Ever miss 24 frets?

[MarshallBTB]

Thinking about getting a new bass, really like the look of a yamaha bb 5 string or a fender 5 string of some kind.
Only thing is that I have always had 24-frets, does anyone going from 24 to 20/21 miss the extra high notes?
I know its not the most used part of the neck, but I like having it there when i need it. Any thoughts?

Edited June 22, 2011 by MarshallBTB

[Conan]

Trying to play "By the way" by the RHCP on a J or P is rather a challenge. Also, the hammering-on section in Steve Morse's Cruise Missile needs an extra fret...

There are some Fenders with 24 frets though! [url="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/40977_l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-jazz-bass-24--40977&h=500&w=500&sz=48&tbnid=i2oi6H56TQCb-M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=130&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfender%2Bjazz%2B24%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=fender+jazz+24&hl=en&usg=__pB0Enu5qugmjzvc38HSN3CqSDL4=&sa=X&ei=mrwBTomQOIeo8APOicW5DQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCgQ9QEwAQ"]http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http...ved=0CCgQ9QEwAQ[/url]

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Performer_Bass"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Performer_Bass[/url]

Edited June 22, 2011 by Conan

[aldude]

I went from a 24-fret Bass Collection to a 21 (?) fret Marcus Miller jazz. Yes, I did miss the extra frets but only for end of song type flairs and that sort of thing that I don't usually play as part of a song. I quickly got used to it but 24 frets always remained longingly in my memory. Back to 24 now and I'm happier! Slightly.

[BASainty]

[quote name='MarshallBTB' post='1278270' date='Jun 22 2011, 10:45 AM']Thinking about getting a new bass, really like the look of a yamaha bb 5 string or a fender 5 string of some kind.
Only thing is that I have always had 24-frets, does anyone going from 24 to 20/21 miss the extra high notes?
I know its not the most used part of the neck, but I like having it there when i need it. Any thoughts?[/quote]

Iv got a mix of 24 and 21 fret basses and i found i dont really go past the 20th fret very often on any of them but i know what you mean it is nice to have the extra 3 or 4 frets just incase.
Saying that i do slightly prefer 21 frets since the spacing is slightly wider, the frets dont seem so bunched together up top so for me its easier to move around.

Its all down to preference maybe you should try a few 21 fretters and see if you get along with them. You wont know untill you try.

[chris_b]

I don't think I've ever played above the 14th fret. That's not really my style of playing.

[Fat Rich]

I don't really miss playing the extra frets but I find it a bit disorientating going between Fender and 2 octave necks, I sometimes slide to the wrong fret at the dusty end if I don't concentrate.

[BASainty]

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='1278331' date='Jun 22 2011, 11:29 AM']I don't really miss playing the extra frets but I find it a bit disorientating going between Fender and 2 octave necks, I sometimes slide to the wrong fret at the dusty end if I don't concentrate.[/quote]

+1

[Ross]

I don't think i'd use the extras, anything I write doesn't go past the 17th, anything I play has yet to go past the 21 frets.

[wulf]

What notes do you need to reach. I was thinking that I rarely go above about the 15th fret on my main bass, but it is a six string tuned in 4ths from a low D (so a high F# or the 26th fret on a standard G string). On the other hand, when playing double bass (just plain old EADG) I rarely stretch beyond the octave on the G string. What range do you need to be able to reach and what range would you like to be able to comfortably reach?

Wulf

[dc2009]

My thunderbirds lack a few of the highest frets, and whilst it is probably my only complaint about them, it doesn't really matter. The only times I go up the dusty end are for self-indulgent bedroom playing (and the occasional bass solo with the band but I don't really need above 19 for those) - if I need the extra frets for some fiddly piece, i just grab my warwick if I'm not already playing it.
I would also say that a 24 fret bass makes it easier to play stuff that goes up to say 21 than a 21 fret bass IMO, and you will always miss out on being able to play a few select things at home if you don't have a 24 fret bass somewhere!

[icastle]

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='1278331' date='Jun 22 2011, 11:29 AM']I don't really miss playing the extra frets but I find it a bit disorientating going between Fender and 2 octave necks, I sometimes slide to the wrong fret at the dusty end if I don't concentrate.[/quote]

+1

and jeez is that embarrassing...

