Anyone play one of these?

[BuckeyeBassman]

Nor was it claimed. As @MD-BassPlayer said, it probably just means you can do continuous slides. Plus (but just as unclaimed, unless you think the following as included in the concept of "fretless sound" in a wider sense), one can play in between grooves in order to do microtonal embellishments, as well as natural sevenths or thirds against a seventh- or third-less chord provided by another instrument.




As revealed by a quick search, (one-man?) company named Mikey Guitar, whose website has since expired, used to make something like that.

In the house, Marco fretgroove bass.

 

[BuckeyeBassman]

In the house, Marco fretgroove bass. View attachment 3963913View attachment 3963914

Initial impressions, very organic tone and dig the pickups. Can't do continuous slides or slide harmonics. However, the scalloped frets make it easier to play in tune. I have a tendency to "overdue" slides and vibrato when playing regular fretless and Marco bass seems to help in this regard.

 

[Passinwind]

Initial impressions, very organic tone and dig the pickups. Can't do continuous slides or slide harmonics. However, the scalloped frets make it easier to play in tune. I have a tendency to "overdue" slides and vibrato when playing regular fretless and Marco bass seems to help in this regard.

What's inhibiting slide harmonics? When I do them there's typically plenty of clearance to the board or frets under my fingertip, what's different for you?

 

[Gaolee]

What would Jaco do?

Fill the grooves.

 

[Gaolee]

All I can add is that I saw one and heard one at one of the Seattle get-togethers a few years back. It does seem to work just like it says it does, and Marco is a completely nice guy and fascinating to talk to. He's clearly thinking about it all the time.