Fret Sprout on a Fretless?

[soulstew]

Is this with the out-of-the-box setup?

Unless you play extremely lightly with your right hand, very low strings are going to be a problem – even on fretted, but especially on fretless. The board slap/buzz is actually a big part of the tone and the appeal of fretless IMO. I don't want it, then I play fretted.

This is not to say that the neck is up to snuff. Maybe is isn't. But no instrument comes out of the box perfectly set up for every player.

FWIW, I learned on fretless, and played it exclusively for the first 20 years of my bass playing.

My instinct and experience says that you should be going higher with your strings, not lower. That will give you more of the upright feel and tone. And if you want to stay low, then embrace the board slap and learn to use it...or start playing with a feather-light right hand.

While I agree that higher action will give you a more upright-y tone, I have to respectfully disagree about embracing the fretline noise. The sizzle from protruding frets is a very different sound than the mwaah you get from low action, in my experience. It's a very non-musical hashy sound, like distortion or the sizzle of a noisy amp, and seems to be worse with rounds than flats. On my ebonol neck when the fretlines stood proud, the issue was not very dependent on string height, unless the strings were WAY off the board.

If the neck surface is good, low action = more mwah, with none of the sizzle/buzz that you get from surface imperfections like proud fretlines. The sizzle/buzz from proud fretlines is noise and nothing worse embracing.

FWIW, I played exclusively fretless through the 90's and into the '00s, and currently play fretless about 1/3 of the time. Have owned both lined and unlined fretlesses from Squier to Rob Allen. Not trying to pick a fight, but if you haven't experienced proud fretlines, you may not realize how different they are from ordinary mwaah.

Doc, did the Squier in question have rounds or flats on it? My experience has been that rounds are less forgiving of surface imperfections on the fretboard, but curious what you've found.

 

[clockworkcorpse]

I've had raised lines on two lined fretless, one an Ibanez srh I returned after the store that sold it to me "repaired it" poorly, and the other an american standard fender jazz that I had repaired by a local famous luthier. The jazz ended up perfect.

I need reminders every few years that fretless is not for me. Funny, I recently just narrowly evaded my reminder that five string is not for me... maybe I am learning finally.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

While I agree that higher action will give you a more upright-y tone, I have to respectfully disagree about embracing the fretline noise. The sizzle from protruding frets is a very different sound than the mwaah you get from low action, in my experience. It's a very non-musical hashy sound, like distortion or the sizzle of a noisy amp, and seems to be worse with rounds than flats. On my ebonol neck when the fretlines stood proud, the issue was not very dependent on string height, unless the strings were WAY off the board.

If the neck surface is good, low action = more mwah, with none of the sizzle/buzz that you get from surface imperfections like proud fretlines. The sizzle/buzz from proud fretlines is noise and nothing worse embracing.

FWIW, I played exclusively fretless through the 90's and into the '00s, and currently play fretless about 1/3 of the time. Have owned both lined and unlined fretlesses from Squier to Rob Allen. Not trying to pick a fight, but if you haven't experienced proud fretlines, you may not realize how different they are from ordinary mwaah.

Doc, did the Squier in question have rounds or flats on it? My experience has been that rounds are less forgiving of surface imperfections on the fretboard, but curious what you've found.

I agree with your observations. The bass came with rounds and I have not changed strings.

 

[Lagado]

Get the board skimmed.

 

[Lagado]

Get the board skimmed.

Woods shrink and expand at different rates. I've had a fretless skimmed once because the maple fret lines were protruding slightly after time. It's no big deal, a skim just evens out the plane of the board, we're talking millimetres here.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Uuuugh, I don't know why I'm reading this I don't play fretless...bye

 

[Ric5]

all basses have things that go wrong …

 

[CatchaCuda]

Uneven board, line sprout? You did good with the glue, you could get a sanding beam, or make one (2' level, get it dead flat). Sand along the string paths, then touch up between the paths.

Of course, this info^ is already all over TB. Your call Doc

 

[micguy]

Jaco didn't need.....oh, wait....

