Anyone play one of these?

[JIO]

(no affiliation) Just saw this and wonder if anyone has one and can give a testimonial.

Fretgroove
Fretgroove is a unique system created by Marco Bass Guitars. Fretgroove technology is patented and thus only available from Marco Bass Guitars. Fretgroove is, in simple terms, a hybrid fretted/fretless fingerboard. The bass’ traditional frets are replaced with sunken channels or grooves that give the instrument the feel and tone of a fretless bass but with the precision of a fretted fingerboard. When you play inside the grooves you have the fretted precision and when you play between the grooves you have the fretless sound. It’s a revolutionary idea that brings the best of both worlds in a single instrument. Matched with Marco’s custom hand wound pickups, the Fretgroove bass goes beyond the fretted/fretless bass medium and creates a unique and artistically expressive instrument, with sounds ranging from mellow and woodsy to bright and growing tones, full of presence and depth.

 

[DWBass]

IMOO

 

[mongo2]

When you play inside the grooves you have the fretted precision and when you play between the grooves you have the fretless sound.

If the string is stopped between the grooves the note will not be the proper pitch.

 

[JRA]

wow! fretted fretlesses are becoming a thing!

 

[JIO]

If the string is stopped between the grooves the note will not be the proper pitch.

Yes, it is puzzling how it would actually work - only thing I can figure is that the correct 'fretted' note is determined at the bridge-side of the scallop (when fingering the scallop's center) and playing right off it (same direction-toward the bridge) would be the correct fret-less note. But having never seen or played one before ...

 

[JIO]

wow! fretted fretlesses are becoming a thing!

The concept has been addressed over the years in numerous ways - just not successful enough to become an actual 'thing'.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

In theory the fretted notes should be sharp and the intonation will be off. Correct me if I'm wrong..

 

[mongo2]

Yes, it is puzzling how it would actually work - only thing I can figure is that the correct 'fretted' note is determined at the bridge-side of the scallop (when fingering the scallop's center) and playing right off it (same direction-toward the bridge) would be the correct fret-less note. But having never seen or played one before ...

If the bridge edge of the groove is in the proper place, I can see how that would give the correct pitch. I'm not seeing how it would sound fretless but rather maybe just a bit muted as when a note is played with the finger on top of a fret on a fretted bass.

 

[JIO]

If the bridge edge of the groove is in the proper place, I can see how that would give the correct pitch. I'm not seeing how it would sound fretless but rather maybe just a bit muted as when a note is played with the finger on top of a fret on a fretted bass.

something like that sounds reasonable

 

[tzohn]

Side dots misalignment hurt my eyes

 

[onsecondbass]

There are a few reviews here but they seem to date back to 2012.

Fretgroove by Marco Bass Guitars REVIEW

Just got a new bass from Marco Bass Guitars!

The first one has a soundcloud link to hear the bass in action:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Interesting invention

 

[MasterG]

Wouldnt want to play the one in the pic. That action looks 3/4" high.

 

[BurningSkies]

I think Passinwind has affiliation with Marco, though I don't know that he's using this design/system anymore.

 

[Killing Floor]

Interesting idea. I have a neck similar to that except the "grooves" are concave instead of convex. It makes a fretted sound when your finger is between what I call the "anti-grooves". I have another bass with a neck that is all 1 long groove from the nut to the body. The secret here is to come up with a more convoluted way to accomplish an objective with a known solution and charge more for it. I guess it's cool that Marco is looking for a new way to thread a needle but is this really a gap in the market? Is he really exploiting a need?

 

[Passinwind]

I think Passinwind has affiliation with Marco, though I don't know that he's using this design/system anymore.

Marco has done away with the metal bits now and just machines channels into the fingerboard. He had one of the newer ones in his NAMM booth the last couple of years. I think two or three new ones are nearing completion right now, but I haven’t been over to the shop in a few months. I’ve played a couple, but for me it’s an answer to a question I don’t really have.

 

[boombloom]

A friend of mine made one, having seen Marco's idea. Not exactly sure what it's good for. Would it help intonation for the fretless unsure player? I've tried it and didn't really see the benefit.

 

[JIO]

In theory the fretted notes should be sharp and the intonation will be off. Correct me if I'm wrong..

If the point of being fretted is on - the note will be on. The assumption in this procedure is the "frets/fret-point" (unlike a standard fret) will be specifically located unlike a standard fretted neck, or as conjectured above - at the lower trailing edge of the scallop. This is all speculation based on pictures and the makers preface. (as in, educated guesses) It's why I posted it because by chance someone with actual player experience playing one who knows could help illuminate.

Thanks to @onsecondbass for the link to the older tb thread on it - his sound-file of playing one sounds really good. I for one would like to try one.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I keep remembering the Bond Electraglide guitars. Don't think there was a bass, though.

 

[telecopy]

What would Jaco do?