Fretless reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 131 Reddit reviews across 2 subreddits and 28 posts to rank the best Fretless brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Bass, r/synthesizers. Top-rated brands include Ibanez (4.5/5), Harley Benton (3.9/5), Sire (4.7/5).
Stats
Reviews131
Subreddits2
Posts28
Brands37
Products90
131 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Ibanez
4.5
(30)
"Ibanez SRF700 is a good one. Colloquially known as a Portamento. I have the six string version SRF706 and it is my #1 bass even though I rarely if ever use the high C."
"Ibanez SRF700 is good. I enjoy playing it more than the fretless fender jazz bass I had."
"Glorious instruments."
"The Ibanez Portamento is also great if you want an unlined Fretless."
"The Black Ibanez Gary Willis Fretless is really nice and costs $949."
"The 6 string version of this bass, the SRF706, is a regular production model, not exclusive to any one dealer. I have one."
"The Ibanez SRF705F is a wonderful fretless bass with side markings."
"I play without fretlines. It’s not like there’s zero side dots or anything like on a double bass. F Bass AC5. I love this Ibanez."
"Ibanez GWB35 is awesome!!! Smooth as hell"
"Check out the Ibanez SRF705 Portamento. It's at the top end of your budget but has both the normal humbucker arrangement and a piezo pickup."
#2
Harley Benton
3.9
(15)
"I have the HBZ 2005 FL. It looks and sounds good, and the value is hard to beat."
"Really like my Harley Benton fretless. Super heavy, but it sounds and plays great and gives me the fretless sound I’m hearing in my head."
"You could look at Harley Benton. They have a few fretless models."
"The HBs are generally very good for their price. I love that I can play rounds on it and not really care that I’m digging into something that costs $1000+. The only downside is they are a bit heavy, but for someone getting into fretless they are a great choice."
"Consider the Harley Benton fretless. It's around 100-150€, looks great (Jaco's finish) and feels pretty good to play."
"A Harley Benton. Under £200 even with shipping to the US, and a fine instrument right out of the box."
"If you don't mind a heavyweight instrument and want to save some change, the Harley Benton JB-40FL is surprisingly good."
"I just bought Harley Benton (yeah I know) fretless deluxe, it was just 150$!"
"I'm very happy with it, sound, looks and materials are great for the price."
"I was definitely impressed by the quality; Thomanm/Harley Benton have really changed the game when it comes to beginner/budget instruments."
#3
Sire
4.7
(11)
"Sire V5 fretless. If I wanted to buy a fretless, it would be my first choice 100%."
"For a bit more you can get an EXCELLENT Sire Marcus Miller bass."
"Sire makes some affordable fretless basses. I love mine."
"Sire fretless! No question about it"
"Sire P7 fretless is an excellent choice."
"Sire basses are fantastic"
"Sire has great fretless options. The M series is more modern which is right up your alley."
"A great affordable choice is the Sire V7 fretless 5 - this is my go to bass now."
"Sire P5 Fretless Precision"
"I don't think you could go wrong with a Sire Marcus Miller M5 or M7 fretless."
#4
DR
5.0
(6)
"DR Sunbeams are my favorite for round-core (lower tension) feel."
"The legend himself Tony Franklin apparently uses DR sun beams."
"DR Sunbeams."
"If you like Tony Franklin, he’s been playing DR Sunbeams for like 40 years."
"I like DR Sunbeams on my Tony Franklin PJ."
"I like DR Sunbeams on mine."
#5
Squier
4.3
(7)
"I recently got a Squier fretless jazz and I’ve been really happy with it."
"Mine's a Squier VM 60s P bass and it punches way, way above its price point."
"The Squire is dope so springing for a Fender… the bridge and pickups are probably a little better."
"A used squier fretless can be found for about $300 exactly."
"Squier Classic Vibes '60s Fretless Jazz"
"Squier Classic Vibe 60's Fretless Jazz Bass"
"If you can find one secondhand the Squier VM Jazz is the best value for money fretless under $1k."
#6
Warwick
4.2
(5)
"I just got a Warwick Rockbass Streamer. Love it."
"My main bass is a Warwick Corvette from the early 90s."
"Warwick Corvette $$"
"I got to fiddlefuck around with a fretless Warwick Corvette at a music store opening."
"The next in line is the Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic 6 for about €1000, also out of stock for the next couple of months."
#7
LaBella
5.0
(4)
"La Bella, if you want heavy guage."
"Labella. It was always Labella."
"Labella Deep Talkin’ Flats."
"I’ve kept labella deep talkin flats on mine and love em."
#8
Yamaha
4.3
(4)
"I played a Yamaha RBX260f for about 20 years. Bass was like $250, and a set of Bartolini pickups were about $90, I think. Loved that bass."
"I picked up a used Yamaha RBX260F for around 185 (usd). I am learning fretless and it suits my beginner needs perfectly."
"Yamaha TRB5IIF -- Awesome. Out of production though."
"Yamaha TRB1005F -- Also out of production."
