warwickhunt Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I've done a search on the forum that only really threw up one response to these basses. Who has one and what are they like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I've never had one, but I did some digging on them 12/18 months ago, Harmony Central and that sort of thing. General opinion then was that they look gorgeous and are pretty well made, but don't play or sound nearly as good as they should. Several reviewers described them as (effectively) a nice thing to have on display in your sitting room, but you wouldn't actually play it much. Now that's pretty third-hand opinion at this point, but you asked ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='92230' date='Nov 21 2007, 05:03 PM']I've never had one, but I did some digging on them 12/18 months ago, Harmony Central and that sort of thing. General opinion then was that they look gorgeous and are pretty well made, but don't play or sound nearly as good as they should. Several reviewers described them as (effectively) a nice thing to have on display in your sitting room, but you wouldn't actually play it much. Now that's pretty third-hand opinion at this point, but you asked ...[/quote] No that's no problem, I did ask. TBH this would be something for plonking on with in the house to work out basslines, rather than plugging in my praccy amp (not a great hardship I know but when all of your leads are cased up and in the garage etc). Aren't all basses nice things to have on display Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='92233' date='Nov 21 2007, 05:11 PM']No that's no problem, I did ask. TBH this would be something for plonking on with in the house to work out basslines, rather than plugging in my praccy amp (not a great hardship I know but when all of your leads are cased up and in the garage etc). Aren't all basses nice things to have on display [/quote] my dad's got one - a trans black dragonfly fretless five. the elaborate inlay could probably have been fitted a bit better, it's a bit rough looking in places, but it's quite well made generally and the quilted maple top looks nice through the black. the hardware is all quite good - i think it's a fishman pickup/preamp and chinese (probably) grovers. He gigs his regularly, DI'd into their small PA - to my ears it sounds very good, apparently the open B is a bit flappy, but the auld fella says he never goes any lower than the D. I notice that the use of a fat finger seems to improve the B though. For the money (about £350-£400 shipped in a case and miraculously bypassing HMRC), I think it's very good. I think Michael Kelly stuff is produced in the same place that makes Ashbury mandolins (MK mandolins look identical to me) and generally he's very happy with it - he's certianly not said anything about wanting to replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 The 4 stringers are a bit cheaper again, especially if they can arrive unimpeded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelagnostic Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I did some digging on the dragonfly too. Hard to find in Hingerland. After reading tons of info I came to the conclusion that, once you TIC the hassle of sourcing a 5, it was not that much of an upgrade from the Crafter BA580 I was playing at the time. I bought a Godin a5 instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I have a fretted Dragonfly 4. I use it around the house for noodling and practicing and I'm quite happy with it - got TI Jazz Flats on it. However, I did pick it up used for about £250 including a hardcase. If you were paying much more than that I think you might do better for the money on something else. Also, I've heard some horror stories about quality control too so if you get one you may or may not be lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacedabass Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 i bought one about two years ago, dragonfly 5 string fretless with case from sam ash in america. WARNING dont every use sam ash!! hehe, it arrived in two boxes, one for the bass and one for the case!! so inevitably my bass was damaged!! i had time to play around on it for a day before i sent it back( when i did i didnt get my full ammount back!) I dont think the low b was good, it was quite flappy, the workmanship and finish o fthe bass was very good,(except the damage to the body, by the couriers!) but the sound on the E-G was very warm, though not the loudest acoustic i've played(i spose this could be because it was fretless). But the neck was very smooth playing, and plugged into my amp it sounded excellent! I would like to try another one maybe 4 string, though i dont wanna ship it from america again! I am currently on the look out for another acoustic fretless, i am looking at tanglewood, cort, crafter and any others i can find, (which is quite hard). Though the dragonfly inlay looks the bees knees!! L8ers Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 [quote name='stacedabass' post='92876' date='Nov 22 2007, 05:04 PM']i bought one about two years ago, dragonfly 5 string fretless with case from sam ash in america. WARNING dont every use sam ash!! hehe, it arrived in two boxes, one for the bass and one for the case!![/quote] Grand Central in Michigan was the place that the auld fella's came from - they were very good and shipped the bass in the case in a great big box. I tried to buy a Stingray from them, but I assume they were following the dealer agreement and wouldn't ship one outside the US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I just bought a 5 fretless from Promenade Music for £250; I think they have a few more left if anyone is interested. Fit and finish is fairly so-so but the things that actually sold me were the playability (I typically use very low action and for an acoustic this certainly qualified right off the wall - far, far better than any of the Breedloves I've tried and to be honest better than any other acoustic bass I've ever played), and the sound, which I really liked. Mine reminds me a little of Stanley Clarke's upright tone, which may or may not be your cup of tea but which I love. In fact I played a few other basses next to it from a fretless Cort (marvellous neck but a bit thin-sounding) to an Overwater Perception 5, and quite honestly I preferred this. The B isn't fabulous (I wouldn't really expect it to be), but overall I really like it. The preamp is a Fishman Presys FWIW and the Rosetti site says the neck is graphite reinforced, which if true I was very surprised by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th231955 Posted July 9, 2020 Share Posted July 9, 2020 I've had my 4 string for about 10 yrs now! I can't understand why people have low opinions of this instrument! I've been playing for around 45 yrs now, and I don't know, maybe i got a very good one compared to what others have gotten! Flat wounds, it sounds so much like a Doghouse, people's heads turn when I play it! I got mine off of ebay with the hard case for 350 bucks! With my amp set just right it sounds great! I play out of a B 600 Carvin stack 4 10's and an 18 bottom...upgraded to a b1000 when i burnt the 600! First time I picked this guitar up , it was like I played it my whole life! My electric Bass is a G&L L-1000... I bought the G&L when it first came out in late fall 79, one of the first to be bought in our area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themoo Posted May 1, 2021 Share Posted May 1, 2021 I just received a fretless 4 string. Appalling! Action so high I could get Sadiq Khan's dad to drive his bus under the strings! Tried adjusting the neck but did nothing! It's going straight back. Shame. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim2291 Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 Late to the party... But I have got a fretted 4 string Dragonfly for my 18th birthday, its built well, sounds good and plays well! Obviously its different to play than an electric... but it's an acoustic bass so that's expected! Really happy with mine, been used on multiple recordings and a lot of gigs as well! When it's at home it has the added advantage of being the art on my wall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 Very nice, to rich for my blood... but i love my Harley Benton HBO850 bass with flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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