PaulThePlug Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 Youngest is sliding about with flatwounds on a Ibby GSR200... Would love to find him a cheap fretless... Advice or what ya got? Ideal would be a GSR200 Fretless or SR300 Fretless. Ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 This is going to create mixed reactions but my advice is to get him an unlined fretless if he's young and starting out. In the long run it will teach him better technique, better ear and more creativity. Others will say otherwise but my personal opinion, as a fretless bassist, as he is young and starting out, this would be my advice. Of course there is nothing wrong with choosing a lined fretless and there are more choices available from Squire, Cort and Ibanez so the choice is yours. The Squire Vintage Jazz lined fretless is an excellent starting bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted January 13, 2023 Author Share Posted January 13, 2023 (edited) Unlined look so cool... he idealy wants 2 octave... Harley Benton B-450FL is looking like a contender... He likes a 'lead bass' higher strings and up the fretboard sound so might consider a 5 tuned EADGC for fun! Edited January 13, 2023 by PaulThePlug 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLowDown Posted January 13, 2023 Share Posted January 13, 2023 The HB B45FL is decent. There may well be better or equivalent ones for more money or around that price point, but I don't think you can go wrong with it for the price. I would also go along with the unlined because the only visual clue that is important are the side dots rather than craning his neck over the fretboard. If anything, my lined fretless requires extra and unnecessary mental processing when I look down at the side dots because I then have to do some spatial calculations to work out where the actual fret should be, whereas on the unlined this isn't the case. The only practical advantage(IMO) of the lined is that there is far more choice, so if he wants to go the 5 string route the lined may be the better option. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 (edited) 13 hours ago, TheLowDown said: The HB B45FL is decent. There may well be better or equivalent ones for more money or around that price point, but I don't think you can go wrong with it for the price. I would also go along with the unlined because the only visual clue that is important are the side dots rather than craning his neck over the fretboard. If anything, my lined fretless requires extra and unnecessary mental processing when I look down at the side dots because I then have to do some spatial calculations to work out where the actual fret should be, whereas on the unlined this isn't the case. The only practical advantage(IMO) of the lined is that there is far more choice, so if he wants to go the 5 string route the lined may be the better option. I totally agree with this, if I play lined, I have to think about it, I have to aim for the lines like a target so you're always processing and conscious of aiming for the right spot, where as unlined you use your ear and rely on technique. Unlined for me is so much easier and a natural process. Edited January 14, 2023 by Linus27 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb625 Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 This is what I have: https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75fl_sb_vintage_series.htm You can hear it on this track (shameless plug) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 16 minutes ago, jimmyb625 said: This is what I have: https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75fl_sb_vintage_series.htm You can hear it on this track (shameless plug) I really like your band, I've just been listening to quite a few tracks on YouTube 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb625 Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 3 hours ago, Linus27 said: I really like your band, I've just been listening to quite a few tracks on YouTube 😁 Thank you very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 A second hand ESP LTD is a pretty good purchase. This is the new price .. https://www.thomann.de/gb/esp_ltd_b204sm_fl_natural_satin.htm I had that exact model in the past. Sold it here for under 300 quid. And this is what it sounds like : 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 (edited) Harley Benton Beatbass FL VS Vintage Series https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_beatbass_fl_vs_vintage_series.htm It sounds amazing, even when just DI'ed, all dry with nothing addtionally done to the signal, like the first half of this video: And the fretboard is Amaranth (Purpleheart), which is actually almost as hard as Ebony, and very very close to being just as stiff too. Edited January 15, 2023 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted January 28, 2023 Author Share Posted January 28, 2023 (edited) Sorted... Found a '03/04 Vintage V940 Fretless on Facebook Marketplace. NFBD Post to follow. Son is over the moon! Edited January 28, 2023 by PaulThePlug 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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