Dom in Dorset Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 (edited) I made myself an acoustic fretless about three months ago and I've been taking it along with my fretted to rehursals since then. I've been using it on about 50% of the songs, either due to confidence , required sound or I prefer fretted if I'm singing. A few weeks back I was asked to join a second band replacing an upright player. I jumped at the chance to get some extra time on the fretless only taking that one to rehursals. We did our first gig last night and to my horror I noticed that under dim stage lighting the black lines where the frets used to be on the dark brown board become invisible! I had good on stage sound and I'd learned the set inside out so It didn't turn out to be a problem, but it was unsettling for a moment. A word of advice: if you are about to play your first gig on fretless make sure that you run through the set in a dark room! Edited December 20, 2009 by Dom in Somerset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Or just don't look at your hands ;0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 [quote name='crez5150' post='689654' date='Dec 20 2009, 12:14 PM']Or just don't look at your hands ;0)[/quote] I had tried not to but I think that it's hard to avoid it until you are forced to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='689651' date='Dec 20 2009, 12:12 PM']We did our first gig last night and to my horror I noticed that under dim stage lighting the black lines where the frets used to be on the dark brown board become invisible![/quote] I think you'll find this is why 99% of lined fretless basses have the fret lines in a [b]lighter[/b] colour than the fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='689651' date='Dec 20 2009, 12:12 PM']A word of advice: if you are about to play your first gig on fretless make sure that you run through the set in a dark room![/quote] Or get some florescent tippex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='690060' date='Dec 20 2009, 07:27 PM']Or get some florescent tippex.[/quote] Or even ordinary tippex: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I think fret markers are more comon for players in the early days then people let on. Fair play for having a go though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretlessguy Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 One thing the fretless does is make you use your ears, especially in a dark place! It does take some getting used to, and it is not for cowards. You are off to a great start...Keep fretlessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) Correctly positioned side markers, preferably fluorescent, are a life saver when some sod turns the lights out thinking it's more atmospheric that way. Only thing is, when you're practicing, you need to use the side markers and not the lines. i used to think I'd never get used to an unlined board until i got my side markers repositioned to the right places. But I think I could manage ok now. Good on ya for taking the leap and gigging that thing. fatback Edited December 21, 2009 by fatback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I wouldn't advise running the set in a dark room. If you practice correctly,and use your ears,you should be fine when you hit the stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Thinking about using my (rarely used) fretless at a jamnight tonite. Yes, I'll probably get plenty of 'pretentious t*at' comments (it's a rock night) but I just like the feel. I'd love to be able to play by ear but usually can't get enough definition from 'house' stacks/environments to do it accurately. Generally I end up focussed on the side dots like a cheetah on a wilderbeest..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Reminds me of a friends gig where he had written the set list in pink hi lighter pen. On come the stage lights. Blank page. This is a bloke who'd been on TOTP, OGWT and everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 [quote name='Low End Bee' post='691518' date='Dec 22 2009, 02:03 PM']Reminds me of a friends gig where he had written the set list in pink hi lighter pen. On come the stage lights. Blank page. This is a bloke who'd been on TOTP, OGWT and everything. [/quote] Ahhh... A [url="http://www.spinaltapfan.com/articles/stonehenge.html"]Spinal Tap Moment[/url]! [b]martthebass[/b] Go for it, I say. Rock 'n' Roll, Don't Believe A Word, & Comfortably Numb all work just fine without Speed Bumps. Alternatively get yer Jack Bruce hat on Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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