Budget fretless

E

El Barto

Jul 29, 2020
12
11
2,531
#1
Hey:)

I would like to get a fretless bass, however since my money-printer is jammed I'm on a budget of about 400-500$. If possible I'd like one that's unlined (I'm a professional violonist, so no trouble practicing intonation). Do you guys have any ideas of basses like that?
Option B, I could get a "normal" bass and change the neck.
Also, where I live there is a rather small market for used instruments, even more so for fretless basses:/
 
#2
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#3
SteveCS said:
If might help to say where that is.

My immediate recommendation would be a used Warwick - 'Rockbass' Covettes can be found for that kind of money, but in some parts of the world that's just not going to be possible.
New, something like this Cort B4 would be a good bet. I've played one of these and they are very good...
Cort B4 FLOPN fretless four string bass, Jazz, Precision - UK Basses specialist, Warwick, special offer, sale,
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply!:) I'll check the Cort out and I'll keep my eyes open for one of those Corvettes. I live in Belgium, so a bit far from the US market, but one never knows.
 
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#6
I picked up this ‘88 Fender Jazz Bass Special in TB classifieds in 2017 for $560 including shipping. Great intro to fretless for not a lot of money. The rosewood board delivers a surprisingly aggressive mwah.

Made in Japan, very good quality and really almost new condition. Of course, buying used means you could resell at about the same dough if you choose to.

Friendly cautionary warning on fretless intonation:
Playing professional violin with beautiful near perfect intonation does not mean you will have easy success with electric bass. It is a big undertaking to get even close. Maybe you will :)

1C3774E8-5135-4529-B8E7-0C07359A3CBB.jpeg
 
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#8
my fretless is the most budget guitar i have ever owned. musicstore here in cologne had this as a b-stock for some reason, so i got it for around 120 euro. stock new is around 150. it was fretted. for another 10 euro i got some super glue and plastic/rubber stuff to put in place of the frets. all told it took my about 6 hours of work because it was the first time i ever did anything like that. the results are better than i deserve and it's a fun toy and a great, ultra cheap foray into fretless (i didn't know if i would like playing fretless).

and it was so cheap i don't care too much what i do to it or it i destroy it. but now i'm starting to really take a liking to it after a few months. here is a pic of it i put into another thread yesterday since i finished some art on it.




i vote for mod your own!! hahahahaha, i'm sure there would be some disagreement on that, but oh well.
 
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#9
CaseyVancouver said:
I picked up this ‘88 Fender Jazz Bass Special in TB classifieds in 2017 for $560 including shipping. Great intro to fretless for not a lot of money. The rosewood board delivers a surprisingly aggressive mwah.

Made in Japan, very good quality and really almost new condition. Of course, buying used means you could resell at about the same dough if you choose to.

Friendly cautionary warning on fretless intonation:
Playing professional violin with beautiful near perfect intonation does not mean you will have easy success with electric bass. It is a big undertaking to get even close. Maybe you will :)

View attachment 3924702
Click to expand...

Oh that would be cool, I'll have to hope something similar comes along.

As for the fretless intonation, I'd be quite surprised if it we're that easy. I meant to say that I know how much work something like that takes, and I'm up to putting the effort in :)
 
#10
parttime said:
my fretless is the most budget guitar i have ever owned. musicstore here in cologne had this as a b-stock for some reason, so i got it for around 120 euro. stock new is around 150. it was fretted. for another 10 euro i got some super glue and plastic/rubber stuff to put in place of the frets. all told it took my about 6 hours of work because it was the first time i ever did anything like that. the results are better than i deserve and it's a fun toy and a great, ultra cheap foray into fretless (i didn't know if i would like playing fretless).

and it was so cheap i don't care too much what i do to it or it i destroy it. but now i'm starting to really take a liking to it after a few months. here is a pic of it i put into another thread yesterday since i finished some art on it.




i vote for mod your own!! hahahahaha, i'm sure there would be some disagreement on that, but oh well.
Click to expand...


That artwork looks really good! Well done :)
Yeah, it might come down to modding, but I'll look into some of the other options before I get my hands dirty :D
 
#12
From the next country up from yours, I'll shill for Thomann, as usual: https://www.thomann.de/intl/fretless_basses.html?oa=pra
You can get a B-stock Harley Benton for €139, or pay €10 more for a brand-new one.

I love my Ibanez SR370EF, but it's lined, and at €399 new it's above your budget. There's a B-stock model going for €343, though.

If you have any plans of being in Amsterdam in the next few weeks, my de-fretted Yamaha RBX774 really wants a new home. My asking price would be well inside your budget, but you'd really want to try it first, and I'm not sure you'd want to make the trip just for that.
 
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#13
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#16
I found a Carvin LB76F for $400. It was lined, but some black stain and no more lines. Ebony board makes it easy. If you get a brown/red fingerboard, matching dye colors would be hard though.
 
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#17
I'd second the recommendation -if possible- to at least consider a used Carvin. Used Carvin's sell for about half their original cost. They are well built and their ebony boards are fantastic for fretless. I recently sold my fretless LB75F for $550 and to order it at Carvin today would be well over $1200. (EDIT: Just noticed you're in Belgium. A Carvin might be tough to find...)

The squire fretless bases are a good value, but as a violinist, you may be more happy with the slim necks and light weight of Ibanez Fretless basses. The current production model in your price range is the SR370E
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_sr370e_nnb.htm
Very nicely done instrument with a level of features and refinement that is really impressive (far more than Squires IMHO) even before considering the very low price.

Also, -since selection is limited in your area- Ibanez is known for very good quality control so ordering online is a safe bet.

Best of luck on your fretless journey. Ever since graduating High School, I've always had a fretless in my stable. It's no longer my main gigging instrument but still the most rewarding to play.
 
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#18
SteveCS said:
If might help to say where that is.

My immediate recommendation would be a used Warwick - 'Rockbass' Covettes can be found for that kind of money, but in some parts of the world that's just not going to be possible.
New, something like this Cort B4 would be a good bet. I've played one of these and they are very good...
Cort B4 FLOPN fretless four string bass, Jazz, Precision - UK Basses specialist, Warwick, special offer, sale,
Click to expand...
Also Squire “Jaco Jr” is a good bass imho
 
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#19
One more addition. I just noticed that you preferred unlined. I feel the same.

ESP/LTD made the Vintage 214 and Vintage 204 Fretless basses for a number of years. Though now discontinued, they're worth looking for on the used market. It's a very nice P-bass clone with a P/J pickup arrangement and a lovely unlined rosewood board. The 214 is standard and the 204 has a factory relic'ed look. I had a 214 for a couple of years and it was very nice.

ESP/LTD sells alot in Europe, so they may be available second hand.
 
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