Fretless as main bass in non-jazz setting?

[rakirksey]

I just had my Warmoth 56 string finished, so I'll be switching to that on the next gig.

56 strings huh ... what's the spacing on that?

 

[Stealth]

There are some metal bassist that use a fretless bass too.

Sean Malone
/thread x2

Though, to be completely serious, I don't see why a fretless couldn't pass in any genre. The fretless can do anything a fretted can - somethimes better, sometimes not.

Though I have to admit, the last time I heard a local band playing Hotel California, the fretless-playing girl really did the song justice.

 

[spade2you]

I haven't really used a fretted bass in a band setting in several years. Keep in mind there is a plethora of different tones from the semi-upright tone of a Rob Allen bass to the buzzy mwahh of a Pedulla Buzz type bass, and many tones in between.

I tend to disagree about the fretless in death metal idea, though. Yes, you can play a fretless in death metal, but the subtleties of fretless sounds are burried in the mix.

 

[optikhog]

Do what you're comfortable with! Lotsa people use fretless live and rock out. I've been known to use my fretless P for live gigs with rave tone reviews.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Does anyone here use a fretless as their main bass in a band other than jazz? Rock/Pop cover, country, funk, etc.

I would like a 2nd bass and am debating between fretted or fretless. I have a fretted 5 that I like and use for everything. I don't really like a fretless for standard jazz stuff - tried it, no good - but I do like it for some more modern, funky and smooth jazz stuff. Unfortunately, I mostly play that for myself, not many gigs, and I'm worried a 2nd fretless bass may just be sitting at home for my use in "playing along" with smooth jazz and the like.

Just curious what thoughts and practices are out there amoung TB'ers.

Yep, that's me. I use my fretless for anything that isn't slap that requires a fretted slap bass sound. To me this means I can still slap a fretless (Paul Simon's Graceland, type of sound), but it won't give me the kind of sound for the slap in Level 42 types of sound. I use it for pop, rock, country, funk etc...

 

[kevsatthebeach]

I use a lined fretless Jazz a lot, not all the time, in a Classic Rock/Modern Country band. Although I'm sure most people don't notice. Only rarely is there enough "air" for much of the fretless quality to shine through. The slower ballads are a different thing. Sure is fun though. Highly recommend it.

 

[duncbass]

I've been playing a fretless P bass in my zydeco band for the past few years and it works fine. I just had my Warmoth 56 string finished, so I'll be switching to that on the next gig. But I'm going to kmiss using the fretless.
Andy

You have a 56 string bass How wide is the neck?

 

[selfblessed]

I recentley thought about fretless only. For a couple reasons. Money being a key factor...see money is tight and if I sell my other basses I could eek by a little longer, plus then I could get my jazz with a rose wood neck down the line, when money is more readley available.

I think you can make fretless "work" in most situations. Its like anything it might take some extra effort to do so.

 

[Arpeggiator]

Steve Digeorgio and Sean Malone Are shining examples of fretless bass in death metal. i think the fretless can be whatever you want it to be. you control the instrument, not the other way round.

 

[Baryonyx]

I often took a fretless as my only bass when playing at an 80's Pop gig. I often did that when playing 60's pop live too. However, having a fretted round for the 80's stuff was often handy, as slaps and pops were often needed!

 

[Brad Johnson]

I used the Zon Legacy Standard fretless 5 in my avatar for a few years as my main bass. Any style music I played, I used it. Sounded great for slap. Usually tripped people out when they'd come up and get a close look at it... and then tell me my bass didn't have any notes on it.

I got my Brubaker KXB-5 fretless and it was an extension of the Zon's capabilities. Now I have my recently acquired Brubaker KXB-6 Custom and it's my go-to bass. Works for anything I do, from aggressive slap (the gloss board helps with that) to bionic Jaco to nice thumpy upright to whatever.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

I don't even own a fretted bass. Yet, check this out:

Link Removed

I also play fretless in my own experimental projects, as well as any calls I get for blues, funk, comedy, or other gigs.

 

[YCBass]

I'm in the same boat as you... I currently only have a fretted 5 and want a fretless next. Though I do play Jazz/Funk stuff... For me, the decision to go fretless next was made when I had the idea of playing it just like I would a fretted - the inherent qualities of a fretless will come out no matter what so I stopped trying to be all melodic and making it sing all the time... I just play the way I play (strictly speaking of style not technique as adjustments are needed, obviously) and it made sense. It let me know that I can use it for anything I would a fretted... So now it's time to find the right bass.

I know I didn't specifically answer your question in terms of other styles of music but I think it still applies in the general sense.

 

[kesslari]

My beautiful fretted bass is, sadly, not seeing a lot of playing time.
I'm playing 100% fretless in one band, and 80% fretless in the other. I mostly play the fretted now because I do love that bass, and for songs that are really hard to play and sing at the same time (frets make it easier).

 

[Ryan L.]

There's a local player here who uses fretless on about 90% of what he plays. He makes it work just fine, but then he's a monster of a player.

 

[fretlessguy]

I use my frettlesses in both contemporary and traditional Christian music currently. I have also used them in big band, country, and folk music often.
The only music I have used them in that didn't seem to fit was harder driving music, where it didn't have the hitting sound for it. But then again, Tony Franklin uses one in his metal and hard rock music, so what do I know?

 

[Tom Howland]

I use fretless about 70% of the time.

The song will dictate which bass I use.

Style of music has nothing to do with it.
You can use fretless in any style you want.

 

[Tired_Thumb]

Also, in terms of fretless nuances in death metal, check out Jeroen Thesseling with Obscura.

 

[Muddslide]

I haven't had a fretless in years and I'll be wanting a FL 4 real soon. Drool.

In addition to some tasty metal FL players, Mick Karn (of Japan and Dali's Car) and David J. (of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets) both used fretlesses in their respective goth/postpunk bands. Karn was especially a killer. In fact, I'm not even real fond of the bands he was in, but he was a great player.

 

[bh2]

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