Should I Pop My Cherry Tonight?

[jgroh]

Ive had my Squier VM fretless for about 3 years now and I have yet to use it at a gig. I was going to take my Ric tonight but think I might finally use my fretless for the full gig. I usually take two basses anyway so if it turns out sounding like a cow in heat, I can switch to my G&L L2500. We have been playing largely the same material for a while now and I was looking for a way to spice it up, but needless to say I am still nervous!

[jay tay]

have you jammed with it/ rehearsed with the band on it yet?

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by jay tay

have you jammed with it/ rehearsed with the band on it yet?

Ive used it a few times at rehearsals and used it at home. Im confident I can play the songs in tune, but its not easy to just focus on your fretboard at a gig. I mean how am I going to point to the groupies I want the roadies to bring back to my dressing room when I am trying to stay on the lines???

[groove pump]

Do it - it's called a leap of faith. Keep the other one handy so that if it turns tragic, you can bail out before the next song. Oh, and don't wait until you've had enough liquid courage to motivate you. Better to be sharp so that you can better mind your playing.

I did it a couple of years ago and MAN it was definitely a change of perspective when I realized I was actually jamming out "Living After Midnight" on a fretless. My singer though I was showboating when half way through the set, she realized my bass had no frets.

What has helped me with it has been resisting the temptation to be timid and sort of lurk in the background in terms of my sound. I really need to hear what I'm playing on the fretless, especially with the band making noise, too, so that means... oh yeah... turning up a bit. Without any frets to sort of corral the notes, it's vital to hear exactly what I'm doing so I can stay right on key, especially if I'm not staring at my neck.

Have FUN!!!

[Billnc]

The switch of number of strings is more difficult to me than frets or not. I've gone all fretless. I just like the sound better. The fretted is a spare.

[Jools4001]

Well a fretless VM is going to have a very different sound to a Ric, but unless the songs really need a Ric sound I'd still do it

[Stingray89]

So did you play the gig with it? How did it go if you did? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Never_grew_up]

Originally Posted by jgroh

Ive used it a few times at rehearsals and used it at home. Im confident I can play the songs in tune, but its not easy to just focus on your fretboard at a gig. I mean how am I going to point to the groupies I want the roadies to bring back to my dressing room when I am trying to stay on the lines???

Uhh, point with your right hand?


Just saying...

[Killspringer]

There are chops you get from playing live that you will never get from practice or rehearsals.

Just go for it.

[Tom_RCJ]

Don't do it man! You'll spontaneously combust!

Just kidding. If you succeed in not worrying about it, you'll have won half the battle.

Do it man! Bring it on!

[lowendfriend]

One of my main fretless uses is live gigs. I tend to use the fretted for recording where I'm a little more focused on precise sounds.

I just like to be able to "slip n slide" at a live gig. Seems to give me more confidence playing somehow.

[walterw]

this isn't a case of "i like the fretless but the rest of the band doesn't", is it?

if not, then what the hell, go for it.

i'm thinking of bands like bad company and the firm, rock bands with fretless bass players. done right, it can be a cool sound.

[Munjibunga]

Popping cherries, cows in heat ... YIKE! some kine animal in Munji's pants!

[caeman]

Once you get fretless, you'll never want to go back.

[jgroh]

Ok, I did use it for around half the gig. There are alot of songs I use my 5er for anyway so I still used the L2500 for those songs but used the fretless for everything else. It sounded great, but I did have to pay way more attention to the fretboard than I normally do. That was a little bit of a drawback...I found myself looking at my fretboard alot (the VM has lines and I use them as a rough guide). And, since I was a little apprehensive about using it for the first time on a gig, I didnt let loose with vibrato and other typical fretless magic.

Obviously there are tonal differences between the Ric, G&L's, and the VM but I like to switch it up to keep it fresh, and to be honest, no one but me or other possible musicians in the audience could tell anyway. So, I would say it was a success. Not sure if Ill go all fretless all the time but it was nice to use.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by walterw

this isn't a case of "i like the fretless but the rest of the band doesn't", is it?

No, my band is pretty enthusiastic about using the fretless. The drummer especially likes the tone I get with it. So it really was just a matter of having the guts to actually do it at a gig.

[MrMcHaggis]

I say do it and keep a back up bass handy.

Don't be afraid. Fear leads to the dark side.

[walterw]

fretless is one of those things where you really need to commit to it to get the intonation happening.

i say try playing it exclusively for a while (gigs and all) to build some "muscle memory".

also, have you had it properly set up? too many budget fretless basses come with the same nut that's on the company's fretted necks, and is thus way too high at the first "fret". getting that filed down like it's supposed to be, to where the first "fret" is as easy to finger as one in the middle of the neck, is key to playability and intonation.

[NateS]

i haven't actually read the thread, at all, but the title is obvious.


do it. film it.

[onionpuzzle]

Does the sound fit the song ? That's the first question you should ask.
Fretless in cover-band rock can be an unnecessary train wreck.