Don't be scared to play fretless!

[Deleted member 165050]

If we lived in a time before electric bass guitar, I doubt many of the folks on Talkbass would ever play a double-bass. Dare I say many would be very surprised or even disenchanted with how much work it takes to sound good on one.

It's a completely different instrument with very different ergonomic challenges. Just look at all the posts here about people wanting insanely low action. Not having frets is a very, very small issue compared to working with a bow, working on projection, and getting a good sound out of your fingers. Intonation is really part of the absolute basics of the instrument. In fact, some double-bassists use intonation creatively to create tension, release, and emotion in their playing.

Anthony Jackson had pretty good insight on how it's closer in relation to the Spanish guitar than any orchestral stringed instrument, fretless or otherwise.

If you relate rock instruments to function within an orchestra... guitar = violin, bass = cello, drums = timpani & percussion, keyboards = everything else from double bass to piccolo. Saxophone is too raucous and not permitted.

 

[Lenny JG]

...for some things a fretted bass still sounds a little better (agressive, machine-like parts where the notes are very exact, for instance). So don't necessarily get rid of your fretted bass at first. That's only later if you decide to go whole hog like some do (like myself)....

L

I agreed w your whole post except this; I personally never got the whole 'fretted bass is better for tapping/slapping/metal/distorted' kinda mentality, I personally love slapping and tapping rounds, flats, or anything inbetween on fretless! I love the broad range of tastes that we all can have.

 

[SC Bassboy]

For years I was one of those guys. I really wanted a fretless but didn't think my ear was good enough to do it and not be sharp or flat all the time. My advice is to sit down and start playing octaves against the open strings. It is a great exercise that you really can't do on a fretted bass. Fretless is such a joy once you take the plunge. Who cares if you never get comfortable enough to play it live?!? Enjoy the journey that fretless offers regardless if you ever leave the practice room.

 

[Old Fart]

I only read through the first page and I am inspired. From scared to inspired. I WANT to play fretless, and I think it would be second-nature once I got over the hump.

I have a Tony Franklin Fretless, and I ADORE this bass. Kids....there is a reason TFF basses are so well thought-of. Highest build quality. BEST TONE OF ANY P/J BASS I HAVE EVER HEARD.

 

[Ric Vice]

My journey to fretless was a long path. I've played Double Bass since I was a youth, however there is a huge difference between playing in tune on a vertical neck, with the curved fingerboard radius common to a Double Bass.
Bass guitar fingerboards by comparison have way less curvature and are played horizontally. Once upon a time, I got a fretless ebony neck for my G&L 1000 and replaced the fretted one. It would have taken months maybe years
for me to navigate that instrument and play it in tune. I recently purchased a Lakland 55-94 with a lined fretless fingerboard, intonation isn't an issue since there is a tactile difference under the fingers. Just my take however.

 

[CaribooBass]

After reading all of these posts and some saying what you have to bring to the table in order to play one properly; no one has asked or stated what the Fretless Path is bringing out of them?
This Journey is what keeps me wanting to play fretless.

 

[Staccato]

There's a healthy market for pre-owned fretless electric basses. So, if you decide to resell yours!

 

[GreyBeard]

Were it not for the fact that I'm singing lead or backup on every song, I'd be playing fretless 100% of the time. But, as it is, staying with frets gives me one less thing to worry about.

 

[Marko 1]

Just think this:
If we lived in a time before the electric was even invented, you would have been playing a double bass. No frets.

I'd probably have sucked.

 

[Dincrest]

While fretless can be fun to do glissandos and such on... I enjoy slapping, popping, and digging way too much- especially during adrenalized live performances. A fretless fingerboard would get chewed up with me.

I treat my basses as I would treat a truck. I take good care of it so it will reliably get the job done always, but I don't baby it. It needs to be able to take some dirt, dings, and punishment.

So, yeah, fretted for me 100% of the time.

 

[CalgAaron]

I think everyone should have at least one. After 25+ years of playing electric bass and 15 years of upright I finally picked up a Fretless 3 years ago. I bought a Stingray 4H from L&M in Canada. One of the last ones they had in their system before EBMM stopped making them. It’s one of my favourite basses I own. It’s hard to put down and really versatile. I’ve played in cover bands with it, Jazz gigs, with singer/songwriter and even snuck it into a country gig. I only wish I had a Stingray 5H with the piezo.

 

[Jack Deth]

While fretless can be fun to do glissandos and such on... I enjoy slapping, popping, and digging way too much- especially during adrenalized live performances. A fretless fingerboard would get chewed up with me.

I treat my basses as I would treat a truck. I take good care of it so it will reliably get the job done always, but I don't baby it. It needs to be able to take some dirt, dings, and punishment.

So, yeah, fretted for me 100% of the time.

Answer: a coated board.

 

[drumvsbass]

The fact that Les Claypool plays fretless the way he does allows for anyone to do anything and get away with it. If you wanted it in tune, play fretted. The charm of fretless is in the microtonal poychromaticism. Yea, play it as in tune as you can, but don't stress about it. The cool is when it's not quite in tune. Also, chorus.

 

[logdrum]

If you relate rock instruments to function within an orchestra... guitar = violin, bass = cello, drums = timpani & percussion, keyboards = everything else from double bass to piccolo. Saxophone is too raucous and not permitted.

Wrong on the saxophone not permitted in classical unless you limit yourself to classical works written before the 1900's. I play the saxophone jazz but my etudes for practice are all classical based





There are some Systems/keppler neo-classical as well

Here's a brass violin played on alto:

 

[CryingBass]

I play gutless. It’s kinda like fretless but...

 

[logdrum]

It is difficult to intonate on an unlined fretless bass guitar than a double bass or cello because the neck is further away from you and angled. I have been playing fretless since 1988. It is unlined but a new unlined ebony fretboard was put on top of a maple board so I always have guides from where the frets were. I was happy when I got the Pedulla Buzz with clear lies. Honestly if you give me no dot unlined neck, I probably would sound bad the first hour or the first day. I prefer lined fretless.
IN SHORT: It is a healthy fear to not play fretless. It is not for everybody and so is 50 shades of grey.

I did commit to fretless. I was poor and only had a fretless for a bass. I learned fast not to mwah/slide or do vibrato too much and to play it like it is fretted. One band after 3 months playing with them, the BL said when he played my bass - where are the frets? where is your other bass?

When I finally got a double bass, I also found an ESP Jazz bass and I used that more except when recording because the fretless was a P bass with a special one EQ knob preamp made by Bill Bartolini - and it recorded well.

I play more fretted electric bass nowadays. I do still play the double bass. In fact I do not practice on electric bass anymore.

 

[bobdabilder]

It takes guts to play the notes I play.....

I play gutless. It’s kinda like fretless but...

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I wouldn't say I'm "afraid" to try fretless, just never had the interest to try one. I just want to improve my playing and singing and enjoying the gigs.

 

[Fernando Costa]

When I'm playing my fretless I feel like I'm actually playing bass. This does not happen with my fretted basses.

 

[80jazz]

Affirmative.