How much neck relief on a fretless?

[Pbassred]

Assuming the string is held down with a capo at the 1st fret position, and also at the body end. Measuring at the 9th fret (middle).

[Chasarms]

It's no different than a fretted bass.

It all depends on your technique, preferences and the bass itself.

[Tim Skaggs]

You can get by with a little less relief than a fretted. Actual relief on a fretted capo'd at 1st fret held down at the 17th fret, measured at the 8th fret should be from .010" to .025". That may seem like a lot, but this range takes into account different string gauges and playing styles. On a fretless, you can probably move the range down to .007" - .017". You can figure that .007" is getting close to no relief and would take a light touch to avoid buzzing, but if you have a nice even fretless board, you can get a nice even growl across and the length of the board. There are two basic reasons you can get by with a little less relief on a fretless; 1. You can get by with slightly lower open string height, and 2. Some buzz is acceptable and even desirable on a fretless.

[Bigjohn]

Just enough so you don't have any fret buzz.

[Nashrakh]

Originally Posted by Bigjohn

Just enough so you don't have any fret buzz.

Fret buzz on a fretless.

[MglMatador]

Just enough so you don't have any fret buzz.

If the original poster starts hearing fret buzz on this bass, I would suggest that he not go to a luthier and instead go to the hospital right away.

[Hookus]

The neck relief should be close to same as a fretted bass (I would say within .3 to .5 mm around the 8th fret), but you can lower the saddles a bit.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Bigjohn

Just enough so you don't have any fret buzz.

This ^ ... well sorta. There won't be any "fret buzz" on a fretless bass! Start with a flat neck and see what happens. If it buzzes only on the higher positions, try some slight saddle adjustments. Add a little relief if it buzzes in the middle fret positions. It's a trial and error kind of thing.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Tim Skaggs

Some buzz is acceptable and even desirable on a fretless.

Hmmm ... not in my world it ain't.

[rick0link]

all my basses have very little relief in their necks. almost straight. i find this to really help with comfortable string height and keeps a nice fretless tone.

[Tim Skaggs]

Originally Posted by Tim Skaggs
Some buzz is acceptable and even desirable on a fretless.

I guess buzz is not exactly the correct term. What I was referring to is more commonly referred to as growl, which is essentially "controlled buzz".