Convince me why I should consider a fretless

[Darkhorse1962]

The title sounds a bit overbearing, but it's an honest question. I've never played a fretless and have no real clue what advantages they may or may not have over a fretted bass.

I play pretty much just classic rock, country, pop and southern rock, but I have seen many bass players in those genres playing fretless.

What is the unique difference in sound or tone between the two fretboards. What would I gain/lose if I explored getting one?

 

[kkaarrll]

For me
1. Different
2. Slides sounds
3. Finding the note by ear when learning a new piece is wayyyyy easier
4. Mwah if you want it
5 can play anything else also, try some black sabbath with a little slur and mwah in there....trippy
6. No marking, really has made me better, even on my fretted
7. Easier to play.....not easier to play well, but just physically easier for me for some reason
8. No lined board looks cool

 

[arbiterusa]

There really aren't any "advantages" as such. You can do microtones, most people don't need that ability. You can do that wonderful slidy sensitive cello-toned fills thing - think late 80s/early90s Pino Palladino. I think for most people it's a two-trick pony that isn't worth the price of admission, collects dust for decade in a closet and then I end up buying it on eBay after that decade is up.

The only reason I play them is because I started on violin and I don't find any instrument with frets to feel "normal", but there's not a lot of guys like me out there, and 99%+ of the time I play mine just like a fretted guy does and you wouldn't know the difference without a close look at my fingerboard.

Unless you've got a compelling cover band need for one or don't mind spending several hundred bucks to go sonic experimenting, I can't really justify anyone getting one.

Now, from a fretless guy, if you DO get one, the flat-out best intro instrument out there is...the Squier VM Fretless Jazz Bass, and it has lines for the rookies. I have one. It's not my main instrument but I'm damn glad to have it, it's a VERY nice, very underrated bass.

 

[JRA]

no speed bumps!

 

[arbiterusa]

For me
1. Different
2. Slides sounds
3. Finding the note by ear when learning a new piece is wayyyyy easier
4. Mwah if you want it
5 can play anything else also, try some black sabbath with a little slur and mwah in there....trippy
6. No marking, really has made me better, even on my fretted
7. Easier to play.....not easier to play well, but just physically easier for me for some reason
8. No lined board looks cool

This is a great list of why fretless is awesome. I also find #7 to be the case and I've never been able to figure out why that is. And number 8....just the facts. Nothing looks cooler.

 

[kkaarrll]

Sliding around on acdc and then locking in is fun. Reason 46789765444

 

[TolerancEJ]

OP has received plenty of useful information. Now it's my turn to chime in. Much like the Mothman Bass, one does not choose Fretless, Fretless chooses you.

Ok, I'll go back on topic. If you can find a used fretless at a decent price, you can't go wrong picking it up and giving it a whirl. You're not going to get it over night; no one does.

Playing fretless is an exercise in developing your ear. Yes, there are lined fretless bases and fret markers along side of a fretless neck, but you don't want to play an entire set/evening on stage staring down at your bass.

 

[Geri O]

Your question has been pretty well covered, but I find it odd that you think you have to ask.

The better question is, what kind of music on on your heart to play? And what voice does that music call for?

 

[Brother Goose]

To get more out of life/single notes....

 

[Mosstone]

#1 reason for me is; you'll never get that fretless sound from a fretted bass. MWAH!

 

[Cliff Bordwell]

For me
1. Different
2. Slides sounds
3. Finding the note by ear when learning a new piece is wayyyyy easier
4. Mwah if you want it
5 can play anything else also, try some black sabbath with a little slur and mwah in there....trippy
6. No marking, really has made me better, even on my fretted
7. Easier to play.....not easier to play well, but just physically easier for me for some reason
8. No lined board looks cool

Some good points here.

 

[Marial]

You like having fun, right? Fretless is fun. Tons of fun.

 

[Blake Bass]

I love playing fretless, but for classic rock, country, pop and southern rock I would stick with frets.

 

[AltGrendel]

For me
1. Different
2. Slides sounds
3. Finding the note by ear when learning a new piece is wayyyyy easier
4. Mwah if you want it
5 can play anything else also, try some black sabbath with a little slur and mwah in there....trippy
6. No marking, really has made me better, even on my fretted
7. Easier to play.....not easier to play well, but just physically easier for me for some reason
8. No lined board looks cool

9. Easy to compensate if someone's tuning isn't quite right.

I love playing fretless, but for classic rock, country, pop and southern rock I would stick with frets.

Unless you're covering Peter Frampton: Stanley Sheldon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[engedi1]

If you are looking for a nice fretless, my warwick thumb is for sale. Perfect starter bass at $1000. (no lines either)

 

[engedi1]

Seriously, with the music you said you play, I wouldn't get a fretless. Getting another P bass with flats on it would be more appropriate IMHO. If you just want a fretless than more power to you.

 

[bass12]

I'm inspired to play differently on a fretless than I am on a fretted. To me, fretless basses tend to have more of a vocal quality to their sound - and that extends to certain notes not being totally in tune (not that every note on a fretted is ever totally in tune). Not all fretless basses are the same either. With some it's very easy to cop a "fretted" vibe while others will sound closer to an upright (I'm thinking of Rob Allen's basses).

 

[Medicine Man]

I like the extra challenge because I can get bored easily.

 

[Sixgunn]

The only reason I need, is playing You Outta Know by Alanis Morisette on fretless, like it should have been done originally!!

 

[bryan gibson]

I love playing fretless, but for classic rock, country, pop and southern rock I would stick with frets.

Nah..... been doing it for 15 years LOL. Fretless with tapewounds is freakin' awesome for older country, southern rock, and lots of classic rock. A lot of that stuff was recorded on P w/ flats, so the fretless thumps along nicely underneath the rest of the mix. I just don't try to make it sound like Jaco