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Fretless Bass! Which type is the best? [POLL]

Which style of pickup configuration is ideal for the best fretless tone?

  • Jazz

  • Precision

  • P/J

  • Stingray (MM)

  • Other... (describe)

Results are only viewable after voting.
#81
kesslari said:
Soapbars.
Click to expand...

Gotta second this. The Fender pickup offerings don't do anything for my fretless work, and that's all I do. My experiences with both EMG and Bartolini have been great.

Now, if you want to sound exactly like Jaco, just take your fretless Jazz, 100% back pickup, roll off the tone knob, and BAM! You are there. But again, that's not what I do.

ETA: Piezos. Have one fretless with a piezo that is great. Not a tone I'd use all the time but boy I'd like to see piezo equipped bridges on everything as an option.
 
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#83
I did not vote because I have never owned a fretless bass. I once played a fretless nylon string guitar which was a total disaster.
Since playing bass I tried an upright (fretless of course) and was amazed that I could make it work. The key for me was avoiding chords.
Anyway...I've always loved the sound of a fretless bass and have considered adding one to my stable of stringed instruments. So I'm interested in seeing the results to this poll. I would also like to know if short scale fretless basses exist. I've only seen one but it was a custom made job.
 
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#88
Ballin'bass said:
Ok, guys, I'm trying to establish a general consensus of what the popular opinions are on TB, concerning fretless basses.

Which pickup configuration is the best for capturing the sound of a fretless bass, in your opinion? This isn't about particular brands, necessarily, nor is it about which fretless is most easy or comfortable to play. It's not about necks or tone woods. This thread is just about pickup types/placements and how they sound with a fretless.

Share your personal preferences with us and say a little bit about why you feel that configuration is best. What kind of touch/technique/playing style do you employ that led you to your preference? Do you like it because of its versatility? It's simplicity? It's singularity or uniqueness? It's ability to cut through mixes? Really anything you care to go into.

Another good thing to mention might be how you like your fretless bass to be set up, as the action/string height drastically effects the sound of the instrument and thus, what the pickups capture.

And yes, there is a poll. :thumbsup:

Let's have it!
Click to expand...
IMG-20151214-WA0048.jpeg
IMG-20151214-WA0048.jpeg
My own plays and sound amazing. Deoliveira Wave Bass.
 
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#93
I had a Washburn SB 40EQ years ago...it had P/J.....have a Cort Artisan 5 fretless now....mighty mite soapbars(which I hate). My MIM jazz sounds better than basically anything I've played...if I had another killer.fretted I would consider making it fretless for tone for sure. I think jazz pickups just have better resonance, especially with lower action. Makes it where you don't have to pluck so hard to get that singing tone, at least for me. My Cort has pretty low action....the Washburn was higher and didn't have enough sustain, regardless how hard or long you fretted.
I know that Pino's tone with Paul Young and Pete Townsend was awesome, and he was on the ole Music Man...at least in video, I would assume it's what he recorded with. Hope I kept close to the OP.....easy to get sidetracked thinking about everyone's kick ass fretless tone....go with an F BASS and be like Alain....you can't go wrong there..
.
 
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#94
I don't buy the "best" concept.
Personally,I don't travel far and wide testing out every single fretless bass in the vicinity to find the "best"
To do a comparison.
What many swear by is not what I would choose.



Any bass that can get the "Jaco Mwah"to me is a good bass.
Mine.Yours.That inexpensive Washburn down at the Ma &Pa.
Forget about "Best"
Whatever works is good enough.
Every fretless that I've ever had was good enough.

As for set up.
I always use the bridge pickup.
Action is .187 off the twefth fret location.
I don't slap on a fretless.
Snapshot_2015704.jpg
 
Last edited:
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#95
I voted "Other." See, as an old-timer bass guitarist but newcomer to the magical world of fretless bass guitar, I defer to my elders. All of your arguments are convincing. I wish I could afford one of each of those beauties. Man! drool
 
#98
Watchootognbout said:
I don't buy the "best" concept.
Personally,I don't travel far and wide testing out every single fretless bass in the vicinity to find the "best"
To do a comparison.
What many swear by is not what I would choose.



Any bass that can get the "Jaco Mwah"to me is a good bass.
Mine.Yours.That inexpensive Washburn down at the Ma &Pa.
Forget about "Best"
Whatever works is good enough.
Every fretless that I've ever had was good enough.

As for set up.I always use the bridge pickup.
Action is .187 off the twefth fret location.
No slapping on a fretless.View attachment 783860
Click to expand...
No offense but I think Tony Levin, Michael Manring and Pino Pallidino might disagree....
 
#99
Billybladez66 said:
No offense but I think Tony Levin, Michael Manring and Pino Pallidino might disagree....
Click to expand...
They have the money,resources,and time to search out their "best"
All cars are "good enough" to go A to B.
But someone with a Bugati is concerned with the best way to get there in style.
And only they know the difference.
 

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