Which luthiers are known for their fretless?

[bikeplate]

I think F Bass, Pedulla. Here is my Reimer. Killer!

 

[packhowitzer]

My NS Design CR-5 fretless is pretty incredible IMO. BUT - i've only had my hands on a scant few fretless basses. So perhaps my sample of fretless basses is small, but i've been playing for 30 years, and I'd like to think I know a quality instrument when I see it. so take it as you will.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I loved my Rob Allen basses when I had them. And I once owned a G&L fretless that was pretty amazing, but it was my first G&L and I was kind of blown away by the whole thing.

Pete Skjold makes a fretless or two.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I forgot to mention it earlier but while his name isn't as well known, but Lowdown Bass (Tim Seisser) makes a truely fantastic fretless. It's not a bargain brand but defintitely competitively priced and a passive, single-pup bolt-on starts at $1600. He made a telebass for me that I adore.

I 'm pretty sure this is the one I played at his place and it -as well as the others- was quite fantastic.
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The Puzzle Piece back is flipping cool.
View attachment 4177154

Holy crap. That back IS amazing. WTH? Want.

 

[Chuck M]

I have owned fretless basses made by Muckelroy, Zon, Pedulla, Ibanez, Fender and Roscoe. I played Pedulla buzz basses for years but sold my custom ordered Pentabuzz after I got my Roscoe. For me nobody else makes a better fretless than Keith Roscoe.

I also own an Ibanez GWB 205 and it is a very impressive bass considering the relatively low price.

The diamondwood fingerboard on my Roscoe is as near perfect as a fingerboard can be. That fantastic fingerboard and the 35" scale make it sing like no other fretless I have owned.

The biggest disappointment was the Fender Jaco fretless. I have owned 2 of them and neither was very good.

 

[micguy]

So, we've established that most everybody here owns the best fretless there is.

My fretless is built on a Warmoth body (chambered), and has a Might Mite neck with an ebonol fingerboard. The material is great (mwahs like nothing else I've tried), but took a bit of work to make it flat enough to play perfectly.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Marleaux Diva is my pick. Props to everyone else's choices, though.

 

[Rayjay]

Mike Pedulla
Joe Zon
Keith Roscoe
Ned Steinberger
Rick Turner
Ibanez since the GWB

Was it Ampeg that made the first production fretless with the scroll bass. I think the fretless P came out in 1970. Leo's fretless Stingray is certainly iconic.

 

[Eilif]

Holy crap. That back IS amazing. WTH? Want.

View attachment 4177311

I kid you not, it's even cooler in person. I think he's done a couple of those but I somehow never thought to ask how.

 

[boombloom]

i don't own one (yet!), but steve wishnevsky is known for his unorthodox fretless axes.

He's got a bunch listed on Ebay right now. I have been collecting his stuff for years!

 

[KenD]

which luthiers specialize in fretless and are known for their fretless bass quality?

I think you also have to know and say what you expect from the instrument. Some fretless players lean toward the upright vibe, others to Jaco, still others to the iconic Palladino sound. Some, like most of Rob Allen's, use only piezo pickups. Others, like Martin Keith, blend piezo with magnetic. Some use only magnetic. An instrument that is a dream in one genre may not fit well at all in another.

 

[Hevy T]

@slidelow

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Nobody mentioned Carl Thompson yet?

 

[JRA]

I have been collecting his stuff for years!

nice collection!

 

[chris_b]

Another mention for Rob Allen basses. My MB-2 sounded like sonic magic.

 

[Nels Busch]

ACG basses, Rob Allen, Wal obviously, Pedulla, Franz are my favorit brands.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Marleaux Diva

 

[dave_p]

no love for Warwick?