Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 5-String Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass (Natural)

by Michael Kelly

Product Features

• The Dragonfly Fretless also features Michael Kelly's exclusive Top Dot fretless bass marking system
• Has side dots located where they would be on a standard fretted bass and additional small dots on the top clearly marking the fret position

Product Details

• Item Weight: 8.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8.7 pounds
• ASIN: B0002IJ8EY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,309 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #93 in Musical Instruments > Bass Guitars > Acoustic & Acoustic-Electric Basses

Product Description

A fretless acoustic bass has always been hard to find. The new Dragonfly Fretless bass makes the search worthwhile. This limited edition bass features the new Dragonfly limited edition inlay. The Dragonfly Fretless also features Michael Kelly?s exclusive Top Dot fretless bass marking system. This unlined fretless has side dots located where they would be on a standard fretted bass and additional small dots on the top clearly marking the fret position.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best you'll find at this price, February 18, 2008

By 

William Polhemus "Polhemus Engineering Company" (Katy, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 5-String Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass (Natural)

First of all, I want to get the "bad news" out of the way. Although Michael Kelly (MK) touts its "top dot position markers," the fact is for the 5-string fretless, these are useless. I have found no natural position for the instrument that allows you to see those markers while playing. Not only are they a bit too "subtle" to be seen easily even when in plain sight, but they are obscured by the big, fat B-string! So if you were looking at this as a factor in your buying decision, forget it.

Okay, now the rest is "all good." The instrument plays like a dream, is well-made and very fun to play. You may well discover that you're going to need a good set-up upon taking delivery of the bass - well, what else is new? I have yet to buy ANY instrument, even at a store, that didn't need to be set up before it was "perfectly" playable.

I am not overly fond of the D'Addario bronze strings that come with the bass. They're not "bad," just not particularly colorful IMO, and the B-string is "floppy" to boot. Once you put some decent strings (e.g. DR or even Elixir nano-web) on her, though, she's fine.

I have had two MK acoustic bass guitars, one fretted and this fretless. They have both been great sounding. But the fretless bass advertised (and reviewed) here has the newer MK-spec preamp, and the difference is astonishing.

This ABG sounds "good" unplugged, but plug her in and she's INCREDIBLE, lots of "thump" and a very full, near-string bass sound.

And she's beautiful to look at, a real show-stopper. I have the "natural" finish, but the black finish is equally beautiful.

Bottom line, if you're wondering if this instrument is worth the price, never fear. You will NOT be sorry if you pull the trigger on this purchase. A high-quality instrument, and a unique one at that, for a very good price.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of juicy bass fun for the money, October 4, 2011

By 

D. Bosch "Bull" (Newport, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 5-String Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass (Natural)

I've played a couple years in church with a solid-body fretted bass (Warwick 5-string Corvette Standard). Awesome for worship songs, but I wanted something with a completely different sound for hymns and folksongs. Bought an MK-5 fretless over eBay a couple months ago for under $400 including a case and shipping.

All you may have read about them (including here) is true. Wonderful, deep, woody guitar sound that sounds good both plugged and unplugged. The inlays and woodwork are beautiful! I didn't find the fretboard dots useful either, but there are a couple reference dots on the upper edge of the fretboard that are helpful. Didn't take too long to get used to. I'm also swapping out the strings for Thomastiks (when I have a free $100).

Bottom line is if you're a bass player looking for a fun axe that will expand your tonal horizons, get on Craig's list, eBay, or Guitar Center's used section and track one down. Well worth it.

And I have a hunch prices on these will begin to climb...unless Amazon starts carrying them again.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great bass if you can find one..., February 2, 2011

By 

Sav'nBass - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 5-String Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass (Natural)

This bass has a great tone to it. Plays very well. When run through an amp it eqs very well.. not too boomy... I changed the strings that came with it... It is a beautiful bass to look at.. The fret markers on it are a bit deceptive... they are a tad offset to the eye when looking down on the neck.. but once I got used to that they were close enough. Once you start to play it you get a feel for the positions anyway... All in all a great bass. Not as rich and full in tone as say a Tacoma or a Breedlove... but better than the comparably priced offerings from Fender, Ibanez, Dean and a few others... A good instrument.