Franz Bassguitars Kuma Fretless 5

Kuma fretless 5

The Kuma 5 is a bass built for players who chase feel and finesse just as much as raw tone. With its elegant singlecut design and neck-through-body construction, it delivers the kind of sustain and responsiveness you usually only find in high-end acoustic instruments. The body is deeply chambered, which not only keeps the weight down but also adds a unique airiness to the tone—every note breathes.

This Kuma fretless 5 features a German Sequoia top, a tonewood that brings warmth, harmonic depth, and a certain natural compression that makes it incredibly musical. It sits on a 50mm thick body made from European maple offering great balance and projection. Combined with the chambering, you get a sound that’s rich and vibrant.

The neck is a five-piece laminate of thermo-treated ash and maple with walnut stripes, carbon fiber reinforcement, and a seamless neck-through construction. It feels stable and resonant under the fingers, with a smooth ebony fretboard shaped in a compound radius from 10” to 16”—ideal for both expressive soloing and tight, grooving lines. 26 frets give you access to the full range, and the slightly extended 34.5″ scale adds definition to the low B without ever feeling stiff.

Spacing at the bridge is a comfortable 19mm, and the nut width is 45mm—plenty of room for modern techniques but still compact enough for fast position shifts. Schaller Light tuners keep the headstock sleek and the weight in check, while the ETS 3D bridge (with an ebony resonance plate and string-through-body design) helps anchor the tone with clarity and sustain.

Electronics are kept pure and simple: a passive setup with CTS pots. No batteries, no fuss—just direct connection between your hands and the amp. The Kuma 5 speaks clearly and confidently, with every nuance of your playing style coming through.