Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition Fretless 23-Inch Scale Electric MicroBass with Gig Bag (Limited)
$629.99
On order from Gold Tone. We don’t have this one in the warehouse right now — placing an order reserves you a unit from the incoming batch. Lead times vary by model, so get in touch before you buy and we’ll tell you where this run currently stands.
The limited Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition is the fretless, matte-black version of Gold Tone’s 23-inch scale electric MicroBass. Walnut fretless fingerboard, active 9V MBass preamp, adjustable bridge, and Aquila Thunderblack polymer strings — a real fretless bass voice in a 5.5-pound travel package. Professionally set up at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, FL. Limited run.
On Backorder
Watch the demo
At a Glance
- Handedness
- Right-Handed
- Style
- MicroBass
- Strings
- 4
- Scale Length
- 23"
- Pickup
- Yes
- Made In
- China
- Weight
- 5.5 lbs
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. The ME-BassFL Black Edition is part of a limited production run. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4 and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans with no late fees, plus Afterpay.
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.
Want to know when new Gold Tone limited editions arrive? Join our email list: Sign up here.
Videos
Be the first to review “Gold Tone ME-BassFL Black Edition Fretless 23-Inch Scale Electric MicroBass with Gig Bag (Limited)”
You must be logged in to post a review.
Related products
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone GT-750 Banjitar Deluxe — a premium six-string banjo guitar built for players who want serious volume, long sustain, and that unmistakable chime-y banjo voice through a guitar-style instrument. The 20-hole bell brass tone ring, curly maple resonator, and included SMP sliding magnetic pickup set it well apart from entry-level banjitars. Every GT-750/L ships with a professional factory setup from Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and a hard case is included.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone GME-4, a double-cutaway solid body electric mandolin built for players who want real amplified grunt — from Texas Swing and hillbilly jazz to rock and roll. The alder body, dual-rail mini humbucker, and ZeroGlide nut make this a serious working instrument at a seriously approachable price. Includes a padded gig bag and is professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida before shipping.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone CC-Mini Cripple Creek Mini Banjo — a compact, fully playable 8-inch banjo that's perfect for travel or for young players just starting out. Tuned to C (like the fifth fret of a full-sized banjo), it plays and sounds like a real banjo in a smaller package. Professionally set up at the Gold Tone factory in Titusville, Florida before shipping, so it arrives ready to play.
The Gold Tone CC-50RP/L is the left-handed version of the CC-50RP Cripple Creek resonator banjo, featuring Gotoh-style planetary tuners, a rolled brass tone ring, convertible resonator/openback design, and a ZeroGlide nut. Purpose-built for left-handed players. Professionally set up at Banjo Warehouse. Gig bag included.
![Gold Tone CC-100R+-L - 1-front [gt-variant:1189]](https://banjowarehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1-front-3-510x1020.jpg)
![Gold Tone CC-100R+-L - 10-back [gt-variant:1189]](https://banjowarehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/10-back-3-510x1020.jpg)
The Gold Tone CC-100R+/L is the left-handed version of one of the best-selling beginner and intermediate banjos ever made — over 25,000 Cripple Creek banjos have found their way into pickers' hands worldwide. Built with a hard maple neck and rim, real rosewood fretboard, dual coordinator rods, and a brass rod tone ring, it punches well above its price class. Every one receives a professional factory setup at Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida so it plays great right out of the box.
The Gold Tone M-BassFL is a fretless acoustic-electric MicroBass with a compact 23-inch scale, Aquila Thunderblack rubber strings, and a built-in preamp with EQ — all in a lightweight 2.8-pound body. It's an remarkably versatile instrument for upright-style bass tone in a travel-friendly package. Every M-BassFL is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone BB-400+ Banjo Bass — a genuinely exciting instrument that brings the warm, punchy voice of an acoustic bass banjo to gigging and recording bassists. Built around a 14-inch three-ply maple rim with a rolled-brass flat-bar tone ring and Gold Tone's internal sliding magnetic pickup, the BB-400+ delivers full, resonant bass tones that cut through any mix. It is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL, hard shell case included, and financing options available.
The Gold Tone M-Bass is a compact, lightweight acoustic-electric bass that delivers genuine low-end depth on a 23-inch scale — ideal for players who want real bass tone without the bulk of a full-size instrument. Strung with Aquila Thunderblack rubber/polymer strings and loaded with a built-in preamp and EQ, it plugs straight into a PA or amp and sounds like nothing else at this price point. Every M-Bass is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.