Fret # Preference

[40Hz]

Twenty-four please. I prefer having the full two octaves per string available. But I’ll take whatever it has if I like the bass.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I usually count the number of frets after I buy the bass.

 

[Koshchei]

20 suits my needs 99.9% of the time, but occasionally, I'll break out my one fretter, if I feel like playing some Jaco.

 

[2F/2F]

Never a consideration of mine, so I voted for the last option.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I prefer 21, but 20 is enough. 24th fret is where I like to pop the string so I'd rather have no more than 22 frets.

 

[Blackjac97]

Jaco only needed zero.

(how did we make it to page 4 and no one else said this yet?)

 

[SteveCS]

Jaco only needed zero.

(how did we make it to page 4 and no one else said this yet?)

Some of us managed to bring fretless into the discussion without any mention of Jaco!
The conundrum raised so far is this - does fretless constitute 1 or 0 frets?

 

[mark feasey]

Twenty eight is a bit confusing at times!

 

[Yonni]

I wouldn’t bet on being able to tell you without looking how many frets my 3 basses have. I’m guessing my P bass (not Fender) has 20. But I’d have to go count it to be sure.

 

[A9X]

The conundrum raised so far is this - does fretless constitute 1 or 0 frets?

Is there a nut? Then 0.
Is there a zero fret? Then 1.

 

[Blackjac97]

Some of us managed to bring fretless into the discussion without any mention of Jaco!
The conundrum raised so far is this - does fretless constitute 1 or 0 frets?

I'm going to vote 0. Because it is called a nut and not a fret. I see how the argument could be made though.

 

[JimmyM]

I once thought I had to have 24 frets, and my only good bass, a Fender with 20, was inferior till I got a couple basses with 24 frets. Eh...fun to have, but I can generally get the job done with 20. I'll use those extra frets sometimes if I have them, but if not, no big whoop. So generally, I just plain don't care.

 

[gzarruk]

I've used and owned basses with 21, 22, 24 and even a 20 (fret)less. Even though for most "regular" playing situations I don't really need to go up that high, I just got used to playing basses with 24 frets and everything else feels wrong to me.

Would that make me pass on a really good deal if I found one without 24 frets? Maybe not, but I do take that in consideration if I'm looking for a new bass.

I think, though, that 24 should be the standard. Why not get the full range for your instrument? Specially if you're on a budget and can't have X amount of basses for different playing situations.