"Digging In" On A Fretless

[Vinny_G]

That's it. I am playing bass with a hammer from now on.

Mjölnir is mandatory for playing Led Zeppelin songs.
Anyway, if you have unused tools, you can send them to him:

 

[Hevy T]

Buy 5 Rogue fretless basses and as they wear out smash em!

Jk

 

[micguy]

Might be an unpopular opinion, but "digging in" is bad form. You'll develop tendon issues later since you're playing to hard. Cue the naysayers who have played hard for years without issue.

I dig in at times, but I don't play hard - low tension strings mean I don't have to pull that hard to get the sound you get from digging in, which...is a useful sound - at least part of the time. If i had to play without ever altering my timbre (by technique), I'd be a much less musical player - contrast is an important part of music.

 

[4StringTheorist]

Check out that finish (or lack thereof) just under his hand. Wear it ouuuuuuuut!

 

[BOOG]

I've been playing viola for 10 years, I can vibrato just fine thanks

But yeah fretless is awesome! I'll stick to my flats for now but do want to try out some tapes soon.

La Bella’s give quite a few options with tape wounds. Read up on them to see which might give you the tone you’re looking (listening) for. I have a set of blacks on my aerodyne with geezer pj pup’s and love’m.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

 

[rutrho]

Rounds.
Fretless.
Deathmetal.
DOOOO ITTTT.

It'll be fine, you'll see more wear but nothing that you can't fix down the road. Hardening the fretboard might help as well. Personally I love the chunky, clanky tone you get with low action and no frets. If you're playing hard fast stuff a ramp can help as well.

 

[Watchootognbout]

But true....

View attachment 3598722

Most anyone with a fretless should learn how to dress their own fingerboard.
Get a radius sanding block and some very fine sandpaper.
Which is what I do from time to time.