alembic1989 Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Hi , I am looking for a fretless. I want more sustain than you could shake a stick at, a really good growl/mwaah when played using the bridge pick up..and sings like pavarotti. I especially like Kai Ekhardt's sound,he seems to get the bass to sing and growl at the same time..and with bags of sustain. I've heard good things abopout Modulus..but will they do what I am asking..or is the tone from these completely different. I am looking for a 4/5 string. Can anyone come with some suggestions that won 't break the bank? Raj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 (edited) So much about fretless tone is in the fingers! (sounds cheesey, I know but its true) I bet you could get that tone out of a squier VMF Edited September 10, 2008 by Alastair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 (edited) the best sound fretless for me & many other old farts has to be a fender jazz--mwaah to die for. Edited September 10, 2008 by artisan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 (edited) [quote name='artisan' post='281182' date='Sep 10 2008, 03:43 PM']the best sound fretless for me & many other old farts has to be a fender jazz--mwaah to die for.[/quote] Got a point.... good enough for Jaco... good enough for... ...anyway, what's your budget? Edited September 10, 2008 by EBS_freak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alembic1989 Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='EBS_freak' post='281187' date='Sep 10 2008, 03:46 PM']Got a point.... good enough for Jaco... good enough for... ...anyway, what's your budget?[/quote] Yeah I know that fretless tone is "in the fingers"..but if it were as simple as that then we would all be playing planks wouldn't we?..as it would make no difference 'cos "it's in the fingers man" However my budget is £6-700 for a secondhand one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odub Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 This is well under budget and I've only heard good things: [url="http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=GWB35"]http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/ProductDet...ProductID=GWB35[/url] There's a more expensive version too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='artisan' post='281182' date='Sep 10 2008, 03:43 PM']the best sound fretless for me & many other old farts has to be a fender jazz--mwaah to die for.[/quote] +1. Can't go wrong with a Jazz F'less Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 What's your budget? If you can stretch to it a second hand Pedulla Buzz would be something to consider £600-1000 depending on condition and desperation of the seller. Otherwise what about the Ibanez Gary Willis GW35? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='BigRedX' post='281421' date='Sep 10 2008, 09:18 PM']What's your budget? If you can stretch to it a second hand Pedulla Buzz would be something to consider £600-1000 depending on condition and desperation of the seller.[/quote] You just beat me to it! Wals are untouchable for fretless but way overpriced right now - if I was shopping in that price range it'd have to be a Pedulla. Fenders can be lovely but IMO need either an ebony board conversion or a coated board - a really hard board and ultra-low profile nut (phnaar!) are crucial for sustain and a nice articulate sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alembic1989 Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 [quote name='Shaggy' post='281442' date='Sep 10 2008, 09:38 PM']You just beat me to it! Wals are untouchable for fretless but way overpriced right now - if I was shopping in that price range it'd have to be a Pedulla. Fenders can be lovely but IMO need either an ebony board conversion or a coated board - a really hard board and ultra-low profile nut (phnaar!) are crucial for sustain and a nice articulate sound.[/quote] Hmm.never thought of a pedulla...or even heard one to be honest. But the ones I've seen seem very pricey. The Ibanez looks interesting though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 A nice jazz always works, the Squier VMJ fretless is a good option, as it has the hard phelonic board, sounds nice and bright! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fudge Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I am also interested in the crazy and often sexy world of fretless. Be honest though in a rock and pop covers band would one become more of a bit on the side at home. I do like a bit on the side though and it could bring my bass playing/ thinking on? What do people do here? I hope this adds to the original question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 [quote name='BigRedX' post='281421' date='Sep 10 2008, 09:18 PM']What's your budget? If you can stretch to it a second hand Pedulla Buzz would be something to consider £600-1000 depending on condition and desperation of the seller. Otherwise what about the Ibanez Gary Willis GW35?[/quote] [quote name='alembic1989' post='281504' date='Sep 10 2008, 10:58 PM']Hmm.never thought of a pedulla...or even heard one to be honest. But the ones I've seen seem very pricey. The Ibanez looks interesting though.[/quote] i've played BidRedX's pedulla, its a lovely bass! i would get one right away if i was looking for a fretless! and theres so many options that you have to find a sound you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 [quote name='Darkstrike' post='281506' date='Sep 10 2008, 11:00 PM']A nice jazz always works, the Squier VMJ fretless is a good option, as it has the hard phelonic board, sounds nice and bright! [/quote] I know it's well below your budget but I bought my Squier VMJ fretless about 6 weeks ago after test driving a few and nothing could match it within a couple of hundred quid, I put flat wounds on it and set it up without any fretboard buzz but then reset to have a tiny bit of buzz - you can really control the amount of MWAH that way. Suck it and see. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatori Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Definately a Jazz with Delano's and a Badass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I'd have to add to the support for the Pedulla. I have a Pentabuzz as many of you know and swear its the best fretless hands down. It takes on a life of its own when you stand next to an amp on stage and let it feedback gently. I really couldn't ask for more sustain or mwah. I have changed the pickups on mine with excellent results though as I felt the barts didn't give enough mid range or clarity. If you can mate yours with some kind of filter based preamp like the AGC or the Alembic Q filter eq (like I have on mine) then you'll be on to a real winner. In any case whatever fretless you go for, I think the neck ideally should be as stiff as you can find if sustain is important to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I'd have to go for either the aforementioned Ibanez Gary Willis, or the excellent Yamaha TRB 1005F. The other one I played in recent times was a Warwick Corvette fretless. It was lovely to play & was the passive one at that! Somewhere around £5-600 I seem to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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