Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition Fretless 23-Inch Scale Electric MicroBass with Gig Bag (Limited)

The Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition is the fretless, limited matte-black version of Gold Tone’s beloved 23-inch scale electric MicroBass — and for upright players, jazz bassists, and travel musicians who want that smooth, vocal fretless tone in a 5.5-pound package, this is genuinely a different instrument from anything else at this price. The matte black finish on the mahogany body, neck, and headstock is paired with the black hardware that has always been part of the ME-Bass family, and it looks every bit as serious on stage as a full-scale fretless.

The fretless platform here is no afterthought. A walnut fingerboard with subtle position lines gives you the visual reference you need without the bright clack of fretwire — and the active MBass preamp with 9V EQ (volume, treble boost, bass boost) brings out exactly the kind of expressive, mwah-rich tone that fretless players chase. The same long-throw adjustable bridge that works with the fretted ME-Bass is here, so you can run Aquila MicroBass Thunderblack polymer strings (highly recommended for fretless — they’re easy on the fingerboard) or switch to steel strings if you prefer. Butterfly bass-style tuners, a 1-11/16-inch bone nut, two-way adjustable truss rod, and a single-cutaway mahogany body keep the rest of the spec sheet exactly where you’d want it.

Every ME-BassFL receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone’s facility in Titusville, Florida — particularly important on a fretless, where action height and intonation directly determine whether the bass speaks cleanly. What arrives at your door has been individually checked, not just shipped from a warehouse shelf.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer with full manufacturer warranty coverage. I’m Geoff Hohwald — I’ve spent more than 45 years in this industry, co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market), and co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard with the Gold Tone team. The ME-BassFL Black Edition is part of a limited production run. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans with no late fees.

Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition Specifications

Brand	Gold Tone
Model	ME-BassFL (Black Edition)
Handedness	Right-Handed
Finish	Matte Black (Limited Black Edition)
Top	Mahogany
Back & Sides	Mahogany
Neck Material	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Walnut (Fretless / Lined)
Frets	Fretless
Inlay	Dot
Truss Rod	Two-Way Adjustable
Nut Width	1-11/16" Bone
Tuners	Butterfly Bass-Style
Tuning Buttons	Metal
Bridge	Ebony with adjustable string compensation
Hardware	Black
Pickup	MBass Preamp w/ Active 9V EQ (Volume, Treble Boost, Bass Boost)
Scale Length	23"
Tuning	EADG
Strings	Aquila MicroBass Thunderblack Polymer (also accepts steel)
Number of Strings	4
Weight	5.5 lbs.
Bag	Padded Gig Bag Included

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Aquila polymer strings damage the walnut fretless fingerboard?

Quite the opposite — Aquila MicroBass Thunderblack strings are an ideal match for fretless playing because they’re far gentler on a wood fingerboard than roundwound steel. Most fretless ME-BassFL players keep the polymer strings on permanently for exactly this reason. If you do want to use steel strings, flatwounds are the safer choice — they wear the fingerboard much more slowly than roundwounds.

How does the Black Edition fretless differ from the natural-finish ME-BassFL?

The hardware, electronics, fingerboard, scale length, and setup are identical. The only differences are cosmetic: matte black finish on the body, neck, and headstock instead of the natural satin finish. Tone, playability, and setup are all the same.

Is this a good first fretless for a player coming from fretted bass?

Honestly, yes. The 23-inch scale and the position lines on the walnut fingerboard make the transition far easier than jumping straight to a 34-inch unlined fretless. The shorter scale also means your intonation errors are less audible than they’d be on a full-scale instrument, which is forgiving while you’re learning to trust your ear. Many players use the ME-BassFL as a permanent practice tool for fretless technique even after they own larger instruments.

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