This is one reason why I like a fretless with lines - I've seen this issue in varying degrees in lined instruments I've picked up and played, and the one bass I built with a lined board (a 60's Fender neck that had been de-fretted (seems kinda odd to say this nowadays) for $25) took a lot of work (epoxy coating) to get the fillers to where they were benign.

 

[CapnSev]

Im late to the party here, but I’ve had that issue on every lined fretless I’ve ever had. I hate a lined fretless for that reason. I’m sure a finished/epoxied one would be different, but I’ve never had one of those.

The good news is that the right radius block and some sandpaper fixes it real quick.

 

[MVE]

just get a bass with a blank FB, problem solved. You dont need those silly little fret markers anyway. I doubt Jaco spent much time looking at his.

Actually in videos of him playing intricate stuff, Jaco is usually staring at his left hand, Gary Willis too.
I question most people’s ability to actually truly play in tune. I think most of the people that say, “use your ears” would be very surprised to know how far off they often actually are.

 

[Dave the Bass]

My Squier Vintage Modified fretless Jazz neck has the structural rigidity of a half-cooked noodle...I pretty much have to give it a truss rod tweak one way or the other just about every time I play it in order to keep the action where I want it.

 

[2tonic]

The Squier has a different sound that I like a lot. It also gets a good slap tone for a fretless. Finally, it can serve as a backup if need be.

Now I'm thoroughly confused.

Far be it from me to discourage anyone from acquiring mo' basses (after all, the more we buy, the more they'll make) but the entire reason the Pedulla Buzz series exists is to be a superlative fretless with a great slap sound.
It's why I bought mine.

Are you sure you didn't just wake up with an itch for another FSO in your stable?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Now I'm thoroughly confused.

Far be it from me to discourage anyone from acquiring mo' basses (after all, the more we buy, the more they'll make) but the entire reason the Pedulla Buzz series exists is to be a superlative fretless with a great slap sound.
It's why I bought mine.

Are you sure you didn't just wake up with an itch for another FSO in your stable?

It is not confusing unless you make it that way. I liked the way this Squier sounded. I don’t like the quality of it’s construction. My Pentabuzz sounds wonderful, but I enjoy a different tone at times.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Jaco was staring at the fret line remnants... which allowed him to play in tune consistently. Mark Egan is a monster fretless player, he uses lines, poor guy. Must feel so inferior! If you only play while reading sheet music, and can't look at the lines, get an unlined. Watch how Mark has eyes on the fretboard constantly.... so he can play in tune.

 

[bluesblaster]

If you never had a bass with "fret markers" you would still be required to play "in tune" it can be done either way. If you play double bass in an orchestra you absolutly need to be spot on, electric bass string are smaller in diameter making it a bit more of a challenge but it can still be done, I've seen it done. I prefer a blank FB, alot of people like the lines, I never care for that myself. But I dont play in an orchestra either.

 

[JRA]

It is not confusing unless you make it that way. I liked the way this Squier sounded. I don’t like the quality of it’s construction. My Pentabuzz sounds wonderful, but I enjoy a different tone at times.

it may be time for someone to get out the sandpaper, doc. CatchaCuda 's advice is solid! good luck with your instrument!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Jaco was staring at the fret line remnants... which allowed him to play in tune consistently. Mark Egan is a monster fretless player, he uses lines, poor guy. Must feel so inferior! If you only play while reading sheet music, and can't look at the lines, get an unlined. Watch how Mark has eyes on the fretboard constantly.... so he can play in tune.

Yes, yes, that is some sweet Pedulla tone! The fact that a Pedulla has an almost acoustic growl is intoxicating! As for looking at the neck, do what you need to do. Heck, I look at the neck when I play unlined too.

 

[nostatic]

There are two things required to play a fretless in tune - ears and practice. If lines help you, great. If lines hinder you, great. That's why we have choices.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

it may be time for someone to get out the sandpaper, doc. CatchaCuda 's advice is solid! good luck with your instrument!

I already used that sandpaper Monday night.