Fretless Basses

Rufio · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 2:35 pm Post subject: Fretless Basses

I tried one today... man are they weird! I liked the feel of it but I didn't really like the sound. It was a used Warwick Corvette Standard I think... What are your opinions on fretless basses? Good or bad?

supermau · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:44 am Post subject:

I love 'em for certain songs. It's a little weird getting used to, but you can do some nice smooth slides up and down the neck. Dig that.

Joe90bass · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:06 pm Post subject:

I bought a cheapie one a while ago and have yet to really play it. When I do I just love the sound, the problem is the first few times you play it all you want to do is slide Smile

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

I played a Ric. 4003 fretless the other day. It was different but the funny thing was the dots were not lined up the normal way. It was messing me up.
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SAguitar · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2003 5:43 pm Post subject:

I've got a 5-string fretless Carvin that I love. I've had it about a year now, and it's becoming my main bass. It is a challenge to play, but I needed the challenge. I was becoming bored with bass playing, and this thing has opened up my horizons big time.
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Neil Gray · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 7:58 pm Post subject: Fretless...

I know that this is old news, and that everyone's probably moved on, but I wasn't here then, so bare with me for a minute.
Fretless are cool. I owned one for a while, but after the novelty wore off, I found that I needed an excuse to pull it out. I found that it was really good for half-step runs and things like that, where you need to move quickly and you can't always watch your technique. After a time, though, I found that I was only using it for jazz, which I'm not too great on, and after that, not at all.
Fretless are a nice idea if you need one. But just for fun, I don't think they are worth the cost.
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Neil Gray · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 8:02 pm Post subject:

Terrible for slap, I might add. You can't even say that "it will do".
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SAguitar · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 8:07 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input, Neil. I usually use both of my basses on stage with an A/B switch. On some tunes (usually the slower ones), the unique tone of a fretless just cuts through the mix better, and allows me to make a statement using fewer notes. Space is good.
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Boffo · Tadpole Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 28

SAguitar · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:35 pm Post subject:

Right on, Boffo! I was very challenged when I stepped up and bought a fretless, but that's what I was looking for. It has also helped me to listen more intently to what's going on around me, because I have to make sure I am playing as intonated as I can. For several months previous to buying a fretless, I tried to focus on my lefthand fingers, and tried to place my fingertips with more precision right behind the fret, instead of anywhere between them. That seemed to help with the growth curve a little bit. Overall, I think it has made me a better bass player, too.
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Boffo · Tadpole Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 28

I find playing a fretless with correct intonation is like being a good pitcher or batter in baseball (or is that bassball?). You should not be thinking about what you're doing. It should just happen spontaneously where you're not worried about hitting a bad note. You just know where to put your fingers automatically.

Neil Gray · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:01 pm Post subject:

I have found that, too.
If you hit it not quite square, it's not the end of the world, and you can usually compensate by throwing in an imro that will cover. But that comes with intuition. You should just reach a stage where you hit it right every time, and likewise, you should just reach a stage where you know you're not going to, and already are on your way to compensating.
It's all about knowing your instrument, really. The more you play, the better you're gonna get.
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Christov · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 6:29 am Post subject:

Personal preference once again. I like the challenge of the fretless. I love the tone, and the look of the solid unlined black ebony fingerboard!! I am using a Pedulla Pentabuzz (fretless 5 string), which has the diamond kote polyester finish on the fingerboard. This is claimed to be 80% as hard as glass, and produces a very bright tone with a lot of growl. This also enables me to run round wound strings without tearing up the fingerboard. I find the tone also very versatile. I play in an all original "punk band" and the tone works well with that. Fretless will make you work harder, and develop some great "ear training" and muscle memory. Best of luck.
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randomnotations · Ferret Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 104 Location: USA

yyyea i got a mexican fender fretless jazzbazz, its nice. i mainly use it for jazz and tap basslines w/ my band. its great. buy one.
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Mark Mesa · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:49 am Post subject: Fretless Basses

i love fretless basses... especially with roundwound strings as i prefer them with that unique sound, and not simply trying to emulate the sound of an upright one.

regards,
mark