Michael Kelly Dragonfly 4 Fretless Acoustic Bass – Smoke Burst

Fretless Expression. Acoustic Character. Stage-Ready Electronics.

There is something different about a fretless bass.

Without frets defining every note, the instrument puts more control directly into the player's hands. Intonation, vibrato, slides and transitions become part of the performance itself—and the Michael Kelly Dragonfly 4 Fretless brings that expressive playing style into an acoustic-electric platform built to be heard both unplugged and amplified.

And this is not an acoustic bass designed to disappear into the background.

The Dragonfly starts with a quilt maple top and body, finished in Smoke Burst to showcase the figuring of the wood. Around the soundhole and fingerboard, detailed appointments—including the distinctive Abalone and Pearl Dragonfly inlay—give the instrument an identity that feels considerably more special than the average working acoustic bass.

Then you plug it in.

WHERE ACOUSTIC MEETS THE RIG

Inside is a Fishman Presys + Bass system paired with a Fishman Sonicore under-saddle transducer, giving the Dragonfly a built-in path from acoustic instrument to amplifier, PA or live-performance setup.

That matters.

An acoustic bass can be inspiring on its own, but the ability to bring that character into an amplified environment makes the Dragonfly far more versatile for rehearsals, performances, acoustic sets and other situations where the bass needs to live inside a complete mix.

The 34-inch scale length keeps the instrument in familiar long-scale bass territory, while its Standard C-profile mahogany neck provides a recognizable foundation for players making the move from a conventional fretted bass.

But remove the frets, and the experience changes.

There are no metal fret crowns deciding exactly where the pitch begins. Your hands become part of the intonation system.

That is where this bass gets interesting.

WHY GEAR HEADS WILL GET IT

FRETLESS FINGERBOARD
The fretless design opens the door to fluid slides, expressive vibrato and the unmistakable articulation that makes fretless bass its own instrument—not simply a bass without frets.

34" FULL-SCALE PLATFORM
Its 34-inch scale gives experienced bassists familiar long-scale proportions while exploring a very different playing experience.

QUILT MAPLE CONSTRUCTION
Quilt maple is used for the top and body, giving the Dragonfly visual depth beneath its Smoke Burst finish.

FISHMAN ELECTRONICS
A Fishman Presys + Bass system works with a Fishman Sonicore under-saddle transducer, providing onboard electronics for amplified performance.

MAHOGANY NECK
The mahogany neck uses a Standard C profile designed around familiar, traditional playing ergonomics.

SIGNATURE DRAGONFLY DETAILING
The Abalone and Pearl Dragonfly fingerboard inlay gives the instrument a visual signature that immediately separates it from a conventional acoustic bass.

CUTAWAY BODY DESIGN
Its cutaway body provides additional access toward the upper register—particularly useful on an instrument where slides, phrasing and melodic movement can become a major part of the player's vocabulary.

CORE SPECIFICATIONS

Model: Dragonfly 4 Fretless
Manufacturer Code: MKD4FSBSFR
Configuration: 4-String Fretless Acoustic-Electric Bass
Orientation: Right-Handed
Finish: Smoke Burst
Top: Quilt Maple
Body: Quilt Maple
Body Style: Cutaway Acoustic Bass
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Standard C
Fingerboard: Fretless
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Scale Length: 34" / 863.6 mm
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 43mm
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone & Pearl Dragonfly
Electronics: Fishman Presys + Bass
Pickup/Transducer: Fishman Sonicore Under-Saddle Transducer
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Tuning Machines: MK Diecast Bass Tuners

THE BMG TAKE

The Dragonfly 4 Fretless is for the bassist who wants the instrument to respond to more than simply which note is being played.

On a fretless instrument, how you approach the note matters.

Slide into it. Sit directly on it. Add vibrato. Move between pitches without a row of metal frets interrupting the transition.

Pair that freedom with the physical character of an acoustic bass and the practicality of Fishman electronics, and the Dragonfly becomes an intriguing alternative to the traditional solid-body fretless.

It can live in an acoustic setting.

It can plug into a professional rig.

And visually, the combination of quilt maple, Smoke Burst and the signature Dragonfly inlay makes sure it does not look like everything else on the stage.

For the player who wants fewer boundaries between the hands and the note.

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