24 Fret basses...

[Batmensch]

I pretty much find 20 frets WAY more than enough for my needs, but that doesn't mean
someone else can't find 24 useful. I really don't get why some can't see stuff like this as a matter of personal choice.

 

[Chrisk-K]

On a Jamiroquai song, Zender played the high D & G notes at the 24th fret/

 

[bassbenj]

Yeah, basically it adds 3 or 4 high notes that your average bassist would never consider going near. It makes me wonder why a Yamaha sub-$200 beginner bass would have 24 frets. Sometimes I think they just want to have more frets so they can get a away with making a smaller, lighter body. Maybe they are preying on the kids that assume 24 is inherently better than 21.

Yeah, stupid noobs who don't know that there are only TWO basses made: A "P" and a "J". A Yamaha isn't a bass at all. Who knows what kind of instrument it is?

It's already been pointed out that you have 24 frets so you have a full two octaves up the neck. Why in the world would you want to cut off your scales early? No doubt Leo did that simply to shave a few cents off the cost of his already Cheapo basses. Leo knew best what notes bassists should be ALLOWED to play! So just shut up and accept the fact that notes that high up on the neck are NEVER used by any "real" bassists.

So far as I can tell the main reasons for 24 frets is to give you two full octaves on each string and the main reason (not why Leo did it, mind you, but the reason you would BUY one now that they are established) to get a truncated neck is because somehow they have much better slap tone because of where the last fret strikes the strings.

So if you don't slap, 21 frets is as goofy a bass guitar design as just having 4 strings!

Some of the opinions I hear on TB really amaze me.

 

[TolerancEJ]

John Patitucci's 26 frets seems equivalent to Spinal Tap turning it up to 11. (Meant that in a good way)

 

[Nev375]

So here's my question: Why are there basses with 24 frets? Who needs to play notes on a bass that high? What kind of awful, wanking bass solo would call for a 24-fretter?

Heres a few:

Stuart Hamm


Simply awful.

 

[MrWalker]

So The first bass I ever owned was a Yamaha RBX170, and it had 24 frets. It was also ugly, and besides its decent pickups and thin neck, was a piece of :scowl: .

I've noticed that my Fender Jazz has considerably less fret buzz, even when I dig my fingers in. This could just be due to its better truss rod/ action adjustability, but it also seems that having 24 frets (like on my Yamaha) contributed to its fret buzz, even with a pathetically high action.

So here's my question: Why are there basses with 24 frets? Who needs to play notes on a bass that high? What kind of awful, wanking bass solo would call for a 24-fretter?

Apparently 24 frets aren't for you.

of course a longer fingerboard makes more things "stick out" and possibly being in the way of your playing. i think you have the wrong suspect on the fret buzzing, though. And seeing that you have two isntrumetns to base your judgement on, I'd say your statistical background information is a little meager.

and wanking awful bass solos can be played on a lot less than 24 frets.

 

[stepswork4me]

I haven't owned a bass with less than 24 frets in over 20 years. I play some tap and two handed tap where having those multi octaves available comes in handy. Also, an old band of mine used to cover "Dust in the Wind". With having only one guitarist, the violin solo fell in my lap. The upper register is as useful to me as the lower.

 

[NateSkate]

Guys...if a bass has 24 frets, that makes the other frets easier to reach. For example: On a 21 fret bass the 17-19 bass may be very hard to reach. On a 24 fret bass the 17-19 frets are very easy to reach.

 

[Jazz Ad]

OP wonders why a badly setup beginner bass doesn't play as well as another model 5x its price and concludes that 24 frets are at fault?

I'm really tired with the conservative bullcrap poured on our heads daily by conservative know-it-alls.
Don't use effects, no more than 20 frets, keep playing passive, don't solo.
At this point, you'd better stop playing altogether, any sequencer can do the job of playing roots.
Besides, listening to you everything has been done 50 years ago. 24 fret basses too btw.

 

[EdHunter]

Pete Hook

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Guys...if a bass has 24 frets, that makes the other frets easier to reach. For example: On a 21 fret bass the 17-19 bass may be very hard to reach. On a 24 fret bass the 17-19 frets are very easy to reach.

That has to do with the bass' design, not the fret count. A 34" scale neck with 24 frets is the same length as a 34" scale neck with 19 frets. The difference is that a lot of manufacturers cut a deeper cutaway on their basses with 24 frets. Some don't though- I've seen a lot of badly-designed basses where many of the frets sit on the body of the bass far past the end of the cutaway.

 

[Melik]

What a n00b.

totally!

 

[spufman]

Most 24 fretters I try seem to set the neck at a slightly far left arm reach. I guess you get used to it, but for me ergonomically, I prefer 22. 21 is fine as well, but I do want that high E, so 20 doesn't quite do it, though I'd make some exceptions there..

 

[polyrhythmia]

One thing about 24 frets is that it reduces the area available for plucking and picking. I would be fine with 20 frets or even 0 frets.

 

[Avezzano]

Why are there basses with 24 frets? Who needs to play notes on a bass that high? What kind of awful, wanking bass solo would call for a 24-fretter

I play in a jazz trio: having more frets in that area just makes the solo easier and more fruitful. Guitar or horn like. That is something I really need. It is not a case I prefer my Burner V over other (excellent) basses I have in my stable, one of the reasons is because it has 24 frets, too. "Awful wanking bass solo"? Not at all, my friend: if the instrument is well made, it will sound good in all the areas.

Each now and then I will carry one of my simple 20 frets 4 strings J clones; but I confess that I miss something in terms of 5th string and extra frets.

 

[patRICK4003]

Yeah, stupid noobs who don't know that there are only TWO basses made: A "P" and a "J". A Yamaha isn't a bass at all. Who knows what kind of instrument it is?

Apparently you didn't read my original post, it was a Yahama RBX170. Yahama makes basses. Unfortunately.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Most 24 fretters I try seem to set the neck at a slightly far left arm reach. I guess you get used to it, but for me ergonomically, I prefer 22. 21 is fine as well, but I do want that high E, so 20 doesn't quite do it, though I'd make some exceptions there..

Fret count has nothing to do with how far the reach to the first fret is. On a given scale length, additional frets are added going towards the bridge- they do not add any length to the neck.

 

[stepswork4me]

Apparently you didn't read my original post, it was a Yahama RBX170. Yahama makes basses. Unfortunately.

Me thinks he was being sarcastic.

 

[lposavad]

I've owned a Yamaha TRB-6P and TRB-5P (both from the original release) and still own a BB1200. All great basses.
Not every model of every brand is a winner. Even Fender has released a couple clams...

 

[raymondl3]

That has to do with the bass' design, not the fret count. A 34" scale neck with 24 frets is the same length as a 34" scale neck with 19 frets. The difference is that a lot of manufacturers cut a deeper cutaway on their basses with 24 frets. Some don't though- I've seen a lot of badly-designed basses where many of the frets sit on the body of the bass far past the end of the cutaway.

I hate that. The Warwick Corvette has that problem - perfect bass but like 4 of the frets are out of reach.