -
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Check out the news page.
-ScottM

 

[nik1093]

laguna basses
the laguna oceanic fretless is amazing and only about 650. it has hipshot tunners and bertonlini pickups this is a great bass and sounds amazing

 

[Hoover]

Well, I have nothing additional to add to this thread except for reinforcing data points, in case anyone enjoys statistics. Yes, there are some brands reknown for their fretless instruments (Pedulla, Rob Allen, F Bass, & Wal would be the top of my personal list), but it's more about whether a particular individual instrument has some synergy with a particular individual player than what the name on the headstock reads.

 

[dakpluto]

The right type of fretless to own:

 

[spade2you]

Cliff makes an awsome sounding fretless!
Here's the url -
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Check out the news page.
-ScottM

Cliff will make a nice fretless if you ask him nicely.

 

[Papersen]

First two that came to my mind:

- Zon
- Pedulla

add Fbass to that list.

 

[wiro]

If you're talking the top: Then don't forget:

Vadim (I guess the best for the buck)
Ken Lawrence
Jerzy Drozd
Le Fay
Conklin
Ritter
Fodera
Pagelli


Just to mention a few that are more than worth trying.