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They were widely available in the , in those days, 'catalogues' for home shopping, where you could by kettles, shirts, teas-maids, mirrors and all sorts of tat. Mine came from a Freeman's catalogue, cost around £40 and was paid-up at ten shillings a month or something like that (50p!) I added the worst 'bass amplifier' I have ever seen - a Hawk 15 - and immediately became a rock-god at school. Here it is in action almost 50 years ago.

This is absolutely brilliant. I bought a secondhand five-string P - determined to do exactly this - but it turned out to be a 35-inch scale and now I’ve lost my bottle a little bit… The combination makes so much sense to me. Well done!

It seems to be a bit more accepted in Jazz music. Dave

I was wondering what they were!

I have two fretless basses in my vast instrument collection which I don't have occasion to play that often, and usually just for my own pleasure, but I love them when I do! I own a 1982 Wal Mk1 and a 1989 Pedulla Buzz. Probably two of the finest brands and models of fretless ever made. That'll do me!

First Bass Owned: Aria Wildcat Pro II in white 'Go To' Bass: Squier Jazz with Fender fretless neck 'Your' Bass: An unbranded cheap & cheerful plywood upright with neck and various other repairs, that somehow has a fantastic tone. Fitted with Innovation Rockabilly blacks & Realist Lifeline pickup.

I see what you mean now. When we use monitors its normally me that wires them up and i always wrap the mains and xlr cables thru the handles then plug them into cab to reduce the risk of being pulled out but the monitor can be moved if someone accidentally tugs on the cables. In no way removes the risk tho but can help in some circumstances. Dave

I just remembered- I was offered an EB0 copy as my first bass, but my friend advised me against it - could have been the 10th on this list! 😂

Slap plates! I remember them. When I did my first defret, I was tempted to leave the last fret or two in to offer this option (I didn’t eventually).

In the past I have had fretless MIJ Fender Jazz, a Godin A5 and a Rob Allen Mouse. About 3 years ago I bought a Sterling SB14 which I had converted to fretless by Julyan Wallis, the Guitar Doctor. For a long time I never had the courage to play fretless live but eventually did it with my last band.

Hello guys, thanks for being here. Long live UK. I'm from Israel. I went to the store with my grandfather (although I'm too old so he'll buy me one, I'm 31), and it's my first time playing bass really. Those guitars are massive, and the sound was so overwhelming, I couldn't bear that until they gave me a shortscale. But still, I couldn't see how to use that instrument, how to blend it into my songs. Allow me to share a WAV file of a bass role I played with my electric guitar. Maybe I need a jazz guitar? I didn't check, is it more mellow? I told the seller I need to think about it. Project.wav

Have had a custom made Andy Crockett 5 string but sold it and because of the Police tribute a natural and a red P bass. sold the natural one but still have the red one, although it's got a fretted jazz neck on it atm, waiting to be painted gold sparkle for the U2 thing Will put the fretless neck on body routed for p bass and MM pickups at some point

I feel that the thread title will skew the results somewhat. If you don't play fretless you're far less likely to click on the thread in the first place.

Always had at least one along with a fretted bass; recently decided I didn't need one at all, until I took it along to a new trio project thing I've been working on with friends, and now I realised it was absolutely perfect for that!

I have a theory that they were so cheap and nasty, people used to just give them away for free... neglected, beaten, abused then either gifted to a newb or chucked in a skip.

Love it, I’d like to do one myself like the jazz in this

ah so you have both pickups on are they full up? wide open tone etc? sounds good too, nice playing

My fretless collection

Now that...is...niiice!!

Nice. Sounds great on your vid too, really cuts through with a lovely throaty lo-mid growl. Just so you know, those inlays on the neck are aftermarket stickers, but nicely done. There will be dots underneath them.... Always preferred the full inlays myself so looks great!