JohnFitzgerald Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I had mentioned to a friend recently that I was looking to get a fretless. He very kindly told me that their set this year doesn't involve any fretless so I shouldn't go buying one but could try his out. Take it away,use it, look after it, but don't buy one when you don't need to What a great and kind offer. So I picked it up and set to getting my eye in. It's a Mex Jazz with line fingerboard, (or fongerboad as they used to say on alt.guitar.bass) It's sporting some upgraded pickups, and that's it. Wearing some flats too. So, got my eye in this week and took it out today for a 6 rehearsal. The owner was there too as he runs the rehearsal facility. Had intended using it for a couple of specific tunes but ended up using it for the whole 6 hours. Great for the mellifluous stuff, but also just generally great for everything. The poor old Yamaha TRB5 sat unused on the stand. The band loved the bits I had targeted for the fretless and everything else just worked fine too. Anybody else just play a fretless for everything ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1360426743' post='1970198'].... Anybody else just play a fretless for everything ? [/quote] Yep, I use a fretless for everything I play. I just don't get why you'd want to limit the freedom to express yourself by having frets instead. But I guess that's just an indication of how I like/choose to express myself - I avoid anything too plinky or slappy, whereas I suppose for some styles you need frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1360426743' post='1970198'] He very kindly told me that their set this year doesn't involve any fretless Anybody else just play a fretless for everything ? [/quote] Me too - great for you to get your friend's bass but what a wierd thing for him to say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Yup, sold my fretted basses last year, just got my 'bitsa J/MM project bass with frets now. I use a custom Jazz bass for everything and love it. It can sometimes get a little bit 'close' doing chords up the dusty end, but that's just a practice thing. Did I mention that I love it? I did? that's because I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 (edited) I have played fretless exclusively for about five years. That said, I recently picked up a very nice fretted PJ5 which I'm playing a lot, but I'm still not sure it'll get a look in at a gig any time soon. Edited February 9, 2013 by walbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFitzgerald Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1360427856' post='1970238'] Me too - great for you to get your friend's bass but what a wierd thing for him to say! [/quote] He plays in a tribute band that covers some band that had an album out about the dark side of something or other. Apparently this year is some sort of anniversary of that album and this year's set is very specific and to do with that album. They do well out of it, but you don't ever ever go off piste. If there's no fretless, there's no fretless. You stick to the script. I do get his point, and was delighted for the offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1360428462' post='1970267'] He plays in a tribute band that covers some band that had an album out about the dark side of something or other. Apparently this year is some sort of anniversary of that album and this year's set is very specific and to do with that album. They do well out of it, but you don't ever ever go off piste. If there's no fretless, there's no fretless. You stick to the script. I do get his point, and was delighted for the offer. [/quote] Fair enough then - I'd still be tempted to use a lined fretless and see if anyone noticed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I think this Fretless/Fretted bass thing only became really noticeable when Jaco became popular and everyone noticed (and it was often mentioned in reviews etc) that he played a Fretless bass. Before that i remember Bass players with a few popular groups played Fretless and no one ever mentioned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I use a fretless as much as possible. I still have the fretted ones that I use in some of the dodgier pubs we play in as a couple of them are at the low end value wise compared to the fretless basses I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettsguitars Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Why not. Basses never had frets before fender came along anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1360429091' post='1970286'] I think this Fretless/Fretted bass thing only became really noticeable when Jaco became popular and everyone noticed (and it was often mentioned in reviews etc) that he played a Fretless bass. Before that i remember Bass players with a few popular groups played Fretless and no one ever mentioned it. [/quote] Can you name them please, I'd really like to check them out. Thanks, Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krysh Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I just recently picked up my fretless more often in my trio and I love it, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1360443840' post='1970663'] Can you name them please, I'd really like to check them out. Thanks, Steve. [/quote] Here's a few; Percy Jones Boz Burrell Rick Danko Colin Moulding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1360457135' post='1970875'] Here's a few; Percy Jones Boz Burrell Rick Danko Colin Moulding [/quote] Thanks Dave, I've never been into bass players and I don't know who played in most popular bands; I thought Jaco opened the fretless door - must stop believing what I heard years ago before google Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1360443840' post='1970663'] Can you name them please, I'd really like to check them out. Thanks, Steve. [/quote] John Paul Jones Paul Simonon Geddy Lee Boz Burrell Rick Grech (Family) Mo Foster Stanley Shelton (Peter Frampton) Patrick O'Hearn (Frank Zappa) Bill Wyman Jack Bruce Larry Klein Rick Laird That's a few off the top of my head but there are many more that played fretless in rock. Edited February 10, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1360443318' post='1970641'] I use a fretless as much as possible. I still have the fretted ones that I use in some of the dodgier pubs we play in as a couple of them are at the low end value wise compared to the fretless basses I have. [/quote] Dodgy pubs? In Lancashire? Never! actually, just throw a stick... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1360487485' post='1970989'] actually, just throw a stick... [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) Other players not already mentioned (that I can see that is) Pino Palladino John Giblin Mick Khan Edited February 10, 2013 by ezbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 I played only fretless for a few years in the '90s but in the end I missed that punchy attack you get from a fretted bass. I still had a fretless too for a long time, but currently I don't, I do miss it a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1360489704' post='1971013'] Other players not already mentioned (that I can see that is) Pino Palladino John Giblin Mick Khan [/quote] The list was of Fretless players in groups before the Jaco phenomenon. Edited February 10, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1360495767' post='1971126'] The list was of Fretless players in groups before the Jaco phenomenon. [/quote] Ah, oops. It was a late finish gig and I'm going to blame tiredness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1360496524' post='1971139'] Ah, oops. It was a late finish gig and I'm going to blame tiredness [/quote] No worries. I was just listing Fretless players i could remember from the days before Jaco really made the instrument a different animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Dont gig any more but any one of the fretlesses lying around here are the 'go to' basses when I fancy a quick tune, though the newly-arrived L2 is getting more attention than anything right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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