speaking of fretted to fretless conversion

tjclem · #1 02-15-2006, 04:51 PM

and back again..... Cool video

Anybody try to build one of these?

http://207.245.246.245/images/bassmpg1-2-1.wmv

tjclem · #2 02-15-2006, 05:15 PM

not sure what video you are watching?????

fookgub · #3 02-15-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjclem

not sure what video you are watching?????

Indeed, in the video I saw the guy was playing a 5 string with 5 strings on it, and it had one of those retracting fret systems that was getting a lot of discussion a while ago. To my suprise, it seemed to work pretty well.

tjclem · #4 02-15-2006, 06:00 PM

That is what I thought I was posting. Pretty cool. I wish I could build one..t

ehque · #5 02-15-2006, 06:40 PM

yeah, it isnt like hambone to miss that

its really cool. dont know how it works, but i bet the neck is THICK.

teacherguy · #6 02-15-2006, 06:58 PM

Is that one of those FretGroove basses or am I mistaken (I haven't seen their web site yet so I'm taking a guess).

Jon

tjclem · #7 02-15-2006, 07:00 PM

not a clue.

callmeMrThumbs · #8 02-15-2006, 07:30 PM

Hambone's right...there's only four strings. And no Jon, those are not fret grooves. You can flip the frets up and down with a flick of a switch. It's all described on his website (don't remember the link). I remember this "retractable fret" thing come up before (or whatever it's called). I didn't notice the bass was "missing" a string before...odd...The frets are a neat idea, anyway.

-Josh

callmeMrThumbs · #9 02-15-2006, 07:32 PM

http://mikeyguitar.com/Demo.asp

And after taking a look at the bass pictures, there IS a fifth (g) string...except is seems to be hanging off the side of the fretboard...

-Josh

callmeMrThumbs · #10 02-15-2006, 08:51 PM

If you look at the bass pics on his site, there are clearly 5 strings. He also plays on the top G string during the video, I noticed.

I know what you mean about the feeling of unintentional fretgrooves on a defretted bass. I just resanded and refinished my defretted bass because I did a pretty piss-poor job on it the first time around. But now it is MUCH smoother and a lot more fun to play. I think you are right about those retractable frets having durability issues and such. It'd still be interesting to try one of those out.

-Josh

Luke Sheridan · #11 02-15-2006, 08:58 PM

It actually is a fiver. The specs list it as such. I think the video compression makes it very difficult to see the G.
Anyway, Its a very cool concept. I'd love to try it out.

Model Designation:
Mikey Bass 5 string

Scale Length:
34 Inches (864 mm)

Nut Width:

1.88 Inches (48 mm)

String Spacing at bridge:

2.98 Inches (75.6 mm)

SnakeAnthony · #12 02-15-2006, 10:18 PM

A fretless guitar? The Les Paul style guitar on his site is pretty nifty. I've never heard of a fretless guitar, nor did I ever think I would. It all sounds OK. Not amazing, but OK. And I think its a good enough concept.

Wadge · #13 02-16-2006, 07:11 AM

I've come across this video other times here on TB and there has always been a mixed reaction.

As with anything new, it is often the case that scorn gets laid down on a new system which has not yet been proved by time. Hambone has made a good observation in forseeing the problems which may occur with such a fretted/frettless system, although to be fair the string would not press down into the grooves as in a defretted bass because the frets seem to have been merely recessed into the neck thereby still providing a place where the string can contact.

However, I feel that credit should be given where credit is due and not dismiss a new idea immediately. I have been interested in such a system for a while and this is the best system I have seen changing from a fretted to a frettless because it appears to allow for a very quick transition back and forth.

The benefits of being able to change between fretted and fretless on the same bass are more than one:

1) If your budget is of say $2000, you can either purchase a fretted and fretless for a $1000 each or else you can put all your money into a better bass which can do both (a bit simplistic admittedly but you get the idea).
2) You don't need to drag two basses with you to a gig if your set requires both.
3) you can change between fretted and frettless mid-song (as in for a solo for instance). Surely that is a better idea than a double neck which is an accepted instrument nowadays. As much as I like looking at John Turner's Double neck for instance I have got to wonder at compromises involved in a double neck (wieght, neither neck being in the ideal position, etc. Can you imagine one of John's beautiful Conklins with a fretted/frettless system.

There are other benefits I'm sure. Possibly the system is not perfect. I for one don't like the tone of that bass and I I can myself see that the mechanism may jam at some point. But I think that it is interesting nonetheless and could be improved.

Sorry about the rant.

pilotjones · #14 02-16-2006, 07:58 AM

Here's last month's discussion, where we got into technical details speculation. And patent rights. And dollar value.

Fretted and fretless all in one!

There was thread before that, too, but I couldn't find it.

Luke Sheridan · #15 02-16-2006, 08:01 AM

There is a pretty interesting site here on fretless guitar. http://www.atonal-hole.com/

SnakeAnthony · #16 02-16-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Sheridan

There is a pretty interesting site here on fretless guitar. http://www.atonal-hole.com/

Well I have been enlightened. Thanks for the link.