Well which one do YOU like and are you most comfortable with?
Oooo wow man. I bet that light wave Saber is a different kind of animal all together!
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Fretless Bass! Which type is the best? [POLL]
- Thread starter Ballin'bass
- Start date
Indeedy, it is the ultimate "tone is in your fingers" bass; with plenty of mwah to go around.
My fretless is a P/J config. With only the slightest adjustments, I have a wide range of tones available to me. I prefer to sit on J 100% and P 90%.
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My previous fretless was a J config and I didn't have the deep bottom I have with the P/J. I also had a lot more finger noise.
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My previous fretless was a J config and I didn't have the deep bottom I have with the P/J. I also had a lot more finger noise.
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You are wrong.
Fingerboard material, strings and neck relief are integral parts of what each fretless bass sounds like.
Do you think a zero relief phenolic board with steel roundwounds is going to sound anything like a bass with an uncoated rosewood board, 10 year old flats and 1/4" of relief? Even with the same pickups?
Again, I am not saying they don't have an effect on the sound, just not as much as pickup type/placement does. That's my experience.
And either way this thread is about pickups. If you just want to look for reasons not to give an actual answer to the very simple question of "which pickup configuration do you prefer for fretless and why?" then just don't comment. It's that simple.
I voted MM, and generally I have found that I prefer the sound of fretless basses that have at least one pickup located towards the bridge. When I purchased my first fretless (over 20 years ago), it came down to a Fender PJ and a StingRay5. The StingRay5 won the battle, and I guess I just became comfortable with that sound. I no longer have that bass, but do now have a custom fretless 4 with just a MM pickup in typical MM location. (And a lovely, thick ebony fingerboard...but I have picked up that this thread is focused on pickups. 
)
Fretless Ps haven't done it for me, BUT it's been years since I've played one, so perhaps I should give it a go again -- especially since I've been using a fretted PJ more often recently, sometimes solo'ing the neck pickup. (I know, I know...crazy, right?!?!?) Perhaps I'm generally friendlier now with the P vibe than I had been in the past.
In other news: I would very much like to try a Wal fretless. I have a feeling I might really like it. Frankly, I'd like to try any Wal. I have a feeling I might like them. I have thus far lived a Wal-free life, and I'm not entirely pleased by that.
)Fretless Ps haven't done it for me, BUT it's been years since I've played one, so perhaps I should give it a go again -- especially since I've been using a fretted PJ more often recently, sometimes solo'ing the neck pickup. (I know, I know...crazy, right?!?!?) Perhaps I'm generally friendlier now with the P vibe than I had been in the past.
In other news: I would very much like to try a Wal fretless. I have a feeling I might really like it. Frankly, I'd like to try any Wal. I have a feeling I might like them. I have thus far lived a Wal-free life, and I'm not entirely pleased by that.
I had a feeling this was going to come back around on me!
After years of leaning toward J/J and P/J arrangements, I've gravitated in more recent years to humbuckers for what I perceive to be a fuller sound. I find myself using G&L L2000s, Stingrays or Sabres most of the time. My fretless fiver, which is also my main fretless lately, has a 'Ray pickup in the P position.
I also prefer my fretlesses to have onboard preamps and, less importantly, ebony boards.
That said, I have a big, diverse stable of basses and break all of the above-mentioned preferences based upon the situation or just upon whim pretty often. I like to mix things up.
I like the tone of my defretted Mustang with the stock PU, but I'm really pleased with the Shortbass Scott Beckwith made for me (this is my bass in this video).
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There is no "best." I have no doubt there are instruments in all pup configurations that are great players. I indicated my preference as J config; but, that means zilch to other cats getting it done with other configurations.
I've only ever played a few and only for a few minutes each, but based upon those brief experiences, owning a Wal fretless wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit.
I have a Squier Pro-Tone PJ that has been fretless for the majority of the almost 20 years I've had it. I epoxied the neck a few years back. It is my sitting-on-the-couch-playing-while-watching-tv bass.
I like the tone of an upright. I haven't really found any electrics that match the tone and warmth of an upright. Makes me feel all fuzzy, not to mention you look cool doing it lol
I will say that the ibanez portmento that has a piezo and the two jazz pups it a really versatile machine
I will say that the ibanez portmento that has a piezo and the two jazz pups it a really versatile machine
Wasn't being flip, I like the Jazz fretless tone, especally with an ebony fingerboard.
I've seen several posts around mentioning that a fretless Rickenbacker with flats will do the "sounds like a DB" trick.
Whichever works best for you.
Fretless basses are funny things. You can sit down with two fretless basses as identical as they can get, and discover you can consistently get accurate intonation much easier - and an overall nicer and more nuanced tone - out of one than the other. And while the same may be true with any other two basses, I've noticed it's even more dramatic with fretless models.
When it comes to fretless, for me at least, it's definitely one of those "absolutely must try before you buy" situations.
YMMV
Fretless basses are funny things. You can sit down with two fretless basses as identical as they can get, and discover you can consistently get accurate intonation much easier - and an overall nicer and more nuanced tone - out of one than the other. And while the same may be true with any other two basses, I've noticed it's even more dramatic with fretless models.
When it comes to fretless, for me at least, it's definitely one of those "absolutely must try before you buy" situations.
YMMV
