Difference in sound between fretted and fretless bass

[idk]

I've heard that theres a difference in tone between a fretted bass and a fretless bass but i cant really find any information on what that difference is. Can someone describe the difference in tones especially on an acoustic bass?

 

[pacojas]

is this a trick question?

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

This one's tough. Fretless almost sounds like a sitar imo.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Both tones are demonstrated in this video. He uses an Ibanez Ashula bass which has four fretted strings are tuned normal E-A-D-G, while the two fretless strings are tuned to the same D and G as the fretted strings.

Fretted vs fretless bass



Hope this helps.

 

[darkblack99]

I've heard that theres a difference in tone between a fretted bass and a fretless bass...

Evidently not.

 

[Mark_70]

Say this out loud: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" - that's the sound of a fretted bass

Now pinch your nose with two fingers.

Say this out loud again: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" - that's the sound of a fretless bass.

Regards
Mark

 

[73jbass]

This is what a fretless should sound like,unlike the trainwreck above.



Another good one.

 

[ggunn]

In a word: mwah.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Aaaaah...but the real trick is making the fretless sound like a fretted.

 

[tbplayer59]

The old "describe the sound" question. I can only do it with facial expressions when I talk.

 

[BazzTard]

fretless sounds more purple

 

[Mystic Michael]

Aaaaah...but the real trick is making the fretless sound like a fretted.

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

MM

 

[Vinny_G]

In my opinion and experience there is not really a difference in tone, (unless pickups, construction etc) but in the way they are played. Fret less basses don't have frets (obviously) so they are better candidates to emulate the sound of double basses, mostly if you are after that jazz sound, and with flat wound strings IMHO.
But Jaco Pastorius proved that a fret less bass is wonderful with round wound strings, and some others don't, so you might experiment I think Again the tone is not so different to me, the playing technique makes the difference IMHO : I've heard some fret less players sound like they have frets (good or not, it's not the question you have said), and I've heard some fretted players sound like fret less players, so.. I guess it's all in the hands, more than the instrument. My two cents

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

I don't think Tony Franklin knows what he's doing. His signature artist Fender bass is great though.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I've heard some fretted players sound like fret less players, so..

I made it my goal to be able to sound fretted and fretless on mine. Gettin there. You said you've heard fretted bassists sound like fretless players? Is there any you can cite? I'm at a loss trying to think of one. Thanks.

 

[Fun Size Nick]

This is what a fretless should sound like,unlike the trainwreck above.



Another good one.

Love that interview with Pino. Thanks for posting it!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

MM

Yeah, sorta. But not every song in the world needs sliding harmonics and beautiful soaring melodies above the 12th fret.

 

[AudioDwebe]

I think a fretless sounds just a bit mellow compared to a fretted. The attack of the note is where it's most evident (not including all the slides and vibrato where it's clearly obvious) to me.

Like a kid riding a bike in the neighborhood. One bass is traveling where the sidewalks have that gentle incline and decline where it crosses the street and the other is where the kid's gotta pop a tiny wheelie every time he gets onto or off of the sidewalk.

That to me is the difference.

Next I will attempt to describe the smell of a rose...

 

[Bob-I]

To my ears, a fretted bass has a metallic clank and some fret buzz especially when you really dig in, missing on fretless. Also when sliding up and down to notes on fretted you hear steps and some fret rattle, on fretless it's smooth and produces a Mwow tone.