Fanned fret question

[DaLoCo]

I am considering a multiscale fanned fret bass to add to my collection, but I am concerned that the change to fanned fret will stuff up my present standard scale playabilty.

I do not want to bin or sell the basses I currently own, which includes a new Corvette $$, a new Cort acoustic. A brand new homebuilt fretless, a BTB and a 4-string Hohner fretless.

Any input from people who actually own fanned fret basses....can you still get along on a standard bass setup?

[Chasarms]

I have a Dingwall ABII.

Personally, I find it to be a non-issue. In my experience, the difference in feel is exaggerated. It is FAR more intimidating to look at sitting on a guitar stand than it is to actually play.

My observations are that in the "money" real estate, that is frets 1-12, there are really no issues. From about 1-5 the fret spacing is such that you can pretty much play in straight parallel fingering just as you would a on single-scale bass. There's plenty of space for that, and from 5-12 the "non-parallel" nature of the frets is minimal.

Above the 12th fret seems to be the most variance from the norm. It is a little awkward, but not unmanageable.

I think a lot of it would depend on the style of play you enjoy. For those who are big tapper/chorder feature-type players, I would expect it to be a bigger challenge.

[DaLoCo]

Thanks, that is what I needed to know.

I generally don't venture above the 12th fret....yet....and probably won't for a while, as I play contemporary christian music mostly, and have rarely seen anything happening above the 12th.

[spiritbass]

I'm also playing in the same genre with a Dingwall AB-I, Super P/J, and G&L JB-2. Nine different scale lengths, no probs...

[fullrangebass]

I have played some other fan fret instruments along with my Dingwalls, and all I can say that Sheldon Dingwall has got it right from the start (I suppose that the original post meant Dingwall basses, but I wanted to clarify)

I play lots of chords and tapping stuff, as well as fingerstyle and pick, and I have no problems any of these techniques on my Dingwalls

Playing my Dingwalls does not inhibit my playing on the rest of my basses (my "bed time" bass now is my Carvin AC50 fretted). The issue I have is that I miss the tone and playability of my Dingwalls when I play other basses

[DaLoCo]

Thanks....I appreciate the input, my fears are allayed. I was just a bit weary, as I have never seen a fanned fret instrument in South Africa, so I cannot even go and try it out.

I have to build my own if I want one. Exchange rate and shipping will kill the idea of an import.