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Top Fretless brands

#42
Here's a cd that I recently played on where I used my fretless Lakland 4-94. I went strait into a DI and into the recording console.

I'm on 7 of the 12 tracks but check out tracks

1
5
7
10
and
11

It will give you a basic idea of what my Fretless 4-94 can sound like.

The artist name is Valencia Bey

Link Removed
 
#43
Hands down everyone;)
 

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#48
My first fretless was a used single-pickup Peavey. I didn't know any better at the time, and I liked it... fine to learn on. A few years later I found a great deal on an Alembic Epic fretless 5-string, and I'm completely hooked. Everytime I play a gig, folks comment on the tone and I'm just playing it through a stock SWR Workingman's 12. The bass sounds so nice I practice w/out an amp at all. I DO agree w/ most of the folks here.. there's a ton of great fretless makers out there, and you've gotta find what YOU like. I've always loved the sound and feel of Alembics.
 
#52
Of all the boutique-ish names being thrown about, I can't believe no one has mentioned Bee yet (or even Stambaugh). I recently acquired a nice used Pedulla Pentabuzz (always wanted one) and a used Queen Bee, and have owned a Stambaugh (see sig) for a while. All are excellent basses, and sound great and play very well in their own right, but something about the Bee... it feels like it's another level to me. Plays and sounds fantastic.
---
c
 
#54
Today I have played two frettlesses in two different shops here in germany. First one was a Sandberg Bullet Booster 4, great sound very classical and modern.
The second one was a Warwick Streamer Stage 1, as a 4 string, great sounding growly and punchy tone.
I really recomend both of them, and would have loved taking them home!
Sandberg!
Warwick!
Try them out.
 
#55
I personally own a Warwick Streamer Jazzman which has been a wonderful bass so far. It's a relatively mwah-free fretless (especially with flats), however, so if pedulla mwah is what you're going for it might not be a great choice. I find that it is very punchy and fits nicely in a mix/song where a fretless might typically not fit. As many have already said, there are so many makers out there selling good fretless basses, they're all just going to be a little different. Good luck, it's a fun ride for sure. :)
 
#56
spade2you said:
Not produced in great numbers and only available unlined from the custom shop. Mine was an unlined custom, which plays great but Peavey originally put the side dots in the WRONG place! :mad: The original owner had them drilled out and filled in by a local luthier.
Click to expand...

ic

I'd actually prefer lined since I'm new to fretlessing. I'm low on funds so I will be looking in the used market so I'm going to need a lot of luck finding the rite fretless 6'er for me. I've never even seen a fretless cirrus6 and the only other bass that I can think of that interests me is the broadneck warwick 6's, in fretless.. again, not a very common bass.:atoz:

Any word on bongo fretless's?
 
#60
I've played a Pedulla Pentabuzz, a Zon Sonus V fretless, several Fender Jazz fretless, and a P-Bass fretless.

I've owned a Lakland 55-02 and a Hanewinckel Ceres 6 and currently own a Roscoe LG-3005 fretless. Here's how I rate them (the ones I've owned in BOLD)

  • Pedulla Pentabuzz
  • Roscoe LG-3005
  • Zon Sonus
  • Hanewinckel
  • 55-02
  • P-Bass
  • J Basses


Oddly enough I have never played an Alembic fretless, but I'm sure it would land somewhere high on the list


Peace,

James
 

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