Darn my inabilities @#$%@

blendermassacre · #1 06-15-2009, 08:41 PM

So i have my ibanez sr406 up for sale or trade (hint hint). Sort of an impulse buy, and I realized that I just want to simplify to a 4 banger for now (being that it is my only bass). A guy emailed me wanting to trade for the bass pictured, except I can't play fretless (argh). Stupid Brain....

Asher S · #2 06-15-2009, 10:57 PM

Maybe try watching the first 2 minutes of this video by the master of fretless...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILMHq_yZ7Hs

And of course like anything else, tons and tons of practice.

But the real question is: Will the fretless bass give you the sound that you want? If so, then go for it. If not, don't bother.

blendermassacre · #3 06-15-2009, 11:04 PM

Really if it wasn't my only bass (and i don't have the money for another right now) i would do it. I want a fretless , but not as my only bass that i can't play right now.

Asher S · #4 06-15-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

Really if it wasn't my only bass (and i don't have the money for another right now) i would do it. I want a fretless , but not as my only bass that i can't play right now.

OK, but on the other hand, if it's your only bass, you will master it that much sooner. Heck- you could rent/borrow a fretted bass for gigs for a while if need be!

onlyclave · #5 06-15-2009, 11:18 PM

The 6 string bass has the same strings as the 4. Plus two more.

Why change?

Zombbg4 · #6 06-15-2009, 11:19 PM

Get an sx P bass and an sx fretless J!

blendermassacre · #7 06-15-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

The 6 string bass has the same strings as the 4. Plus two more.

Why change?

trying to simplify, plus this specific one isn't really the sound i'm going for ( ibanez sr406)

onlyclave · #8 06-16-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

trying to simplify, plus this specific one isn't really the sound i'm going for ( ibanez sr406)

Reducing the number of strings doesn't simplify the music. That comes from the player.

dnarock · #9 06-16-2009, 07:41 PM

a six string is a lil more to work around just like a 3 band obp from a guy used to a p bass with just a vol and a tone . I play a 5 mostly but some stuff is easy'er to me on a 4 .

blendermassacre · #10 06-16-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Reducing the number of strings doesn't simplify the music. That comes from the player.

Interesting how people see things. I never said I was simplifying the music? And I also said I didn't like the tone.

SSINTENSE · #11 06-17-2009, 12:57 PM

I'm thinking about getting an unlined fretless and just learning how to play it. The more you play and the more you refine the inevitable mistakes and tone misses the more you are able to play it. I figure after about 2 years I would be able to play it as a normal bass.

SSINTENSE · #12 06-17-2009, 12:59 PM

I think the only added difficulty to a 6 would be added length size. A 4 string has all of the same notes as a 6. No one says you have to play the added 2 strings. It just extends the availability of modes at a certain position for you. A 5 is all you really need if you want just about every key available to you at a certain position. A 6 just adds even more to your possibilities.

blendermassacre · #13 06-18-2009, 04:30 PM

So I did something exciting for me today.

I went to the Musician's Friend warehouse, and staring me in the face was a frettless MM bongo w/ the volume pot broken off. I picked it up, as I had never played a bongo before. Looked at the fret dots.

and ba jam! I played the crap out of that thing. Really having the fret dots for reference is super easy. I'm definitely not the world's best bassist by any stretch, but my hand knew what to, and did it, despite the frets. wow.

Asher S · #14 06-18-2009, 07:29 PM

Yep! Much of the general apprehension about fretless is psychological. Shed away!