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Are you in the market for a great fretless bass?
Looking for the best fretless bass guitar on the market today?
If you want to experience more freedom and versatility as a bassist, buying a fretless bass is a no-brainer. These amazing instruments can be a lot of fun to play and as you grow in your playing you’ll eventually want to have one to play for yourself.
Below we’ll give you our list of the very best fretless bass guitars on the market today.
Best Fretless Bass Guitars – Quick View
| Image | Model | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ESP LTD B-204SM FL Spalted Maple Fretless Bass Guitar | Check Price on Amazon |  |
 | Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass | Check Price on Amazon | |
 | Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Bass Guitar | Check Price on Amazon | |
 | NS Designs Fretless Bass Guitar | Check Price on Amazon |
Top Fretless Basses – REVIEWED
Ready to find the perfect fretless bass? Here’s our list.
1. ESP LTD B-204SM FL Spalted Maple Fretless Bass Guitar
The ESP LTD B-204SM FL Spalted Maple Fretless Bass Guitar is the first fretless bass on our list. The guitar features a natural satin finish and a top that features spalted maple that simply looks great.
Ideal for intermediate bassists, this is a very versatile bass guitar. While this is a fretless bass, the instrument does have fret markers which make playing a bit easier.
This guitar has a tone that is usually only found in more expensive instruments. The bass offers plenty of control over the tone with the 5 control knobs.
Unfortunately, this bass doesn’t come with a case, so you’ll have to buy that separately.
2. Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass
The next fretless bass on our list is the Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. This bass is very easy to play and functions well, offering bassists everything they need to get a great tone.
This bass has a great design and some pretty impressive workmanship that players will love. The build of this bass is great and it features high-quality materials.
The sound of this Fender bass is pretty nice and you’ll love its tone. Two single-coil pickups are included on this bass. The instrument also features three knobs that allow for plenty of control over the bass tone.
3. Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Bass Guitar
The Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Bass Guitar is another fretless bass that is well worth a look if you’re in the market for one of these instruments.
This Fender bass has a sunburst color and a lacquer finish that makes the instrument really stand out. It has an Alder body along with a solid maple neck. This guitar is well-made and is very sturdy.
The Fender Jaco Pastorius also boats high-quality chrome bass tuners and reverse knobs. The bass also has a vintage saddle bass bridge system. Included with this instrument is a strap as well as a 1/4″ cable.
This is truly a professional instrument in every sense of the word and is on the high-end of what you can expect from a fretless bass. The price of this instrument is a bit steep, but the quality and sound of this instrument will be well worth it for serious musicians.
4. NS Designs Fretless Bass Guitar
The last fretless bass on our list is the NS Designs Fretless Bass Guitar. This bass is available as either a 4-string or 5-string and comes in several different colors.
This fretless bass guitar features a one-piece maple build and has a carbon-fiber core. Also worth noting is that this pickup is really impressive and features an 18V onboard preamp.
This is a high-end bass and you’ll truly feel like a professional when you have it in your hands. You can achieve some really great tones with this bass. While this instrument doesn’t come cheap, it has a lot to offer in both quality and features.
The tuning system of this bass is incredibly unique. Instead of tuning using the pegs at the top of the guitar you’ll be turning knobs at the bass of the bass guitar’s bridge.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best fretless bass guitar out there, you don’t have to look further than this list. The bass guitars above will give you everything you need in a fretless bass and aren’t likely to disappoint both intermediate and advanced players alike.
Looking for a great acoustic bass instead? Click here to see our list of the best acoustic bass guitars on the market today.
Hi, I’m Harrison! I created this website to help musicians navigate the ins and outs of their craft and to help them choose new instruments and gear to add to their collection. I have 15 years of experience as a guitarist and singer and have also played many other instruments throughout the years including the bass guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.