chris_b Posted September 27, 2023 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Me - in my school band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted September 27, 2023 Share Posted September 27, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 27, 2023 Share Posted September 27, 2023 59 minutes ago, EssentialTension said: Fretless is fine. Almost everyone won't notice, including the band. As long as you're roughly in tune. It took a year for my previous band to notice. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 (edited) 11 hours ago, tauzero said: It took a year for my previous band to notice. Interesting as I get comments at pretty much every gig about how great it is to see someone playing a fretless, I love the sound of your fretless, you sound like Pino/Mick Karn and at one venue, the bar staff have renamed our band as 'Tim Shez and the Fretless Bass Player', much to our singers annoyance 🤣 Edited September 28, 2023 by Linus27 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 By the way @Linus27 it's Mick Karn. 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 39 minutes ago, Hellzero said: By the way @Linus27 it's Mick Karn. 😉 Thank you, all corrected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 Yup, fretless on 2 tracks of ours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 IIRC wasn't there some fella called "Pastorius" or something that used to have a go?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 On 20/09/2023 at 09:49, tauzero said: I did for years, may well go back to it. I'll add Boz Burrell in Bad Company to the list. When I heard Bad Company he used a fretless Ampeg bass. On the records I just assumed it was fretted. Surprise! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 This is odd - I’ve just had the same talk with @lee650 - I’ve just done a remote audition for a band I’d class as indie/pop and thought “I’ll use the fretless”. After that was successful, I think I’ll use my fretless more. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 I use a Fender Tony Franklin fretless, doubling on NS EUB, in an Americana/Country/Rock band, and like Beedster I actually find it easier to play fretless over fretted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCrane Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 You can also add Rod Clements of Lindisfarne onto the list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 11 hours ago, MrCrane said: You can also add Rod Clements of Lindisfarne onto the list. A personal influence and a lovely guy to boot. Back in the very early 2000's I almost bought that fretless Overwater from Rod, but young children and common sense prevented me from going ahead with the purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 I use this some of the time, often alternating with fretted bass from gig to gig. EMGs work really well and sit well in the mix. I has been noticed once or twice too by the crowd. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Yep me too…. Thunderbird mostly, but this is on 3 songs…. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 On 19/09/2023 at 22:38, Waddycall said: Sounds like we might be getting the old band back together. Trouble is I’ve recently decided to focus on fretless so sold both my fretted basses. I don’t really want to get any more gear especially as they’re an unreliable bunch. so who plays fretless in a rock/pop band and how do you find it in the mix? I play - Ibanez GWB 1005. No problemo ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 11 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 46 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea Best regards !🤙 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 56 minutes ago, Woodinblack said: I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea Deep end experimentation - kudos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 I do for three songs in our set, with my lovely Cliff Bordwell bass acquired from @Clarky of this parish 😁 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Fernando Saunders hasn't been mentioned, yet: Lou Reed, Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer, Heart, Pat Benatar, Special EFX... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 I’ve always been impressed with Jaz Lochrie’s fretless playing. Expressive and always in the groove. A different style is Johann Asmundsson, who has held the bass role in jazz/funk band Mezzoforte for decades. Also a great fretless player. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted October 28, 2023 Share Posted October 28, 2023 Didn't Bill Wyman play the first several Stones singles etc on his defretted bass? I personally think it's a non-thing. Is it just bc people expect you to slide around a lot? I did a rehearsal with my Jazz fretless a while back and no-one noticed at all - dunno if that's a good or bad thing🤣 But the Jazz with flats gave a really good low-mid punch sound, we were doing a mix of rock-ish and soul stuff. I think it works really well if you avoid the fretless cliches and get the intonation solid. My current Sandberg with chrome flats at bridge under strings makes a really excellent soul/funk bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted October 29, 2023 Share Posted October 29, 2023 (edited) Fretless was everywhere in the 80s. Now it's all boring fretted fenders. Do it! You may start a revival. Edited October 29, 2023 by NickA 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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