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!

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

10 hours ago, Hellzero said:

And this showed up today in the Netherlands:

https://link.marktplaats.nl/m2343556955

 

This seems to be the best ,and I’m tempted . Of course I don’t know if I’d have a chance due to the shipping costs etc and whether the seller would ship to uk .

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

10 hours ago, BassApprentice said:

 

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!

Good points ! My Washburn status is a bit deceptive though . Whenever anyone sees that they say what a lovely bass , followed by “ that’s heavy !”🙂

[tauzero]

On 04/12/2025 at 10:26, Linus27 said:

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.

 

Sharpie.

[pn_day]

1 hour ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

This seems to be the best ,and I’m tempted . Of course I don’t know if I’d have a chance due to the shipping costs etc and whether the seller would ship to uk .

I've got almost the same bass (mine is unlined) - I ended up swapping the pickups (as the default hum buckers were lacking in clarity) and stripping out the (dodgy) electronics to convert to passive, along with giving the fingerboard a wee sand down as it had some dings and flat spots on it. Great option for a lightweight and portable fretless.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:54 by pn_day

[agoulding]

On 10/12/2025 at 22:22, BassApprentice said:

 

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!

 

Interesting!

 

I tried an older Status at Bass Bros a few months back....I was actually shocked how heavy it was. It also played like 💩. Not my cup of tea. However I'd really like to try one of those ibanez headless jobbies. I would look seriously uncool playing it I reckon though.

 

[BassAgent]

On 04/12/2025 at 11:26, Linus27 said:

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.

 

These are very very good, however: I tested two of these for De Bassist (bass magazine) and the difference between the Ibanez pickups and the Nordstrand alternative is significant. I'd definitely invest in a set of better pickups if you go for this one. Otherwise: excellent bass.

[Linus27]

53 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

These are very very good, however: I tested two of these for De Bassist (bass magazine) and the difference between the Ibanez pickups and the Nordstrand alternative is significant. I'd definitely invest in a set of better pickups if you go for this one. Otherwise: excellent bass.

 

I've heard of a few others doing the same and changing out the stock pickups which I believe are Bartolini's.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I have a couple of things to add ..

Imho the status look way better than the Ibanez . That blue just looks uninviting. Looking at the necks of those and the cort space basses, it looks to me that the neck on my Washburn status is better quality 🤔. Are the necks of the Ibanez really that different ?? I have seen people having issues  with the Ibanez basses with marks on the neck - plus having issues changing strings causing scratch marks on the neck .Quality control has been mentioned about them .

 

just looking at that last pic of the Ibanez fretless . The tuning knobs look much better placed than the cort space basses ,and  Hillman which look awful imho .

Edited 1 hour ago by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

[lemmywinks]

3 hours ago, Linus27 said:

 

I've heard of a few others doing the same and changing out the stock pickups which I believe are Bartolini's.

 

Licensed (read Cort built) Bartolinis like the old Mk series, tbh they might work for fretless more than on fretted. They don't sound like real Barts though, a shame as the Cort/Ibanez CND pickups sound like proper Nordstrands.

 

 

Other possible outlays on the EHB series are replacing the stock knobs (horrid plastic things) and the need for a better gigbag than the one it comes with.