1970 Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Never played one, why did/do YOU play a fretless? Fingers or pick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I saw one in a shop and tried it. It wasn't as hard to play as I expected and it sounded really different, so a few weeks later I bought it. For a few years I only had fretless basses - starting with that Tanglewood P, then a Godin Acoustibass, then a 22-fret Jazz that I de-fretted. It's just a different sound, depends whether you like it or not. I think in the right hands they can sound really interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 ive just been playing mine through my new zoom b9.1ut i havent played alot of fretless but i do like it its just different no frets and that earthy kind of sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Joined a band and in my head some of the basslines sounded better on a fretless. Bought a cheap one to find if it was true. For our first gig I played 2 of the songs on it. Three gigs later I was using the fretless bass for most of the set. I don't use fretless bass on any of the songs I play currently, because they don't require it. That may well change in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Basses had no frets from about 1500 AD until the 1950s now everyone wants them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [b] What's the appeal of a fretless?[/b] Mwaahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970 Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1357408127' post='1922297'] Basses had no frets from about 1500 AD until the 1950s now everyone wants them! [/quote] And while we're at it, what's the deal with [b]pickups[/b]? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1357408161' post='1922298'] [b] What's the appeal of a fretless?[/b] Mwaahaha [/quote] This ^. I think it's just a more expressive instrument, also I like the slightly softer attack on each note; My right hand technique really 'digs into' the strings, so not having any frets helps to eliminate the 'clankiness' that I get on fretted basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apa Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Feel, expression and looks. Its like driving a manual after an automatic! Got to be unlined though. Oh! and finger style always. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='1970' timestamp='1357408393' post='1922306'] And while we're at it, what's the deal with [b]pickups[/b]? [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 If a person had an old cheap 4 string bass that they didnt mind got wrecked and they wanted to try to defret it. What tools would they need and how would they do it ? I remember reading about Jaco Pastorius defretting a J and creating the bass of doom but is it as simple as it sounded ???? In addition to that, while they are at it they might want to remove the black painted finish to leave the wood bare. Whats the best way forward for this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Fretless playing has helped my left hand strength and improved my 'ear' a fair deal. I love the sound of a fretless with a vocalist and an acoustic guitar, the overtones or 'mwah' as its referred to as (usually in 'for sale' threads) really is another set of sounds. I prefer practicing on fretless, but find it hard to avoid the cheesy slides. It's a really organic sound with flat wounds, and can be vocal and expressive as well as a bit synthetic with round wounds. Glad I have the option, think every bassist should at least try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='1970' timestamp='1357406574' post='1922253'] Never played one, why did/do YOU play a fretless? Fingers or pick? [/quote] Because you get all the girls. Fingers AND pick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1357411330' post='1922367'] If a person had an old cheap 4 string bass that they didnt mind got wrecked and they wanted to try to defret it. What tools would they need and how would they do it ? I remember reading about Jaco Pastorius defretting a J and creating the bass of doom but is it as simple as it sounded ???? [/quote] The answer is no its not as simple as it sounds. To correctly defret a bass properly you have to know what you are doing or you will reap misery upon your bass! The good news is there are loads of good videos on Youtube that talk you through the correct procedure. Jaco Pastorius was infamously flippant with many of his claims and was not averse to exageration and the like when describing his antics. I believe he later claimed that he actually bought the bass of doom with the frets already ripped out (badly) - before fixing it up by filling the fret board and coating it in yachting epoxy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenitram Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 [quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1357411330' post='1922367'] If a person had an old cheap 4 string bass that they didnt mind got wrecked and they wanted to try to defret it. What tools would they need and how would they do it ? I remember reading about Jaco Pastorius defretting a J and creating the bass of doom but is it as simple as it sounded ???? In addition to that, while they are at it they might want to remove the black painted finish to leave the wood bare. Whats the best way forward for this ? [/quote] There are lots of threads here about this, and online. Have a search. It's essentially very easy, if you take care. For defretting my Stagg I used nail clippers to remove the frets, wood veneer glued into the fret holes, three or four grades of sandpaper from smooth-ish to very very smooth to get everything flat and even, then some wire wool for good measure, and then some Danish oil because I read somewhere it's a good thing to do. That was it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenitram Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 lol two different views there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 A lot of people get into fretless for the Pino / Jaco thing. Not me (although it is very nice). I just love the sound a fretless Precision makes. Uprighty, growly, with sustain... yum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I play my fretless as I play my fretted bass. No cheesy slides or vibrato. I love the way it plays and the feel. If you came to a gig and closed your eyes you'd be pushed to tell it was a fretless you were hearing most of the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1357423903' post='1922594'] I play my fretless as I play my fretted bass. No cheesy slides or vibrato. I love the way it plays and the feel. If you came to a gig and closed your eyes you'd be pushed to tell it was a fretless you were hearing most of the time [/quote] Same here - I just think that an unlined fretless looks really cool. I've been thinking for a while about getting another one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 It's all in the mwahh. And slides. Gotta love the slides... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNDqzpgzdis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1357422155' post='1922558'] lol two different views there [/quote] Im lost now and cant find my way home. LoL Will read up on it and try it. Cheap bass to try it on so dont matter if it a goes south. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1357464972' post='1922845'] Im lost now and cant find my way home. LoL Will read up on it and try it. Cheap bass to try it on so dont matter if it a goes south. Thanks guys. [/quote] I did it to a cheap Jazz copy once. A cheaper instrument is less likely to have the frets glued in. I never ran a soldering iron up and down the fret first and with a pair of pincers the frets came out in no time with minimal tear out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apa Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1357423903' post='1922594'] I play my fretless as I play my fretted bass. No cheesy slides or vibrato. I love the way it plays and the feel. If you came to a gig and closed your eyes you'd be pushed to tell it was a fretless you were hearing most of the time [/quote] A very good point to. You do, to a certain degree, get two basses in one A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) I find it fills the band sound out more, I use fingers mostly but also a pick and mute the strings with my RH palm on a couple of songs where I want that old fashioned flat wound sound. I think most of us spent the first week on fretless sliding around, after that I started just to use it for playing properly but with a different feel/sound. After a few years of experimenting (having tried and moved on from active acoustic,Precision, MM style) I settled on passive jazz as my weapon of choice. What I hate is when (usually none bass players ) say " have you trued that with a chorus pedal?" - No, I don't wish to sound like every band from the 1980's that I hated. And remember - the slide is still there for when you absolutely need it. Edited January 6, 2013 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apa Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1357469530' post='1922911'] I find it fills the band sound out more, I use fingers mostly but also a pick and mute the strings with my RH palm on a couple of songs where I want that old fashioned flat wound sound. I think most of us spent the first week on fretless sliding around, after that I started just to use it for playing properly but with a different feel/sound. After a few years of experimenting (having tried and moved on from active acoustic,Precision, MM style) I settled on passive jazz as my weapon of choice. What I hate is when (usually none bass players ) say " have you trued that with a chorus pedal?" - No, I don't wish to sound like every band from the 1980's that I hated. And remember - the slide is still there for when you absolutely need it. [/quote] Agreed (Although reverb is nice!) The slid is like slap. Wonderful when used at the appropriate juncture but otherwise just cheesey. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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