Fretless Basses

TroyE · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:58 am Post subject:

I'm a metal bassist who went fretless 7 years ago. Biggest inspiration was Tony Franklin's work on the Blue Murder album. I don't slide about as much as a jazz cat, but when I do, it's a smooth transition. My bass is a 5/B fretless Stienberger. Lots of metal heads are down on the Stienberger design, because it's associated with the New Wave era it was "born" into. But when you strap one on, it's perfectly ballanced. I have 2 herniated cervical disks from a car wreck, but having owned a Stienberger since I was a sophomore in highschool, I've never had any problems with prolonged jams. One cool thing you may wanna try if you have a fretless 5: finger an E at the 5th fret position of the B string and have your guitarist divebomb his/her open low E string. Work on sliding down to a flat C below your 1st fret position until the guitarist finds the lowest pitch you can match, then slide back to standard E. I've written two songs with different bands where we did that coming out of the guitar solo. It's a fat monster sound!
#evil

TroyE · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 1:00 am Post subject:

I'm a metal bassist who went fretless 7 years ago. Biggest inspiration was Tony Franklin's work on the Blue Murder album. I don't slide about as much as a jazz cat, but when I do, it's a smooth transition. My bass is a 5/B fretless Stienberger. Lots of metal heads are down on the Stienberger design, because it's associated with the New Wave era it was "born" into. But when you strap one on, it's perfectly ballanced. I have 2 herniated cervical disks from a car wreck, but having owned a Stienberger since I was a sophomore in highschool, I've never had any problems with prolonged jams. One cool thing you may wanna try if you have a fretless 5: finger an E at the 5th fret position of the B string and have your guitarist divebomb his/her open low E string. Work on sliding down to a flat C below your 1st fret position until the guitarist finds the lowest pitch you can match, then slide back to standard E. I've written two songs with different bands where we did that coming out of the guitar solo. It's a fat monster soundjjavascript:emoticon(' #evil

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#evil

gramthebassist · Newbie Alert Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 4

why did you post that twice Question

confusedqueen · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:

Mkuk0 · Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:40 am Post subject:

Aye its prob caught it off us!
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Stickmandidge · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

I tried out some freeted basses at a store. Didn't feel right after being on upright all my life.

Love the feel of fretless. Intonation can get dicey sometimes

Karl
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HowardR · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 2 Location: NYC

Google....Mikey Guitar........a convertable fretted/fretless bass with the flip of a switch....unbelieveable!

Greg Seitz · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:37 am Post subject:

I've had a couple of fretless basses, both Music Man Stingrays. It's almost a different instrument. You play it different. Different licks. When I go to a gig I usually only pack 1 guitar & I'll play my fretless for 5 or 6 months but, inevitibly I get "Fender Anxiety" go back to my old Pbass for a few months. Some types of music need those frets. It's easy to slap up a fretless but hard to nail octaves all up & down the neck. Just listen to yourself.

Bass_Snake · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject:

What do you guys think of Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass (3-Tone Sunburst)?

Are there other decent fretless bass that are affordable?

thanks,

Fred

Rd_Artist · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject:

I played on the Squire at guitar center and it played and sounded great,I am seriously considering trading my SX fretless in for the squire.
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