Fretless: who was first?

whitman · #1 10-31-2007, 10:21 AM

Who played the first fretless bass on record?

fenderhutz · #2 10-31-2007, 10:23 AM

Electric is what I guess you are looking for?

Upright (fretless) was probably on one of the FIRST musical records ever. But I don't think you mean that.

Dave Bassincus · #3 10-31-2007, 10:31 AM

The conventional wisdom says Bill Wyman, circa 65-66. Hardly any mwah, though.

whitman · #4 10-31-2007, 10:57 AM

Yes, electric. I know what you mean about Wyman, but I mean The Real Mwah.

John Webb · #5 10-31-2007, 11:02 AM

I'll betcha Steve Bailey knows..............

fullrangebass · #6 10-31-2007, 11:07 AM

By not giving credit to Bill Wyman and one of the pre-Bootsy James Brown bass players (whos name I'm forgeting this moment) that both played fretless electric bass before Jaco, you probably mean the fretless playing the way that Jaco did. That changes the title of the thread to "Did anyone play fretless in a Jaco way before Jaco?"

whitman · #7 10-31-2007, 11:19 AM

OK, obviously some confusion here. Let me clarify. I'm interested to know the forum's views on the first fretless electric bass guitar recorded and released on record. The Bill Wyman example is a bit of an anomaly as it is so early and ahead of anyone else. So who came next after Bill? The Jaco argument doesn't come into it either: any style, any genre. So, votes?

Dr. Cheese · #8 10-31-2007, 01:24 PM

If you are looking for people who had some of the techniques associated with Jaco in their sound before Jaco got big, I can think of a few people to check out. The first would be Alphonso Johnson with Weather Report on CDs like Myserious Traveler and Black Market. He played a Lobue custom built fretless back then. Another early player would be Fernaundo Saunders with Bohannon. If you get Bohannons greatest Hits, you can hear the mwah on a few tracks. Another early fretless guy would be Michael Henderson, he used alot mwah on two tracks of his Going Places CD which came out in 1976.

Dr. Cheese · #9 10-31-2007, 01:28 PM

Lamont Johnson with Brainstorm is another early fretless player. He also had a great solo CD too. The neat thing is that Henderson, Saunders, and Johnson were all r&b players from Detroit who used fretless in funk during the mid and late 1970s. They are a trio fretless players who tend to get overlooked.

nysbob · #10 10-31-2007, 01:35 PM

I think Ronnie Lane did with the Small Faces...it sounds fretless anyway. That would be '67 - '68. You've got to give Wyman his due, though.

bottomzone · #11 10-31-2007, 01:43 PM

Let's not forget the great Ralphe Armstrong and his Gibson fretless back in the day! He is PHENOMENAL on both electric and upright!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

bottomzone · #12 10-31-2007, 01:44 PM

Let's not forget the great Ralphe Armstrong and his Gibson fretless back in the day! He is PHENOMENAL on both electric and upright!!!
Also, Percy Jones.

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Dr. Cheese · #13 10-31-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottomzone

Let's not forget the great Ralphe Armstrong and his Gibson fretless back in the day! He is PHENOMENAL on both electric and upright!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Ralphe Armstrong is another Detroit fretless player. There must be something in the water in Wayne County.

Passinwind · #14 10-31-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitman

OK, obviously some confusion here. Let me clarify. I'm interested to know the forum's views on the first fretless electric bass guitar recorded and released on record. The Bill Wyman example is a bit of an anomaly as it is so early and ahead of anyone else. So who came next after Bill? The Jaco argument doesn't come into it either: any style, any genre. So, votes?

I remember seeing Rick Danko playing his Ampeg fretless in the early 70s. I've seen references to him using it on album as early as '68 (Music From Big Pink).

iamthebassman · #15 10-31-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitman

OK, obviously some confusion here. Let me clarify. I'm interested to know the forum's views on the first fretless electric bass guitar recorded and released on record. The Bill Wyman example is a bit of an anomaly as it is so early and ahead of anyone else. So who came next after Bill? The Jaco argument doesn't come into it either: any style, any genre. So, votes?

Ha. You answered your own question. Sounds like you wanna know who was second.

Ben Rolston · #16 10-31-2007, 02:25 PM

Also Marshall "Rock" Jones from the Ohio Players. I've heard him referred to as the first, although I don't know whether that's true or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Ralphe Armstrong is another Detroit fretless player. There must be something in the water in Wayne County.

When you think about all the great Jazz Double Bass players from Detroit (PC, Ron Carter, Doug Watkins, Bob Hurst, Rodney Whitaker...) it's pretty clear somethin' special is going on over here bass-wise.

**Mark Wilson** · #17 10-31-2007, 02:48 PM

Well, The huge debate, i'd say, is between Jaco and Bill Wyman.

when Jaco was questioned on it, he said...(loosely)

"Well, I was the first electric fretless player too play in tune, ya know?"

i think Jaco DEFINITELY popularized the Fretless electric bass first.

Dan1099 · #18 10-31-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Ralphe Armstrong is another Detroit fretless player. There must be something in the water in Wayne County.

So, does that mean, because, even though I live in the suburbs, I still get Detroit city water, so I should switch to fretless right away?!

Dr. Cheese · #19 10-31-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan1099

So, does that mean, because, even though I live in the suburbs, I still get Detroit city water, so I should switch to fretless right away?!

Could be.

markjazzbassist · #20 10-31-2007, 03:22 PM

+1 to Rick Danko. He played that Ampeg upright with Bob Dylan and The Band. Love that cat, great player, unique voice, he will be missed.