Frettless effect

cheesemonkey · #1 02-10-2008, 09:24 AM

Are there any petals that can make make a fretted bass sound like a frettless?

Jared Lash · #2 02-10-2008, 09:48 AM

Nope.

There are a number that claim to, mainly settings on multi effects, but none sound remotely convincing. Every one I've heard uses a volume swell and usually some chorus and/or reverb and it can be an interesting sound but it really doesn't sound like a fretless.

Grateful · #3 02-10-2008, 10:20 AM

I'm a relatively new resident of FretlessBurg, but I have found that the 'Fretless' effects I have tried really come nowhere near the actual sound of true fretless. Even on my little cheapy fretless. Some variations of pedals I've tried seem to try and simulate it by kinda delaying the attack then layering effects. Plus, the sound generated on a fretless by being able to slide willy-nilly all over the fingerboard without the dampening effect of frets is going to be all but impossible to reproduce convincingly.

But nowadays, for close to the price of some of the bigger effects pedals, you can just get a fretless bass.

cheesemonkey · #4 02-10-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grateful

I'm a relatively new resident of FretlessBurg, but I have found that the 'Fretless' effects I have tried really come nowhere near the actual sound of true fretless. Even on my little cheapy fretless. Some variations of pedals I've tried seem to try and simulate it by kinda delaying the attack then layering effects. Plus, the sound generated on a fretless by being able to slide willy-nilly all over the fingerboard without the dampening effect of frets is going to be all but impossible to reproduce convincingly.

But nowadays, for close to the price of some of the bigger effects pedals, you can just get a fretless bass.

Aye its more right now I'm a decent bassist i just have a small problem with my fingers landing a little short of the fret so even with a frettless with markers I'd mess up on trying to get the exact note but i love the sound. Guess i just need to work on my fingers and get a real frettless lol... Oh well thanks for the help yall

Darkstrike · #5 02-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Could get a shortscale and defret it.

Matt R. · #6 02-10-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesemonkey

Aye its more right now I'm a decent bassist i just have a small problem with my fingers landing a little short of the fret so even with a frettless with markers I'd mess up on trying to get the exact note but i love the sound. Guess i just need to work on my fingers and get a real frettless lol... Oh well thanks for the help yall

There ya go. Seriously, get a cheap fretless like an SX and practice your ass off. Good luck, and you'll probably surprise yourself at how fast you pick it up if your ear is good

cheesemonkey · #7 02-10-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt R.

There ya go. Seriously, get a cheap fretless like an SX and practice your ass off. Good luck, and you'll probably surprise yourself at how fast you pick it up if your ear is good

exactly how cheap is that because I have like no money

Ryan Mohr · #8 02-10-2008, 07:48 PM

http://www.rondomusic.com/spb57fretless.html
$109

damianerskine · #9 02-10-2008, 07:59 PM

The most effective method I've found is altering your technique to reproduce the sound you want. Playing with the right hand further up the neck and gliss-ing into notes...playing with vibrato, etc... With a good tone and the right technique, you can get a pretty effective fretless sound without any effects!

arai · #10 02-10-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesemonkey

exactly how cheap is that because I have like no money

then you wont be able to afford an effect either.
what about defreting the one you have

Swimming Bird · #11 02-10-2008, 10:10 PM

Take the speed bumps off.

Why would the effect be a swell? Not that I'm doubting that's what it is, but my fretless has a super fast attack when you hit it right and I think a lot of others do too. Does the effect even try for the growl?

Jared Lash · #12 02-10-2008, 10:29 PM

My reference for these effects are from an old Boss multi and a cheap digitech multi.

But no, they don't try to add growl. I don't know why they use a "Slow Gear" type volume swell for their "fretless" effect but they do. For some reason fretless must be associated with "bowed" in the designers minds.

cheesemonkey · #13 02-11-2008, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

My reference for these effects are from an old Boss multi and a cheap digitech multi.

But no, they don't try to add growl. I don't know why they use a "Slow Gear" type volume swell for their "fretless" effect but they do. For some reason fretless must be associated with "bowed" in the designers minds.

Frettless as in upright? aye it doesn't quite make sense.

but aye thats cheap something i might actually be able to afford.

optikhog · #14 02-11-2008, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

http://www.rondomusic.com/spb57fretless.html
$109

+1. That's my latest fretless effect.

fuNKmaster83 · #15 02-11-2008, 05:40 AM

you have to picture or imagine how to play fretless to sound like one... i have heard only the best bass players do that to make fretted sound like fretless with out any efx!!!

CraigG · #16 02-11-2008, 09:00 AM

+1 on picking up an inexpensive fretless. Pedals will only leave you wanting as they aren't nearly as convincing as the manufacturer's will try to lead you to believe. It has been my experience that you'll still pick up the effects of a fretted neck as you can't get into the semi-tones that give the fretless a part of its unique sound.

I bought a fretless SX 5 - as inexpensive as any pedal that supposedly offers a fretless setting and the results are an actual fretless sound. Also a lot of fun to play around with.

Craig

Grateful · #17 02-11-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesemonkey

Aye its more right now I'm a decent bassist i just have a small problem with my fingers landing a little short of the fret so even with a frettless with markers I'd mess up on trying to get the exact note but i love the sound. Guess i just need to work on my fingers and get a real frettless lol... Oh well thanks for the help yall

There is definitely a bit of a adapting required. On fretted basses, you obvioulsy press between the frets (duh.) using fretboard dots/inlays as reference. With fretlesses it seems that you end up pressing near above or below the dots or on the actual fret line where the physical fret would be. Depending on how intonation is set, how far above/below the dots may vary by degree.
Once you kinda get it figured out and have resisted the urge to swiftly mount your bass on the wall horizontally, headstock-first, your ear will guide your fingers to the proper locations. There's no feeling like a fretless.