Club Fbass (Part 11!)

[pnchad]

this 'unlined' argument comes up often and it always makes my head explode

I don't know, is it a macho thing? I'm so cool I don't need lines. LMFAO

The only people you'll impress with you 'lineless' fretless are other noobie musicians and the impression lasts about 2 minutes

I've been playing exclusively fretless for 40+ yrs - 35 of which professionally - I'm considered a pretty good jazz/fusion/funk player - I have 18 fless basses right now - Sads, Fodera, etc etc - I've owned to fless F basses (very nice indeed) - lined, partially lined, unlined - I don't care

BTW, I had a fless 6 string Bebensee custom (big $$) which had the little 'hashmarks wrapping over the edge of the fingerboard - that bass was built over 20 yrs ago so...

But, I will tell you (as a long time veteran of live venues) - when it's dark, when you can't hear yourself over the guitars, you want reference markers - no matter how good your intonation or muscle memory - playing fretless requires ears but there are time...

and, when that happens and you play a whole tune OUT of tune, your bandmates won't be impressed anymore

 

[Randyt]

To be honest I'm psyching myself out/scaring the beejeesuz out of myself because I don't think of myself as a good bass player and I'm gonna drop $3+ grand on a bass that I can't even play!

pnchad...makes a great point...

You could call George/Marcel and ask for a few pics from their FBass Library with Fret lines on their fretless...They look great!!!

** on another note...I have been to jams where ive heard musicians say "he's playing a fretless...this wont go well! (unlined)...but on the other hand Ive played with those same guys with a lined fingerboard...and never heard a peep...alot of (ie. guitarist) musicians hear with their eyes...hey just my observations!!

 

[puff father]

I played my nephew's BNF5 a while back. I didn't have too much trouble with intonation on the lower half of the unlined fretboard. I wouldn't mind a lined fretboard though. Probably even prefer it. It is, when all is said and done, the sound that is the goal.

 

[Tugboat]

OK MEN!!! My FBass is on the way. 5 string fretless, used but in very good condition. Psyched.

 

[Randyt]

OK MEN!!! My FBass is on the way. 5 string fretless, used but in very good condition. Psyched.

Only a five string?...awwww....Just kidding...enjoy!!!
their not called the king of fretless ..for nuthin!

 

[Tom7]

this 'unlined' argument comes up often and it always makes my head explode

I don't know, is it a macho thing? I'm so cool I don't need lines. LMFAO

The only people you'll impress with you 'lineless' fretless are other noobie musicians and the impression lasts about 2 minutes

I've been playing exclusively fretless for 40+ yrs - 35 of which professionally - I'm considered a pretty good jazz/fusion/funk player - I have 18 fless basses right now - Sads, Fodera, etc etc - I've owned to fless F basses (very nice indeed) - lined, partially lined, unlined - I don't care

BTW, I had a fless 6 string Bebensee custom (big $$) which had the little 'hashmarks wrapping over the edge of the fingerboard - that bass was built over 20 yrs ago so...

But, I will tell you (as a long time veteran of live venues) - when it's dark, when you can't hear yourself over the guitars, you want reference markers - no matter how good your intonation or muscle memory - playing fretless requires ears but there are time...

and, when that happens and you play a whole tune OUT of tune, your bandmates won't be impressed anymore

I don't think anyone was arguing lines vs no lines so much as we were assuring a guy considering a fretless bass that either way is good.

Below are "The Twins," the Yamahas I used to play before Fbasses displaced them. Can you tell which is fretted and which is lined? Sometimes I had to be right on top of them to grab the right one.

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Scott Pazera once told me, "I'm not too proud to play in tune."

That's me too, besides, Scott, Jaco, Gary Willis, etc. never seemed disrespected for their lines.

As I already wrote, the reason I went lineless was Alain's tone, and this particular bass's looks. It was only after I had a lineless bass that I realized: I've got some work to do.

I will say this though, both in confirmation of what you wrote:

1. It is nice to have reference markers, because there is many a playing situation where you cannot hear yourself as well as you wish you could.

2. It is nice to have ears and muscle memory, because there are situations where you cannot see the reference markers like you wish you could!

 

[Tom7]

OK MEN!!! My FBass is on the way. 5 string fretless, used but in very good condition. Psyched.

I'm psyched for you. Be sure and post photos when you get it so we can update the club roster.

Is it a BN or AC model, do you know?

 

[Tugboat]

I wanted to say, regarding lined/unlined. I wanted to and chose unlined because I wanted the steeper learning curve and wanted to have to work harder, if that makes sense. My bass teacher is 75 years young, he is a great electric bass player and teacher, but he's been playing DB for over 60 years and teaching since he was in college, his musical mind is genius, and he is a super great guy. I consider myself lucky to I have him as a teacher and now friend. My point is, if anyone is going to teach me how to do it right it's him.

 

[Tom7]

Nice post.

I play DB as well (though not much these days), and I will say that the longer scale length of an upright bass, and the fact that I rarely traveled too far up (down?) the fingerboard kind of led to the DB being easier to play in tune.

But yes, work is a very good thing, and a project that makes you work more something that I can really get behind.

Congratulations.

 

[Tom7]

All this love for my one fretless is making me want to give my other main fretless some love as well...