[Machines]

I prefer 24 - i like the thought of my fretboard being 2 octave and symmetrical at the 12th.

[Wolverinebass]

I've got a mix of fret numbers and scale lengths and it just depends. The buzzard has 26 and that's great because it's a long scale. The extra 2 frets make it feel like a mid scale to me. My Alembic is a short scale and has 24. However, there are times (like when doing tapping at the high end) that it does feel a bit cramped as the frets are very close together. My 8 string is 21 frets and I kind of thought I'd miss not having the 24 on it. I kind of do and don't. Sometimes I get asked to play something I've played on a 4 onto an 8 and if what I've done is quite high up it becomes a problem, but it's generally not a big deal.

I think though if I were playing a 4 string bass I'd miss the upper notes though.

[neepheid]

I have basses with 20 frets (G-3), 21 frets (L-2000), 22 frets (IV, Les Paul, B402-A) and 22-24 frets (Victory - 22 on E, 23 on A, 24 on D and G). I'm so rarely up there that frankly I haven't noticed. But I do think that 20 frets was a mistake (I reckon Leo thought so too, or else MMs and G&Ls would have been 20 fret too), it just makes logical sense to me to give you the octave note so the range of the (4 string) bass is E to E instead of Eb.

[xgsjx]

I prefer 24 frets.
A couple of my acoustic band's songs require me to play a melody up the dusty end a lot & actually use that G (could do with the A too).
I've tried playing them an octave down & they just don't sit.

[RhysP]

I rarely play below the 21st fret so I've got to have a two octave neck.

[4000]

In a perfect world I prefer 24, but I haven't come across a 24 fretter that sounds how I need it to sound most of the time (we'll see how the Rim does ). I'd love to be able to switch easily but as I'm usually singing as well as playing it can get a bit confusing at times, and I do play up the dusty end quite a bit. At the moment I only have the 2 Rics (both 20s) for the current band with the Rim on the way; I'd happily move back to 24 if I could get the sound as it makes far more sense to me.

EDIT: My Alembic was close, but it was too heavy....

Edited June 22, 2011 by 4000

[xilddx]

[quote name='MarshallBTB' post='1278270' date='Jun 22 2011, 10:45 AM']Thinking about getting a new bass, really like the look of a yamaha bb 5 string or a fender 5 string of some kind.
Only thing is that I have always had 24-frets, does anyone going from 24 to 20/21 miss the extra high notes?
I know its not the most used part of the neck, but I like having it there when i need it. Any thoughts?[/quote]
Yes, me. I sold my Warwicks and bought the most gorgeous Fender Jazz. I sold it two months later and got another bass with 24 frets and a D-tuner. I need 24 frets for some things I do.

Also, the neck position on the strap is very different between the two quite often so consequently the feel is very different.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='1278331' date='Jun 22 2011, 11:29 AM']I don't really miss playing the extra frets but I find it a bit disorientating going between Fender and 2 octave necks, I sometimes slide to the wrong fret at the dusty end if I don't concentrate.[/quote]
Even the lower ones. I did a gig a couple of months ago where I'd been playing a Jazz but took my 24 fret Warwick to the gig. I kept playing A instead of G on the E string. I sold the Jazz.

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='chris_b' post='1278312' date='Jun 22 2011, 11:14 AM']I don't think I've ever played above the 14th fret. That's not really my style of playing.[/quote]


Show off

[EssentialTension]

I recently played a D at the 19th fret. I didn't really like it. I probably won't go back there.

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='RhysP' post='1278467' date='Jun 22 2011, 01:07 PM']I rarely play below the 21st fret so I've got to have a two octave neck.[/quote]

Have you considered the guitar (it is like a bass, only higher)

[Chris2112]

To be fair I manage alright on my Kubicki which has 23 frets.

[risingson]

I missed having 24 frets when I moved to Fender style instruments but not enough to merit me going back to them. I can definitely live without the extra 3 or 4 notes.

[xgsjx]

Could always get a 5,6 or 7 string bass if you need the higher notes but don't want 24 frets.

I want one of [url="http://www.ritter-instruments.com/item_info.php?i=129"]these[/url] or [url="http://www.ritter-instruments.com/item_info.php?i=363"]these![/url]
That way I needent worry about running out of frets.