Fretless Bass Suggestions: Cort or Ibanez

C-LYDE

Hi all.

I have my sights on a reasonably priced fretless bass. I have tried out the Cort B4FL

http://www.cort.co.kr/english/products/common/view.asp?product_id=82

- really nice, but was wondering whether anybody here has played on the Ibanez GWB model?

My suspicion is that the sound will not be that much different - in fact the Cort is probably more versatile (2 pu vs 1) - but the fret markers are tempting for a fretless newbie like myself.
Also not sure how different the neck feels - the Ibanez Gary Willis model is slighter wider?

AlanRatcliffe

The Ibanez have a good rep, but I'd go for the Cort. Better woods, better electronics. Played one a while ago and added it to my want list.

C-LYDE

Thanks Alan

Did you manage to play the Ibanez though? does anyone have them in stock?

AlanRatcliffe

I haven't tried the Ibanez. I rarely bother trying the Ibanez basses (the exception being the old through neck Artist models). I don't like the tonality the modern ones all seem to have - very twangy, relying on the preamp to boost the bass freqs rather than building it into the bass. One of my few biases...

C-LYDE

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I haven't tried the Ibanez. I rarely bother trying the Ibanez basses (the exception being the old through neck Artist models). I don't like the tonality the modern ones all seem to have - very twangy, relying on the preamp to boost the bass freqs rather than building it into the bass. One of my few biases...

Interesting... I'd love to try them though to form my own opinion - do you know if Bothners or anyone is currently bringing them in?

AlanRatcliffe

Fair enough - my bias is based more on the Sound Gear basses anyway. T.O.M.S. in JHB are the importer - I don't think Bothner's will have a fairly esoteric instrument like a fretless bass in Ibanez in stock.

AlanRatcliffe

Hey! There's a Cort on CT Gumtree for R1,500 this morning. Hmmm...
http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Cort-B4-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-W0QQAdIdZ98318915

C-LYDE

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Hey! There's a Cort on CT Gumtree for R1,500 this morning. Hmmm...
http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Cort-B4-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-W0QQAdIdZ98318915

Yeah I'm all over it like brown on chocolate... 8)

AlanRatcliffe

If you don't, I may well...

Bob-Dubery

C.LYDE wrote: Hi all.

I have my sights on a reasonably priced fretless bass. I have tried out the Cort B4FL

One way to widen your options would be to consider buying a fretted instrument and having it converted. This can be done so that the lines where the frets were are filled with a contrasting material, thus serving as markers. Speak to your local trusty repair man.

C-LYDE

Bob Dubery wrote:
C.LYDE wrote: Hi all.

I have my sights on a reasonably priced fretless bass. I have tried out the Cort B4FL

One way to widen your options would be to consider buying a fretted instrument and having it converted. This can be done so that the lines where the frets were are filled with a contrasting material, thus serving as markers. Speak to your local trusty repair man.

True - tried a friend's converted Washburn for a while...
Placing one's finger on the 'old' fret position was misleading as the note is slightly flat - it sounded better to place it on the fret bar position. Hence my curiosity as what Ibanez have done with the fret markers. Did they offset the position so that one plays like a normal bass?

Midinut

I have a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass Fretless - check it out at the link below. These basses are excellent ... virtually perfect and better made and finished than the Fender MIM basses I have seen. I only changed the bridge to a more substantial Gotoh which is similar to a Badass (but cheaper!). The bass comes with Seymour Duncan designed pickups (cheaper version of the real thing) but they are super sounding. The fretboard has thin white lines and is made of ebonol which is almost like bakelite - smooth as hell and very hard.

Something you have to bear in mind is that most fretless players try and emulate the Jaco sound - that means tone backed off on the bass, rear pickup volume flat out, amp bass and low mids turned up. The rest is in your hands ... err .. fingers ... you got to make it sing! And you have to play ON the line, not behind it as with fretted basses. Also the idea is to almost use the hand vibrato technique to "feel" you way onto the note ... that is part of the fretless way of life!

I may just part with mine as I have just got a third 6-string bass and harldy play the fretless.

http://www.muz.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=91_92&products_id=2266