Am I an absolute outlier?

[Tedthulhu]

So, to preface this, I currently have seven basses, which, yes, is excessive. My horde includes a fretless six string custom Thor Bass, a fretless five string Ibanez, a fretted five string ESP, a fretted six string Ibanez, a fanned fret five string Ibanez, a four string Ibanez, and a four string ESP. The one thing all my basses have in common is that they all have at least 24 frets (one of my fretless basses has 30, technically). I cannot deal with playing on 20 fret necks. It screws with my entire usual play style. Yes, this means that I can't do Fender basses. At all. I know, that's an unpopular opinion, but I cannot be alone in the "I need 24 frets to do my job properly" camp. Or am I? You tell me! Constructive comments welcome.

 

[Turnaround]

How can you possibly deal with your fretless basses?

 

[Tedthulhu]

How can you possibly deal with your fretless basses?

I'm honestly not sure what you are asking. Could you clarify, please?

 

[Turnaround]

I'm honestly not sure what you are asking. Could you clarify, please?

You say you need to have 24 frets.

It's OK - just joking.

 

[Tedthulhu]

Hahaha. Well done, mate. I meant, more specifically, that I prefer having a full two octave reach on each string. Really though, nicely played.

 

[JRA]

I cannot be alone in the "I need 24 frets to do my job properly" camp. Or am I? You tell me!

(fretless only here) i hear you! i much prefer a two-octave+ fingerboard over the typical fender-ish versions. unlike yourself, however, i can get along fine with 19-20 position boards. when you can't always get what you want = love the one you're with!

are you an "outlier?" probably not: just 'picky', possibly self-limiting! we all have preferences, but 'insistences' can sometimes be self-defeating.

good luck getting what you want!

 

[Tedthulhu]

(fretless only here) i hear you! i much prefer a two-octave+ fingerboard over the typical fender-ish versions. unlike yourself, however, i can get along fine with 19-20 position boards. when you can't always get what you want = love the one you're with!

are you an "outlier?" probably not: just 'picky', possibly self-limiting! we all have preferences, but 'insistences' can sometimes be self-defeating.

good luck getting what you want!

You know, you're not wrong. Hmm. Thanks for giving me food for thought. Honestly. I appreciate it.

 

[chris_b]

I could easily deal with a 24 fret neck. . . . but I wouldn't have any idea what to do with the upper 12!!!

 

[bholder]

I'll use them if they're there, but I can live with 20. Depends on what I'm doing, though.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I could easily deal with a 24 fret neck. . . . but I wouldn't have any idea what to do with the upper 12!!!

I've recently found a use for my 14th fret - one phrase sounded better on the D rather than the G - and am thinking of throwing a party to celebrate

 

[GreyBeard]

You are just stating what you need (24 frets) to do your thing. So, what you are asking is "is there something wrong with my thing?" My answer is "do your thing".

 

[Watchootognbout]

So, to preface this, I currently have seven basses, which, yes, is excessive. My horde includes a fretless six string custom Thor Bass, a fretless five string Ibanez, a fretted five string ESP, a fretted six string Ibanez, a fanned fret five string Ibanez, a four string Ibanez, and a four string ESP. The one thing all my basses have in common is that they all have at least 24 frets (one of my fretless basses has 30, technically). I cannot deal with playing on 20 fret necks. It screws with my entire usual play style. Yes, this means that I can't do Fender basses. At all. I know, that's an unpopular opinion, but I cannot be alone in the "I need 24 frets to do my job properly" camp. Or am I? You tell me! Constructive comments welcome.

Hey Tedthulhu!
Long time no see!

No you are not an outlier.
When you have others that share the same preferences.
I need 24 frets so I can play those "up in the Ionosphere" chords.

My current stable as well as past basses have all had 24 frets.
(including my fretless)

 

[bolophonic]

That is way more frets than I have ever used or needed. But I am me and you are you.

 

[MattZilla]

I have never had a guitar or key player ask me “what if you played that phrase an octave higher?”

/sortajoke

"I need 24 frets to do my job properly"

I was and kinda still am in that club when I’m on guitar. I honestly play below the seventh fret so seldom I’m thinking a lot about building a mando-scale SG.

 

[Williethump]

I've never noticed how many frets my basses have since I never play above that one with the double dots. Arthritis.

 

[mexicant]

Yes I believe your in the minority of bass players.....even my telecaster guitar has only 21 frets! But you probably already knew that.
Different strokes for different folks,were all in this to make music that stirs our soul.life is too short to worry about what others think of you.

 

[TrevorG]

I prefer 24 but have learnt to live with a PJ with 21. Still have three bases with 24 and will never go down to 20. I need a moment to get familiar with them again but it’s not a deal breaker anymore.

 

[David McIntire]

OP? You aren't alone. Recently I made a discovery. Bout ten years ago, I made a commitment to one Bass. Fender American Deluxe 5, 21 frets. A buddy found a Warwick fretless I'd always wanted. I bought it. My buddy is a 24 fret player. He owned a great G&L fretless 5, Fender specs, 21 fret positions. Well, goin back an forth tween the two, for me, was tough. I use muscle memory to play wit my eyes closed a lot. I rehearse that way, or in the dark. I'd play the Warwick flat. It got frustrating. My buddy, the 24 fret guy, had same issue with his G&L. He'd play sharp when switching. We traded basses. He's far better on a 24 fret neck, and, won't play any lesser fret count. I'm same with my Fender styled instruments. So? To each his own. Nuttin wrong, at all, in playing to one's strengths.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

To answer your question, whilst you are in a minority, you do have 15% of TBers with you:

 

[Bassaga]

I'm strictly a 5-string 24-fret guy. Makes it a heck of a time finding a P bass, but man, whenever I try to play on fewer frets, it throws everything off. Doesn't even matter if I ever actually play up there (though I do) it just feels so doggone different as an instrument!

P.S. Sounds like you have an Ibanez Portamento. I've wondered about those, whether having more frets would just as off-throwing as having fewer frets. But it works for you, huh? [Okay, not frets, positions, whatever]