Sparticus and Vintage Martin, I couldn't agree more. I play an upright acoustic bass, and to me there is no substitute. Fretless I think does have some inherant difficulties in as much as you better damn well have a good ear as the frets make it so that anyone who is on the right fret will be in tune provided the instrument is in tune. I watch fretted bass guitar players play those dramatic runs sometimes with envy as most of us mortals we will never be able to match that on the acousic, but still, all in all, I don't think their is a match for the acoustic upright. My reference to the Takoma was from someone who knows little or nothing about guitarlike instruments, but I heard it played and it sounded ok in the music store. PLaying on a gig, however is a much different matter