Half-fretless?

Yeah, they sure exist. They aren't that common but I've seen some pics of em. They don't seem to have any functionality issues, which I can't explain since I've never played one. Someone else will be in a better position to answer your questions. Cool idea though!

 

I believe this has been done by using a fretboard that is thicker where it is fretless (rides about the height of the frets) to get the mwah, but doesn't get in the way of fretted notes.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/G-L-L-2000-n...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I guess it would be a cool thing if it worked properly, for me i reckon the novelty would wear off quickly though...

 

these just don't seem practical to me...

on fretless, it is much easier to intonate the lower notes anyway, so where's the advantage?

 

yeah, i think it would work much better the other way around!

 

I agree, the reverse makes more sense if it works. How about this one..

 

how bizarre! Now THAT I'd like to try!

 

there are basses called Fretted/less, where their 'most popular' model is fretted up to 12th, then fretless u pto 23rd with the 24th fretted for slapping.....and the fretless section is raised to fret height....veeeerrrryyyyy exxxppeeennnsssivveee

www.solidbodyguitar.com

 

I think retaining the frets down low makes sense, because it seems to me that intonation could be more difficult down there for two reasons. First, the notes are farther apart, so there's more physical room for error. Second, it's more difficult to hear lower pitches precisely. Also, I think there's less "mwah" down there anyway, so why not keep the frets? (I haven't had much fretless experience since playing cello in 6th grade, so I could certainly be off base here.) I think these are the reasons some builders offer this option, like Matt Pulcinella (www.mpguitars.com).

Plus, I would think a well designed fretboard in this configuration could reduce fret buzz. Not that there should be any on a custom bass anyway, but it can't hurt.

I'm curious about this option myself if/when I decide to go fretless.

 

Matt Pulcinella ( http://www.mpguitars.com ) offers a semi-fretless neck option. Kramer used to have a half-fretless option on their old aluminum-necked basses, too. I've never played either one, though.

By the way, in the picture above, those are just lines--not frets--going partway across the board.

Mike

 

Mike, you're absolutely right. I noticed that after I posted. But somewhere I remember seeing a Pagelli bass with real frets in a similar configuation. Cheers.

 

I think I remember seeing that one, too...and thanks for reminding me of the maker. I was totally blanking on that one!

Would definately love the opportunity to try one of those out sometime.

Mike

 

Kramer offered half-fretless as a factory fingerboard option 25 years ago on their metal neck basses...fretted to the 9th fret, then lined fretless above that. The also offered both lined and unlined full fretless boards.

 

That beauty isn't as bizzarre as you think--those are partial fretlines, not partial frets. It's completely fretless.

MPG offers half-fretted also. Another option that's been done is E-A strings fretted, D-G fretless.

 

John browns guitar factory is the one your looking for. They defretted my 6 string thumb neck thru and poly'd it did a fantastic job. They specialize in half fretted and fretless basses check out their site johnbrownsguitarfactory

 

Ibanez Musician ,i think the first who had a half fretless in the 1980 s
I still have this bass but made it fretless all the way.(like Sting from the Police )
It didn't play very well in the fretless part.

 

I've had beater basses that wouldn't intonate past the 12th fret no matter what you did.
Perhaps he pulled those frets out to manually compensate for the correct notes.

 

Half fretlesses have been done in all possible forms by many brands.
Separation below or over the 12th fret, somes strings fretless and others not, diagonally across the strings descending and uprising.
They are specialty instruments that respond to some players' uses but there is no perfect solution.
It's up to you to decide what fits you best.

 

Status Basses in the UK offer this option. The first 12 frets are fretted, then the remainder of the fingerboard is fretless.

However, in order to not increase the action over the fretless part of the neck (because the action would need to be higher over the fretted part of the neck to clear the fret tops) the fretless part of the fingerboard is raised to be nearly as high as the last fret.

Peace,

Rob.