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You've got $1000 USD and one hour (or two)...

Gave it a shot. I'm down to just my Warwick thumb NT6 at the moment. But it pretty much covers everything. Has all the range I need and it's natural finish works with everything from my hard rock band, to acoustic rock, to my solo looping stuff. I thought maybe a backup 6 would make sense just in case I was at a gig and the cable jack went out or something. I quickly found a Warwick rockbass corvette 6. Not exactly a prize but it would be nice to have something just in case.
It'd be a serious issue for me; I only play acoustic, and there just are no decent acoustic basses for unplugged play under $1000, unless one gets really lucky and finds someone dumping a used Tacoma super-cheap (once upon a time they went for $650 or so...no more) or an old Martin B-1, which I already have.
saw a Warwick alien deluxe 5 for $950. Also saw a high end Warwick alien 4 string for $999.
 
Have you tried [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]? They also come in fretless.

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To me, an ABG has to actually work unplugged...the Breedlove doesn't really have much volume. Show me an Earthwood for under 1000, and I'll jump on it like a new trampoline. If I need to plug in I have my Martin, which frankly sounds better than the Breedlove through an amp, and is stronger acoustically as well.
 
Lakland Skyline 55-60 fits that spec exactly and is under $1000 used.

I should have included one additional stipulation but I didn't want to get into my "authenticity of place" issues because it always brings argument. In a nutshell I would buy a bass made in Korea if it was developed in Korea by a Korean venture. I do not want a bass from an American company that is making a lesser version of their actual product (USA Laklands) by taking advantage of disparities in trade, currencies or wages. I don't hink its "wrong", it's business. It simply diminishes the attractiveness of an instrument to me enough for me to exclude it from consideration.
 
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I should have included one additional stipulation but I didn't want to get into my "authenticity of place" issues because it always brings argument. In a nutshell I would buy a bass made in Korea if it was developed in Korea by a Korean venture. I do not want a bass from an American company that is making a lesser version of their actual product (USA Laklands) by taking advantage of disparities in trade, currencies or wages. I don't hink its "wrong", it's business. It simply diminishes the attractiveness of an instrument to me enough for me to exclude it from consideration.

I understand what you mean. I feel this way too. I'm a G&L fan, made in USA, designed by Leo Fender ... but I wouldn't want a Tribute.
 
Jens Ritter replied:

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I want the inlays made from baby's teeth. LOL Let's see if CITES has a problem with that.
 
To me, an ABG has to actually work unplugged...the Breedlove doesn't really have much volume. Show me an Earthwood for under 1000, and I'll jump on it like a new trampoline. If I need to plug in I have my Martin, which frankly sounds better than the Breedlove through an amp, and is stronger acoustically as well.

The Breedlove is one of the few choices available in unlined fretless, and it comes with D'Addario Chromes flatwounds. I agree that it has to be plugged in to be heard over anything more than a softly played acoustic guitar, but that's what my little Phil Jones Bass Cub is for.

I had a Martin B1 some 20 years ago, but the "guitarish" sound of fretted ABGs is just not for me.

If I absolutely had to play unplugged, and for the going price of an Earthwood, I'd get an upright again.

Horses for courses, YMMV, etc.
 
Tell me how the Aliens sound unplugged...if they have lots of power and really good tone, I might try one.
I have the Rockbass Alien Deluxe 6 and I really enjoy it. It has a nice, deep body to push the air. I like the tone and it has a built-in preamp / tuner so you can work on your desired tone when you are plugged in.

You can probably jam with it, if there are 2 guitarists also playing acoustically. Of course, in any live performance, you'd still need an amplifier. Only an upright bass has loud enough volume to keep up with other instruments.