Fretless bass is certainly no easy feat to master, but to those who already play the double bass it's second nature. Some bassists, on the other hand, may simply want to experience the freedom and difference in fluidity and tone that a fretless bass guitar has to offer.

While there is obviously not as huge a range to choose from as there is for fretted basses, you still have decisions to make – scale, finish, woods and hardware are all a concern depending on the sound, genre and style you're going for. Some fretless basses even have telescopic stands to allow you to play 'upright' even with the electric body and feel.

This could be the perfect solution for the double bass player who wants to get involved with electric jazz bands, or equally the double bassist who doesn't want the heft and bulk of an acoustic instrument while they're touring or gigging.