fretting

I know this seems a very bassic (sic) question, but I've started to wonder whether I'm fretting strings correctly. Here's a fingertip. Please tell me which of the letters best corresponds to the place on your fingertip where you press the bass string to the fretboard. Thumbs up for helping!

They are set up to do ~1/4” fretboards, does anyone make a bolt on mod to use them for ~1” one piece necks?

My 1998 Yamaha TRB 6II, frets are getting worn out. Time to refretting, I'm hesitating, what fret size to choose. I don't like the feeling of tall frets, but like to get a long lasting option...I heard the wide frets not produce as clear sound...I like to keep the bass its modern...

I've got a project with a maple fingerboard and trying to figure out the best way to finish. In the past I've sprayed the FB before putting in frets, then completing the instrument and taping the FB while spraying the rest. This adds labor and weeks to the timeline for curing. I'm thinking...

I'm a beginner, so I still got a lot to figure out, and right now it's that when I'm having for example my first finger on a fret and I want to put my third finger on a higher fret, my first finger keeps sliding up the string and over the fret, and it's annoying me so bad because I don't know...

Other than stewmac. 100 bux just seems a bit high (plus shipping). I have a 19 inch beam but looking for a 24. Links if you have them. Searching for a couple of hours now. Thanks all.

Hi all. How are you. A week into learning bass and I’m totally hooked. But just one thing. I have small hand and am struggling to fret the first few frets on the E string. I currently have a Ibanez GSR200. Is this regarded wide at the nut? Ive also have a look at the definition on fingerboard...

Hi there, (new here :]) I’ve been playing bass guitar for a few years now and I have a one-on-one teacher. I’ve only recently realised that the way I use my fretting hand might not be correct, but my teacher has never said anything to correct it so I don’t know if it actually even is a problem...

I briefly put on (and intend to keep handy) a set of Fender tapewounds on my P bass with a gauge of 58-110. Granted, tapes are not as stiff as flats, but moving back down to a 40-100 set of Rotos rounds, it feels almost effortless playing fast runs and moving around the frets. Does anyone use a...

For the most part, I find myself fretting the strings almost as one would a guitar, using the pad of each finger, on each string as I need it. However, I think that this technique is really starting to get in my way and slowing me down, and looks like my hand is some sort of weird alien spider...

So I have been play for 5 months now and have not taken any class due to time and money and whatnot. Though I feel like I've developed a bad technique because I didn't really take positioning into consideration and I just kinda took off and did pretty well. Ok so, I fret (if that's how you say...

I've been looking at some bass instruction videos and I see guys reaching to use one finger per fret. Looks awkward to me because i have short fingers. I use index on the first fret, middle finger on the second and ring and pinky together on the third and shift hand position to get the fourth...

Because I am a nutjob, I've decided to make my first bass build from scratch. Also my second, which is going on simultaneously, and will be fretless. With large-scale laser-cut veneer images! And shell inlay! And headless! 5-String! 36.02" scale! Probably with homemade headless hardware...

cut the fret wire to size resulting in a forest of frets

It is, to me, much more confortable to play with only my index and middle finger on the fretting hand, and I seem to be able to play faster this way, but I've been playing for a few weeks only. I also do not bend my wrist when I'm playing this way, as I would do if I were to use all my fingers...

Hi everyone, I’m a relative novice with a visual impairment and thought I’d post to ask for any advice that you might have to help me improve my playing – particularly with locating my fretting-fingers. My sight problems are a little tricky to explain, but basically I have lost much of my...

I took delivery of an Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro short scale (28.5") bass today, and I was immediately delighted by how easy it is to play compared to my standard 34" basses. One thing I noticed is that I can now use my strongest three fingers (index, middle and ring) to stretch across four frets... a...

Has anybody exp with burns. I didn't go the hospital because the burns didn't look that bad. They hurt like hell but didn't look bad until they kind of popped open to drain. Thats when I realized it's probably over a 1/16" of skin that appears to want to fall off my fingers. I think Im gonna...

Not sure exactly what I did, but I had a gradual onset of pain and swelling in my left middle finger starting Thursday night. Of course, I have a gig tonight. I can't come anywhere close to making a fist, and I don't know how effective I'll be at playing. I told the band that I need to keep...

fretting and nut tools

I've searched the forum, and there seems to be very little discussion of ABSIV's (Armistead Burwell Smith IV, aka Zach Smith) technique. He's utterly fascinating to watch. In this recent clip, he's doing a bunch of his usual tricks, arpeggiating and strumming chords, and something I haven't seen...

tools for fretting

I just got a new addition to the family. An Ibanez SR700-BBF, my first fretless. I'd been wanting to go somewhere different, so I thought, "Why be different? Let's be predictable and go for a fretless". After investigating the options, I'd figured I'd probably pick up a cheap Squier to see if I...

fretwork almost done

Ready to fret, side dots installed, fret wire radiuses and cut, fret press set up

I have an 80's Pedulla Buzz Bass (lined fretless) that I would like to fret. I'd like to remove the poly on the finger board with a radius block, then clamp the radius block to the board and use it as a guide for my slotting saw. Can this be done by supporting the back of the neck with something...

slotting frets

hey all, first thras here, I started bass about 2 years ago but took a break and now I’m starting t back up again, I’ve noticed that after playing I get small cuts/slices on the outside of my index finger, they’re not deep but it’s like a paper cut almost, without the pain. It doesn’t look nice...

I have thinner than average fingers for a man, which is great for guitar and piano, but not so much for bass. I always just pushed myself past discomfort on the bass, but I figured it would be best to try to find some effective strengthening excercices. Besides walking up and down the neck on...

Hi everyone. I broke 4th metacarpal on my fretting hand some time ago and had to have a plate put on it because of displacement. I've mostly recovered but the plate is still there. It's titanium and the surgeon said I may not remove it. Still I feel some discomfort and slight restriction of...

I've recently experimented with tucking my thumb underneath my neck to help keep my wrist straight. It seems to be working pretty well, but I don't see anybody else doing it. Is there a reason doing this may be counterproductive?

Hello, For primarily financial reasons, I have unfortunately not been able to have formal training, so I'm self-taught. When I began two and a half years ago, I made the conscious choice to disregard the 4 fingers / 3 fret rule in favor of finger-per-fret to improve my finger span. I already...

I wonder if anyone can help, bit of background , been playing for nearly 20 year's, the same fender jazz in similar bands (rock / funk) rehearse weekly and gig every couple of weeks Ok so, over the last few years I have been having troubles with my fretting hand (left hand, which is my dominant...

Filed the fret ends flush with the neck

More filing fret ends

Filing the fret ends

Spraying a few coats of clear on the fretboard to protect it during fret work

Frets are in and trimmed with the Dremel cutoff wheel