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[zortation]

and, when that happens and you play a whole tune OUT of tune, your bandmates won't be impressed anymore

Yep...live sound can be unpredictable and can mess with your ears, even when playing fretted. Playing out of tune for the length of an entire song would be quite distressing however. Possibly a career outside music should be considered...

 

[Tugboat]

Beautiful collection Tom; just stunning. Here is the bass I got.
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Chris gave me a good deal...it's the fifth bass down, the sunburst BNF. I have to be honest, I'm excited and thrilled, but I'm feeling a little remorse that I should try and scrape up the extra cash and get the brand new Antique burst listed first. It is beautiful...and brand new. If you think I'm crazy for not just doing that please PM and tell me that.

 

[Randyt]

Tugboat...that looks great....Id play the crap out of that F...Totally Dig it!!!

 

[bass4worship]

Beautiful collection Tom; just stunning. Here is the bass I got.
Link Removed
Chris gave me a good deal...it's the fifth bass down, the sunburst BNF. I have to be honest, I'm excited and thrilled, but I'm feeling a little remorse that I should try and scrape up the extra cash and get the brand new Antique burst listed first. It is beautiful...and brand new. If you think I'm crazy for not just doing that please PM and tell me that.

That is real nice, look like it new to me, They do a great job on their finish work. Enjoy it.

 

[Tom7]

Beautiful collection Tom; just stunning. Here is the bass I got.
Link Removed
Chris gave me a good deal...it's the fifth bass down, the sunburst BNF. I have to be honest, I'm excited and thrilled, but I'm feeling a little remorse that I should try and scrape up the extra cash and get the brand new Antique burst listed first. It is beautiful...and brand new. If you think I'm crazy for not just doing that please PM and tell me that.

PM'd, but not to say you are crazy.

 

[Tom7]

PM'd, but not to say you are crazy.

That antique brown is stunning; I can see why you are thinking about it.

What caught my attention more though, and I'm curious what the rest of the guys think, is the wood and bridge differences between the two basses.

The 1998 has an ebony bridge and alder wings on a maple tone block.

The 2012 has a metal bridge and ash wings on a maple tone block.

These basses are going to sound different.

Link Removed of the 2012 BNF5 is WONDERFUL in helping us understand that bass. You can hear that they play with the neck pickup soloed, then with both pickups full, then with the bridge pickup soloed, and it really gives you a great idea of the sonic range of the bass.

Any chance they can make a similar mp3 of the 1998?

The ebony bridge makes a big difference in the tone, and gives the bass a more organic, acoustic-like decay. The metal bridge of the 2012 will have more sustain and Jaco-like bold fundamental, and the metal bridge is more adjustable if you are experimenting with strings or traveling to more extreme climates.

Alder body wood sounds different than ash, with alder a bit sweeter and darker while the ash brighter and lively. Then again they both have a maple TONE block, so that probably makes them similar again.

Moreover, aged wood is a GOOD thing for tone; it's the biggest reason why 70s and 60s Fenders are worth so much. That 1998 is in immaculate shape from what I can see; its age coupled with what excellent shape it is in would attract me to the bass for sure.

I definitely would not feel disappointed to own the 1998. It is beautiful too, it just suffers from the misfortune of being on the same web page as the antique brown BNF5.

 

[Randyt]

Tug Boat...what did you end up going with?

 

[bassman10]

That antique brown is stunning; I can see why you are thinking about it.

What caught my attention more though, and I'm curious what the rest of the guys think, is the wood and bridge differences between the two basses.

The 1998 has an ebony bridge and alder wings on a maple tone block.

The 2012 has a metal bridge and ash wings on a maple tone block.

These basses are going to sound different.

Link Removed of the 2012 BNF5 is WONDERFUL in helping us understand that bass. You can hear that they play with the neck pickup soloed, then with both pickups full, then with the bridge pickup soloed, and it really gives you a great idea of the sonic range of the bass.

Any chance they can make a similar mp3 of the 1998?

The ebony bridge makes a big difference in the tone, and gives the bass a more organic, acoustic-like decay. The metal bridge of the 2012 will have more sustain and Jaco-like bold fundamental, and the metal bridge is more adjustable if you are experimenting with strings or traveling to more extreme climates.

Alder body wood sounds different than ash, with alder a bit sweeter and darker while the ash brighter and lively. Then again they both have a maple TONE block, so that probably makes them similar again.

Moreover, aged wood is a GOOD thing for tone; it's the biggest reason why 70s and 60s Fenders are worth so much. That 1998 is in immaculate shape from what I can see; its age coupled with what excellent shape it is in would attract me to the bass for sure.

I definitely would not feel disappointed to own the 1998. It is beautiful too, it just suffers from the misfortune of being on the same web page as the antique brown BNF5.

I'm with Tom on this one... I think that the aged wood of the 98 and the ebony bridge will give it a warmer sound, more velvety I'm thinking.. Let us know which one you fall for!!!

 

[Tugboat]

I stuck with the '98. That bass had been calling me for the last 3 months every time I went on BSD's website. When I really thought about it, it just felt right to stick with it.

 

[bassman10]

I stuck with the '98. That bass had been calling me for the last 3 months every time I went on BSD's website. When I really thought about it, it just felt right to stick with it.

Yeah, that's a good choice, and I'm sure you're going to have a good time playing it. Things like that happen, and when something calls you, you have to answer... hahaha!!!