Guest MoJo Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 With one or two exceptions, it would appear that the fretless bass is used mainly for jazz, fusion and Japan tribute bands. Since picking up mdc's fretless BB405, I have found I've adapted to it very well and love the different tone to it's fretted sister. I am giving serious consideration to taking it to rehearsal with my rock covers band next week. Does anyone else use a fretless for rock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I do! And it's great! Sting uses one, there's one in cream isn't there? In my last original band I used the fretless on a couple of tracks and ended up using it on all the tracks, even the slap one. Go for it! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 [quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1353364800' post='1874357'] Does anyone else use a fretless for rock? [/quote] Les Claypool,Steve DiGeorgio,Steve Bailey,Jeff Ament,Bryan Beller,Jack Bruce,Tony Franklin, Sting,Juan Alderete,Colin Edwin.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-isCMSaFZA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Listen to the first Blue Murder album - theres some great playing by Tony Franklin on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaydentaku Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I use it in our doom band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I've tried to on a few occasions, with a fretless Warwick Streamer Jazzman and a mongrel Fretless P, but I felt they both lacked the attack of a fretted bass and got lost in the mix, so I went back to fretted after a while - definately prefer fretted (I switched the neck on the P eventually and enjoyed it again). All depends on if you and the band like the sound for your music though at the end of the day. I do like Juan Alderete's use of fretless in louder stuff, though, I think because he has a sound where the low mids are providing a lot of the punch and the band mix allows for it. In my bands I've always relied on a bit of fret noise to cut through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 The late Boz Burrell, Bad Company. Many stunning songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 [quote name='Wil' timestamp='1353366952' post='1874402'] I've tried to on a few occasions, with a fretless Warwick Streamer Jazzman and a mongrel Fretless P, but I felt they both lacked the attack of a fretted bass and got lost in the mix, so I went back to fretted after a while - [/quote] This is one of my concerns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kongo Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Steve DiGiorgio would like a word with you on fretless not cutting through. He's made an entire career playing in extreme metal bands with a fretless bass. Used to use Carvin and a custom ESP F-series fretless 5's but these days uses Mjolnir 5 and 6-string Thor Basses. The album "Individual Thought Patterns" by Death demonstrates great fretless play and that was a crappy copy he slapped a Fender neck on. Failing that, give Marco Cortes a call, he has a system called "fret groove" which gives a fretted / fretless hybrid sound by use of brass plates countersunk flush into the board. Me personally, I also use fretless in rock and metal. 6-string fretless in a progressive band and a 5-string fretless in a death metal band. Works a treat. Cutting through is, once again, about EQ to me...And they way you attack I guess. :-P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 [quote name='3below' timestamp='1353367240' post='1874407'] The late Boz Burrell, Bad Company. Many stunning songs. [/quote] hear hear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam uses fretless on loads of their songs... [media]http://youtu.be/CxKWTzr-k6s[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 don't limit yourself with music! It all goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1353365756' post='1874378'] Listen to the first Blue Murder album - theres some great playing by Tony Franklin on there. [/quote]Beat me to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Actually, what would be really cool, is to see Tom Araya use one. BTW, I think Rob Zombies bass player used one. Coffin shaped I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Giving it serious consideration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 try it, you might like it, and if not, don't do it again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='Wil' timestamp='1353366952' post='1874402'] I've tried to on a few occasions, with a fretless Warwick Streamer Jazzman and a mongrel Fretless P, but I felt they both lacked the attack of a fretted bass and got lost in the mix[/quote] I agree. Fretless is fine, if it is placed sympathetically in the mix, not fighting for space with everything else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Check out Intronaut's bassist Joe Lester. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMcj7x-J96o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMcj7x-J96o[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I could be mistaken, but isn't 'Oliver's Army' played on a fretless? It certainly sounds like it on the bridge. As for being 'lost in the mix', I've never had that problem. Is there any particular reason that not having frets would mean you'd be 'lost in the mix'? Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) [quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1353582616' post='1876234'] I could be mistaken, but isn't 'Oliver's Army' played on a fretless? It certainly sounds like it on the bridge. As for being 'lost in the mix', I've never had that problem. Is there any particular reason that not having frets would mean you'd be 'lost in the mix'? Dan [/quote] The subtle tones of a fretless would be lost in the AC/DC mix! It is a fact of life that if your bass player is a "star player" he never gets lost in the mix! Its a cruel world! Edited November 22, 2012 by mentalextra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1353591218' post='1876352'] The subtle tones of a fretless would be lost in the AC/DC mix! It is a fact of life that if your bass player is a "star player" he never gets lost in the mix! Its a cruel world! [/quote] Well, I've never been lost in the mix, does that make me a star player?! Yes! I'd love to hear some AD/DC on a fretless! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 [quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1353595749' post='1876402'] I'd love to hear some AD/DC on a fretless! [/quote] Instead of durdurdurdurdurdurdurdur it would go mwahmwahmwahmwahmwah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1353595898' post='1876406'] Instead of durdurdurdurdurdurdurdur it would go mwahmwahmwahmwahmwah. [/quote] Yeah - I was just going to say, would it actually make any difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) Obscura.. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdiZS707aPs"]https://www.youtube....h?v=xdiZS707aPs[/url] Especially this one.. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYZLp1jhpHI&feature=relmfu"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYZLp1jhpHI&feature=relmfu[/url] Edited November 22, 2012 by Dandelion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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