Question What Music Man bass makes the best fretless?

[melvin7822]

I asked this question over on the TB forums and I'm curious to know what you guys think as well. I have no experience with Music Man fretless basses, but I was thinking that a Bongo Hp would be pretty sweet as a fretless. What do you think?

 

[adouglas]

Works for me.

 

[ivbenaplayin]

Bongo Hp would be a sweet fretless indeed...

 

[davidjbass]

I think any Musicman fretless is awesome. I have owned a Stingray 4 and Stingray 5 fretless but I now own a Big Al 5 single H fretless. I have to admit that I love the 4 band e.q., the active/passive switch and the series/parallel controls. They give my Big Al 5 loads of tonal possibilities. It by far is the best Musicman fretless I have ever owned.

 

[dmarotta]

I use two different Bongo 5 fretless Basses. One is the HH and the other is the HS. They are both great and since I favor the rear pickup they sound pretty close. The HH lives in Germany and I share it with Cliff Hugo so I use the HS in the States. I have tried the Stingray fretless and the Big Al and they both have they own voice and sound great as well. A single H Big Al 5 would be high on my wish list. I have been using the coated EB strings and love they but the flats are great also.

 

[Moose308]

While I am a big fan of the Bongo, I must say this. A while back a used trans-red Stingray 5 Hp unlined fretless came into the local store. I am not a fretless player, but I thought I should try it out, just because I could. I spent about 20 minutes noodling on it, and was VERY impressed with the tones coming out of it. I put it put it back on the hanger, and told myself that I am not a fretless player.

A few days later, I was thinking just how awesome it sounded. And how hard can playing fretless really be. I returned to the store, cash in hand, ready to walk out with it. It was gone.

I still kick myself for missing that one. It sounded that good.

 

[melvin7822]

I think any Musicman fretless is awesome. I have owned a Stingray 4 and Stingray 5 fretless but I now own a Big Al 5 single H fretless. I have to admit that I love the 4 band e.q., the active/passive switch and the series/parallel controls. They give my Big Al 5 loads of tonal possibilities. It by far is the best Musicman fretless I have ever owned.

I almost forgot about the 4-band EQ. A Bongo Hp would have the 4 band, so now I'm almost certain that's what I'd go for. Since I really want a fretless with piezo and 4 band EQ, looks like a Bongo Hp is definitely in the works for me.

 

[jlepre]

I once owned an unlined Bongo HHp and I absolutely loved the tonal pallet. I would still have her but financial hardship forced me to sell...

 

[MrMusashi]

i like my sr4 30th fretless.. mahogany goodness!

MrM

 

[maddog]

Bongo

 

[Duarte]

Bongo HSp.

Never actually tried a fretless one, but the one I got here wishes it didn't have frets...

 

[Manfloozy]

25th/Reflexs don't suck either! The Bongo HSp is very tasty too.

 

[oli@bass]

I found that with fretless, the difference in woods is even more pronounced, and each instrument, even the same model with the same features, has its own personality and voice. As with the fretted, the StingRay HH is my personal favorite, but I'd love to try a Big Al SSS.

 

[drTStingray]

This one's pretty damn good..............

'93 SR4 - an EBMM Classic IMO.

 

[AnthonyD]

Anything that ends in 'p'...

 

[danny-79]

Its a lined board that I'm after really as not having much dealing with fret less but Ive seen this on the bay: Musicman Stingray Ernie Ball Unlined Fretless Bass Neck on eBay (end time 15-May-10 14:46:46 BST)
Just having an ask at what you guys think.

 

[TheAntMan]

I would definitely go for a 25th / Reflex to get the Active/Passive, 4 Band EQ and pickup selections of that bass.

I am hoping that the reflex will be available in Stealth once I get the money together. Can you imagine a fretless Reflex stealth with Ebony board -- WOW!

If not that then it will be a Bongo Fretless stealth HS (Piezo not option on Stealths).

--Ant

 

[skybass]

I like my little Sterling.

 

[five7]

This one's pretty damn good..............

'93 SR4 - an EBMM Classic IMO.

WoW!!! True beauty!

 

[kompressaur]

Its a lined board that I'm after really as not having much dealing with fret less but Ive seen this on the bay: Musicman Stingray Ernie Ball Unlined Fretless Bass Neck on eBay (end time 15-May-10 14:46:46 BST)
Just having an ask at what you guys think.

I dont like the way the rosewood ends at the nut and other stuff like the look of the 3 bits of maple .maybe its a good player, though it does seem way overpriced.

I'd go with any of the following 3 options rather than the no name neck

1/get a used SUB and have it defretted
2/buy a used SR4 neck.they do pop up on ebay every now and then
3/buy a new Status graphite MM replacement neck,(lined f/less is an option)

Komp