Finally a musically legitimate reason to play on C string...

[ArtechnikA]

Milestone for me...

Bought a fretless 6 six months into my bass journey about 10 years ago and it's been my #1 ever since. Got the 6 on the 'one bass to rule them all' principle and the idea that if I played one bass, I'd be really, really familiar with it.

I practice stuff up there, but there's never been a really good reason to go there.

But now I'm working with a new band and 'Smooth Operator' is on the setlist, and I get the solo. Sade's bass player uses a standard fretted 4-string MusicMan so technically, you don't _have to_ have a high-C. But I found trying to play that high up the neck led to intonation issues. "Could" I learn to play up there on the G-string? Sure, probably. But I don't have to... 15th fret C-string is plenty high for me. I like it...

 

[Spin Doctor]

Milestone for me...

Bought a fretless 6 six months into my bass journey about 10 years ago and it's been my #1 ever since. Got the 6 on the 'one bass to rule them all' principle and the idea that if I played one bass, I'd be really, really familiar with it.

I practice stuff up there, but there's never been a really good reason to go there.

But now I'm working with a new band and 'Smooth Operator' is on the setlist, and I get the solo. Sade's bass player uses a standard fretted 4-string MusicMan so technically, you don't _have to_ have a high-C. But I found trying to play that high up the neck led to intonation issues. "Could" I learn to play up there on the G-string? Sure, probably. But I don't have to... 15th fret C-string is plenty high for me. I like it...

Making it easier to play solos is kind of the point. Works better for playing chords also

 

[ArtechnikA]

Making it easier to play solos is kind of the point. Works better for playing chords also

Absolutely! Although double-stops is about as far as I dare go on fretless just now. I know guys who can do it (Manring and Eric Czar come to mind. Maybe Steve Bailey.) Always still learning...

 

[chris_b]

. . . . . . Sade's bass player uses a standard fretted 4-string MusicMan so technically, you don't _have to_ have a high-C. .

When I play a song the original player's preferences and prejudices are irrelevant to me, as is the gear he used. I'm playing the song so my opinion is all that matters.

If your bass is a 6 then that will be the best bass for you to use.

 

[Les Fret]

I like the C string on my fretted and fretless 6 string. It gets as much playtime as the other strings. Only in general the high C on a fretless mostly has less sustain than the G string. Also it can sound a bit thin when playing on the C in the lower frets.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Making it easier to play high notes is kind of the point.

FIFY