Fret # Preference

[A9X]

I voted 24, but I really meant 25 as I prefer a zero fret too.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

There’s always the jokes about never going beyond the fifth fret in some genres, but how many frets do you prefer on your basses? I have some books where the exercises go up to the 21st fret (in the case I’m thinking of, it’s playing the E blues scale all the way up, but again, it’s just an exercise), but it’s my understanding that, at least for Fender, the world ends at 20. My EB-3 has 22 frets, which helped convinced me to bring it home for the summer. What do ya’ll like?

Frets!

We don't need no stinkin' frets!!

 

[IronLung1986]

No more than 21 for me ideally. The more you have the less you can dig in before the string starts to hit the board.

 

[Mushroo]

I like the symmetry of 20 frets. It is the exact number of frets required to play a full 2 octaves in every key. I think that is a pretty cool symmetry!

 

[ellipsis]

Twelve will do it, honestly.

 

[A9X]

Twelve will do it, honestly.

That would depend on what you're playing wouldn't it?

 

[Killing Floor]

1 long wooden fret.

 

[packhowitzer]

So I don't really have a fret number preference, but I've found that I really like 35" scale - especially if there's a Low B on the bass. So given that scale preference, I've noticed that it usually comes part 'n' parcel with 24 frets. go figure...

 

[PsyDocHill]

I used to insist on 24 frets. Then I developed a disorder which afflicts most bassists. As my bass guitar collection grew, I found that each bass had its personality if you will (please will) and the different number of frets played a significant role in that. I'm a strong believer in fret diversity now. I can think like a P-bass player with one song, a Stingray5 thumper on another, a Corvette 5 shredder also...and then there is fretless. It's all bass.

 

[getBAK]

My biggest gripe about most basses, lack of 24 frets

 

[Bassaga]

Any fewer than 24 is a deal breaker for me. And man does it break a lot of deals!

 

[David McIntire]

The number don't matter. As long as my fretted and fretless are the same number. And scale.

 

[juancaminos]

IDK. I counted once but forgot

 

[Matty Koff]

I have 3 bass guitars with 20 frets and my newest has 22. I'd love a 24 fret bass honestly, and have owned a couple but the basses I currently own won in feel and sound.

I honestly don't often play above the 12th fret.. but I like options more than I like limitations in just about any aspect of life.

Not a bass.. but, I've been dreaming so hard of a 24 fret Strat with an OFR. I was tempted to grab an HM Strat, but, honestly I want standard pickups and I can't stand the headstock.

I started building my dream at warmoth but by the time I got done with the body was I already at like $1200, and while the "estimation" of what it would look like was absolutely gorgeous with a Translucent Purple finish on a Swamp Ash body and quilted maple top with Gold hardware... I just can't drop that kind of dough on something I'm probably going to end up playing mostly barred chords with chopped up rhythms on.

I think if I really really want it enough I might just sell a bass and buy a Player HSS Strat in Polar white or Tidepool with an OFR and be content with 22 frets. I don't tend to use the bridge p/u that often anyway.

Anyway... long story short. If the guitar or bass has everything else going for it.. I can let the lack of a 2 octave scale per string slide.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Whatever they have, I'll play it

 

[cnltb]

on my 4 string I have 20.
On the 5 it's 29.

Both perfect for the individual basses and what I use them for.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I very rarely venture above the 7th fret, so for me the question is pretty much meaningless.

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

My Warwick Thumb (maybe it’s all Warwicks? I dunno) and one of my Corelli Customs both have 26 frets, which is nice because you can get that extra octave of E or A in there if you’re playing all the way up the neck. And I’m pretty sure I saw a Washburn bass with 32 frets when I worked at a music store in the '80s.

 

[jamro217]

I'm not fussy but I do play in the upper register frequently. My first bass was a Danelectro with only 15 frets. That wouldn't do. After playing Fenders for decades, I got used to 20 frets and a 34" scale. I have quite a few instruments now (including Rics, fretless Js, a Prestige violin bass and a Gibson Ripper) and the only bass that I can't get used to is a 24 fret '92 Carvin LB70. It's a beautiful bass. Neck through, active electronics, locking Sperzels, comfy neck. I just can't get used to looking down and seeing an extra few frets. It's like trying to focus on the event horizon. I get vertigo. So the answer is having enough room to play what can be easily done on a Fender without going overboard. I don't care if the bass is fretted or not.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

What a coincidence!. I use that chord everyday. Fits in with everything.