Going from fretless to fretted

[BryanM]

Any players out there who've gone from exclusively fretless to either a blend of fretted or fretless or even exclusively fretted?

I've been playing fretless just about exclusively for the last 6-8 years, but have occasionally played a fretted bass out on a gig because it was impromptu and that's what was available or it for sit ins. I'm looking into getting a secondary/backup bass and find there's not much a fretted bass can do that my fretless can't.

I don't play much slap bass if at all, and mostly play with a rambling, lead-bass style heavily inspired by JPJ, Jack Bruce, Entwistle and McCartney.

For a while now I've been leaning towards getting a fretless 5 as a backup but I'm wondering if I've been using strictly fretless as a matter of pride rather than preference, and in doing so hindering my opportunities to expand as a bassist.

[Seanto]

I can't say i went from purely playing fretless to fretted, but i do play both. The main difference it going to be the tone and attack of the fretted bass..which is honestly a better choice for most rock situations. I think a fretted 5 would be a nice compliment to a 4 string fretless for styles that call for it.

Don't force it on yourself though. If you never had a real reason to play fretted you can keep doin what your doin and maybe get a backup fretless. The switch would be a breeze for you though. Playing fretless really improves my accuracy on fretted. Also you don't have to worry about intonation very much.

[kirkdickinson]

Fretless is fun but a challenge. I have been playing mostly fretted for years. Back in November, I picked up a fretless Jazz Bass, then a Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 string fretless.

Most of my playing opportunities, the bands like the Acoustic, so I have been playing that almost exclusively since Nov. I played the Electric 5 string last week and it felt weird. I found myself occasionally missing a fret, overfretting is kind of what I was doing. I was landing slightly in front of the frets. I think it is because when playing the fretless I end up playing closer to the fretting point.

I like the fretted for faster stuff where I don't have to worry so much about intonation, but after 6-8 years, you probably don't have to worry about that much.

If you are getting the sound you like from fretless, stay there.

I always remember this video. Here is a fretless pick player doing a Racer X song originally done by a fretted finger player. Rocking it.

Fred Fritz covers Scarified

Kirk