#9
Carvin
4.3
(4)
"The OMG is a Carvin Icon fretless I got for a steal at the local guitar shop. $500 CAD."
"Carvin LB and AC series USA-made fretless basses are often available at very reasonable prices. Some have ebony fretboards."
"I got a used Carvin LB-76F for $400 with a tweed hardshell case. There are deals out there if you look and wait."
"Finally found a Carvin LB75 and it's nice."
#10
ESP Ltd
4.7
(3)
"I think the best budget option is the ESP Ltd B-204SMFL. I have the 5 string version and love it."
"I have the ESP Ltd B205SM, which sounds and feels great, also put some LaBellas black tapes and man it plays smooth like silk. Would certainly recommend that or the 4 string version if you prefer."
"I played an ESP LTD B205 for many years and loved it. They also make a fretless model."
#11
Kiesel
4.3
(3)
"It's the best bass I've ever played."
"I did own a different Kiesel fretless years ago and it was very nice as well."
"I believe all of their headless models are available as fretless."
#12
G&L
3.7
(3)
"G&L Tribute series Kiloton"
"You can get a fretless G&L Kiloton for $700. It's passive so it won't quite nail the Music Man sound but it's pretty close with the MFD pickup."
"G&L tribute Kiloton."
#13
Zon
5.0
(2)
"If you want the best fretless look at Zon."
"The two best fretless basses I've ever played were made by Zon."
#14
Cort
5.0
(2)
"Cort A4 and B4 are sick in fretless."
"I’m very happy with my Cort B4 FL MHPZ. It is a great semi-hollow fretless that plays and feels like a solid body."
#15
Rotosound
4.5
(2)
"I find that they sing more and have more mwah than any flatwound I've tried."
"Get some rotosounds and be done with it."
#16
Fender
4.5
(2)
"This was my first as well. Really played wonderfully."
"Uptick for my V7."
#17
Stagg
3.0
(3)
"Stagg has a couple fretless basses in that price range, the bc300fl would also be unlined."
"BC300 FL Stagg. Cheap, light weight, PJ set-up and no fret lines(just the dots on the edge). Everything is average about it, but I enjoy it's dimensions the most."
"On the lower budget side there's the Stag SBF-40 that has a humbucker + Jazz pickups and Harley Benton as well."
#18
Schecter
4.0
(2)
"For about $1k the Schecter Stiletto seems to get good marks."
"The Stiletto is my favorite."
#19
Revelation
4.0
(2)
"The Revelation RPJ-77 is a really good fretless, from experience. You get what you pay for and has a nice sound."
"Mine's a Revelation PJ, budget but really nice to play. Unlined too."
#20
ESP
3.5
(2)
"I got the esp ltd fretless. Was afraid I would regret it, since I never played fretless except for a bit o violin, but just love the sound of fretless."
"I have an ESP five-string fretless on order from sweetwater - it's supposed to be here in a month."
#21
Rogue
3.5
(2)
"People are quite impressed with the new Rogue fretless, which is about $100."
"At your price range there's the Rogue LX200BF and maybe a few Harley Benton models."
#22
Brice
3.5
(2)
"Look into the brand Brice, i used to have a pristine 6 string fretless i got off fb marketplace for like 400$"
"Brice, and Harley Benton are the two brands that I know of that make an inexpensive fretless you could purchase easily online."
#23
Tokai
5.0
(1)
"Any Tokai. Period. I got a fretless, made in Japan Tokai JB and it's just as good, if not better than the most expensive Fenders I've played"
#24
Tony Franklin
5.0
(1)
"I have a Tony Franklin fretless Precision, and I love it."
#25
Music Man
5.0
(1)
"My main bass for ~15 years is a fretless Music Man Sterling, it's a great instrument."
#26
F Bass
5.0
(1)
"You want the best fretless? F Bass is probably the answer."
#27
Spectrasonics
5.0
(1)
"I love the fretless bass in that."
#28
Digitone
5.0
(1)
"I programmed a fretless bass sound on my digitone in a couple minutes that is the best I've heard."
#29
Washburn
4.0
(1)
"I bought a Washburn T14 Taurus Fretless for under $300 Canadian."
#30
MTD
4.0
(1)
"MTD's fretless version of the Kingston Z6 is around $1,500 USD."
#31
Bacchus
4.0
(1)
"I have a fretless Bacchus jazz bass from kijiji(canadas craiglist equivalent) for 300 and I love it."
#32
Gary Willis
4.0
(1)
"In the same brand, the Gary Willis GWB35 also gets good marks, for what you pay."
#33
Native Instruments
4.0
(1)
"Has a nice upright bass in the Band collection."
#34
Roland Cloud
4.0
(1)
"Has some nice basses."
#35
Thomann
3.0
(1)
"Thomann makes a budget - 170~€ - non lined 6s fretless. Depends what you mean with "good" I suppose."
#36
Musiciansfriend
3.0
(1)
"Check out Musiciansfriend stupid deal of the day. Fretless 4 string bass for $99 here is the link"
#37
Dean
3.0
(1)
"Check out the Ibanez AEB5FE or Dean EAB."
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