Headless/ fretless bass for less than £1k

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

What’s out there ??

[Linus27]

Ibanez is probably your easy off the shelf option and comes in under a £1000. Its fretless but does have lines on the top of the board so technically a lined fretless. It also only comes as a 5 string option. Very good basses and I'd love one if it wasn't lined.

 

[pn_day]

Or look for a 2nd hand Steinberger copy 'cricket bat' from the 80s by Hohner (B2) or others (the wooden through-neck versions). You might have to strip out the electronics, but the actual cricket bat part should still be fine. 

 

 

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

3 hours ago, pn_day said:

Or look for a 2nd hand Steinberger copy 'cricket bat' from the 80s by Hohner (B2) or others (the wooden through-neck versions). You might have to strip out the electronics, but the actual cricket bat part should still be fine. 

 

 

I’ve seen many of those basses , and had a hohner cricket bat . It’s just that it’s hard to find a fretless version these days . 

[Hellzero]

If you don't mind (that much) paying import taxes, there are quite often some second hand headless fretless basses on zikinf.com or bassic.de or mercatinomusicale.com ...

[Hellzero]

These, in your price tag, are on Mercatino Musicale at the moment:

 

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_cort-b2-fretless_id8205089.html

 

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_ibanez-ehb1005f-5-string-fretless-bass_id8272522.html

 

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_marleaux-betra-headless-fretless_id8265629.html

 

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_laurus-stylish-fretless_id8265614.html

 

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_vendesi-laurus-stylish-fretless-4-corde-ribasso_id7705996.html

 

[pn_day]

There are a few options on eBay. Chyla basses has one up for sale (30" fretless) or there is an old Aria Sinsonido. 

 

 

[Hellzero]

And this ... bass is on Kleinanzeigen in Germany:

 

https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/bass-gitarre-rockinger-fretless/3224745765-74-8511

 

[binky_bass]

Below is a headless, fretless, bodyless and neckless bass I made, you're welcome to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ead]

3 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Below is a headless, fretless, bodyless and neckless bass I made, you're welcome to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love the overall look of this, just not keen on the colour.  If you put it down, how do you ever find it?

 

May something that Hotblack Desiato from Disaster Area may find interesting.

[ead]

This on evilbay:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177635234310?_skw=fretless+bass+guitar&itmmeta=01KBQ1RSNA2SAKE57B7HM3YPPA&hash=item295be29206%3Ag%3AikQAAeSwkbto7nWi&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cB4xQ2Uk9MV%2FwPEzUPbdX5OGVXsyzO1vpAOf9WBRoX1kNgng3x98jHb3SPLnqZ2%2BxgX8%2FwQn1E2b4UN5sF9ugTZCEuy1lbm9VZFYRNvP7SYThcf%2F2XpY9S6xALNAeIIiccOchPHUSVPiqL6IqJ8sBGXr0Ig8u2CrGHirCiTWNavF5%2BwNfD9ZYJsvXLFZRB77FOOdohUiY9iZOcMmXIxh2E4o82j3yI46LfjV9Bj50Dex%2Bk%2FvAE%2BUd%2FKjkPiPRsEMs%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_ia4-HdZg&LH_ItemCondition=3000

[pn_day]

1 hour ago, ead said:

This on evilbay:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177635234310?_skw=fretless+bass+guitar&itmmeta=01KBQ1RSNA2SAKE57B7HM3YPPA&hash=item295be29206%3Ag%3AikQAAeSwkbto7nWi&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cB4xQ2Uk9MV%2FwPEzUPbdX5OGVXsyzO1vpAOf9WBRoX1kNgng3x98jHb3SPLnqZ2%2BxgX8%2FwQn1E2b4UN5sF9ugTZCEuy1lbm9VZFYRNvP7SYThcf%2F2XpY9S6xALNAeIIiccOchPHUSVPiqL6IqJ8sBGXr0Ig8u2CrGHirCiTWNavF5%2BwNfD9ZYJsvXLFZRB77FOOdohUiY9iZOcMmXIxh2E4o82j3yI46LfjV9Bj50Dex%2Bk%2FvAE%2BUd%2FKjkPiPRsEMs%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR_ia4-HdZg&LH_ItemCondition=3000

 

That one has been on eBay for a while - so the seller may be amenable to a lower offer. 

 

If I didn't already have a similar-looking cricket bat (mine in black from Hohner) I might have had a pop. As it is somebody else can have an emergency, easily-transportable fretless that also doubles as a door stop or weapon.

 

 

[tauzero]

From down under: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167375511813

[agoulding]

The more I look at these newer headless basses, the more I feel tempted. Especially the ibanez. 

What has actually reignited the interest in these in recent years?...pardon my ignorance. Some really lovely headless basses out there now.

[Hellzero]

And this showed up today in the Netherlands:

https://link.marktplaats.nl/m2343556955

 

[BassApprentice]

On 07/12/2025 at 22:00, agoulding said:

The more I look at these newer headless basses, the more I feel tempted. Especially the ibanez. 

What has actually reignited the interest in these in recent years?...pardon my ignorance. Some really lovely headless basses out there now.

 

The pursuit for lightweight basses I presume.

It could just be here - but you'll notice one of the first questions asked on a sale advert is "What's the weight?". Headless basses by nature, tend to be lighter. Even websites like Sweetwater show the weight of nearly every bass they have in stock so the buyer can choose the option that suits them.

 

It's also provides a more modern look IMO. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea. Nice to have options though!