Craigslist fretless score?

keiththebassist · #1 12-30-2011, 11:56 AM

So I have decided to wade into the world of fretless bass and I'm pretty sure I picked up a score on craigslist.

I got a Yamaha RBX260f which I realize is definitely in the low end of things but It has been upgraded with a badass 2 bridge and a set of bartolini pick ups. It's in good shape overall with no major damage or scuffs, just needs a good set up but that's to be expected. I paid a whopping $75 for it

Score? Any good advice from seasoned fretless players on fun ways to get started? or just general tips?

snyderz · #2 12-30-2011, 12:26 PM

Just play it.

Of course that's assuming you really have it since there are no pics.

keiththebassist · #3 12-30-2011, 12:46 PM

Thanks for the useless response. Why in the hell would I claim to have some thing I did not?

hdracer · #4 12-30-2011, 12:49 PM

That was a joke.
No pix no bass.

LowEndMan2112 · #5 12-30-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keiththebassist

Thanks for the useless response. Why in the hell would I claim to have some thing I did not?

No need to get up in arms! There's kind of an unwritten rule here on TB, and it goes something no pics = no bass/amp/whatever.

His advice just play it actually is good advice, there's not much of a better way to learn! Listen with your ears, practice with a drone tone or with some backing tracks in order to correct your intonation.

bassteban · #6 12-30-2011, 12:51 PM

You seem to be newish here- I'll explain. When a TBer claims to have a new(or new-to-them)bass/girlfriend/carrot/etc, it is customary for others to respond w/a request for pictures- we're asking you to share.

It's often worded thus: *Pics or no bass/GF/etc*
No need for feelings of butthurtedness.

Edit: I type slowly, but w/semi-sincerity. That all said- I've not played a truly bad Yamaha; IMO you've done quite well.

nickrs540 · #7 12-30-2011, 12:52 PM

That sounds like a sweet deal to me. I don't know anything about yamaha basses, but any bass with barts that works right for $75 sounds like its worth it to me. Plus fretless basses are badass anyways.

snyderz is right though, No pic=No Bass. Thems the rules

LowEndMan2112 · #8 12-30-2011, 12:56 PM

Oh yeah, nice score! The pickups alone are worth probably double that.

Foamy · #9 12-30-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keiththebassist

Thanks for the useless response. Why in the hell would I claim to have some thing I did not?

easy......
Now that you know, post pix!

keiththebassist · #10 12-30-2011, 01:20 PM

It's not that I'm butthurt or anything like that, I was just hoping for a little more conversation than "just play it". It's a new bass, of course I'm playing it. Its all good and well that people wanna play the no pics no bass game, I just feel that It would be worth it to upload a pic if someone was generally interested in seeing it, but not just to prove that it exists. Anyway, I figured that with the barts in it, it was easily worth what I paid for it, Just never really been impressed with the sound of bart p-ups, I think I've just been spoiled by EMG's, but that's a whole other thread. Rock on guys (and gals)

cjmodulus · #11 12-30-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keiththebassist

It's not that I'm butthurt or anything like that, I was just hoping for a little more conversation than "just play it". It's a new bass, of course I'm playing it. Its all good and well that people wanna play the no pics no bass game, I just feel that It would be worth it to upload a pic if someone was generally interested in seeing it, but not just to prove that it exists. Anyway, I figured that with the barts in it, it was easily worth what I paid for it, Just never really been impressed with the sound of bart p-ups, I think I've just been spoiled by EMG's, but that's a whole other thread. Rock on guys (and gals)

I'm generally interested in seeing it.
I'm sure once you post pics the discussion you're looking for will come.

But the 'just play it' advice is solid. What I like to do is to play along to t favorite tunes that were recorded on a fretted bass so i can hear when I'm out of tune.

I also will practice 2 octave scales and arpeggios with a tuner occasionally. But you don't want to develop a dependence on it. I also like to play my intervals from open strings. (ie- let my E ring out and then play the fifth (B on the A string) then the major and minor 3rds above that (G and G# on the D string), then octaves, etc. if you do a search in the 'technique' forum you'll find a lot of useful threads.

MysticMichael · #12 12-30-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keiththebassist

Score? Any good advice from seasoned fretless players on fun ways to get started? or just general tips?

IME, playing fretless bass does good things for fretted bass playing. And vice versa...

A good set-up is absolutely crucial. When in doubt, tweak it some more until you get it precisely where you want it. The instrument will reward you for having done so.

Fretless bass is generally more sensitive and responsive to changes in playing technique than is the case with fretted bass. I get some of my best results by plucking just above the neck pickup, near the lower end of the neck, and digging in a bit so as to accentuate the mwah.

While I rarely solo one of the two pickups entirely, I will usually roll the pickup blend control to about a 75/25 balance of one pickup over the other. And while many fretless players will claim a preference for the bridge pickup, I usually prefer the neck pickup.

YMMV...

MM

Nev375 · #13 12-30-2011, 03:52 PM

Just play it!

Ok, uhm.... ok here goes.... I think that model has a lined fretboard. If it does, I advise you to not look at them much when you play. One crucial skill a fretless player absolutely needs is to develop a good ear in order to develop good intonation skills.

Lines can become a visual crutch, so look away like they are Medusa's hairdo.

snyderz · #14 12-30-2011, 06:14 PM

Still waiting....

Foamy · #15 12-30-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snyderz

Still waiting....

You can stop holding your breath.
:-)

keiththebassist · #16 12-30-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

You can stop holding your breath.
:-)

Exactly. I'll post a pic of that one as wel as my other basses when I get back to the studio on the 2nd. Until then, just exhale...

**jbybj** · #17 12-31-2011, 12:57 AM

I finally got in the habit of waiting to post, no matter what new cool bass related thing had happened in my life, until I had pictures to go along with the news.

I have been learning fretless for the last 5 years, after 35 years of amateur playing. My advice is to hold off on the temptation to take advantage of all the slides and glissandos now available to you, and try really hard to make your fretless sound like any other fretted bass.

Develop some muscle memory. Learn to play in tune first. A fretless can be ultimately versatile if you can play it and have it sound like a fretted or fretless bass. It's cool when your vibrato and microtonal playing is purposeful, and not what it always sounds like when you play fretless.

And, IMHO, nice score. Of course, I really need to see it to be sure.................

**Engine207** · #18 12-31-2011, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nev375

Just play it!

Ok, uhm.... ok here goes.... I think that model has a lined fretboard. If it does, I advise you to not look at them much when you play. One crucial skill a fretless player absolutely needs is to develop a good ear in order to develop good intonation skills.

Lines can become a visual crutch, so look away like they are Medusa's hairdo.

You can probably get $75 for that BadAss II all day long, so it's a good deal. Sound advice on the fret lines too. My fretless play improved sharply...wait...noticeably, when I went to unlined. No crutch, no eyes glued to the fingerboard, and my ear is better - which improves my overall playing on both fretted and fretless.

Now post a damn photo (or it's all imaginary, anyway)!