In a word - yes. I'm 53 and have been playing fretted bass since I was 13. I bought my first fretless 4 years ago, and I now practice/play on it the majority of the time.
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Fretless disease
- Thread starter 4bluestrings
- Start date
I first played one my first year playing bass. I loved it but it was too pricey so I stuck with what I had for over ten years. I eventually got one because of how much jazz I’ve played over the years and felt it would just sound better. I have an LTD fretless PJ and a Kiesel LB76 now. They’re great fun to play!
Mainly a fretless player here. However, it just doesn’t fit in certain contexts. Contexts I often find myself playing in. I have been spending a lot of time this week working my fretted for a series of gigs this month. I am not sure I can explain the difference-but for me if it swings any then the fretless is a no brainer. My upcoming twelve gigs are all songs done on fretted originally and I am expected to sound exactly the same as the original.
Very tempting, price seems not too bad, just over $1000. Hmmmm....
It's hard to dance and play fretless well. Otherwise fretless is all I'd play.
The first bass I ever saw was a white fretless Jazz Bass with a tort guard and ebony unlined board. This was when I was a kid, and the player was in the local high school jazz band. I knew I would play this instrument someday. I have been playing for a little over 30 years now, and 95+% of that time has been on fretless. It's what I truly love, and I'm fortunate to play in situations where it fits very well. Welcome to the "club"! 
Yeppers. Had several BLs or directors that did not want the fretless despite the fact you can hide the mwah.
Heard Alain Caron in the late 80s with UZEB, and used end nipper pliers to rip the frets out of my first Vantage bass.
Played fretless since then.
Played fretless since then.
It's harder to play fretless and sing well. For me, it's harder to play ANYTHING and sing well. Especially euphonium.
Yep; 1987 I played a Carvin fretless that the main bass player in my high school had. I bought one a year later and it is still my #1 (although the Pedulla Buzz I got this year is an amazing instrument).
If anyone says you can’t use a fretless for a particular kind of music, they’re just wrong. I’ve played rock, jazz, metal, country and even polka (yep, and made good $ too
). Although slap on a fretless is a bit futile...
If anyone says you can’t use a fretless for a particular kind of music, they’re just wrong. I’ve played rock, jazz, metal, country and even polka (yep, and made good $ too
). Although slap on a fretless is a bit futile...
I stumbled on a Peavey T40 that someone removed the frets from. Couldn't put it down. Left for awhile and drove back and bought it. Really good price. I dig it. I need to practice more often with it.
As a pro in Nashville, I do not presume to tell you what you can use, but my guess is that a producer would look the other way if you do not constantly try to sound fretless.
I have a fretless T40 that doesn't get enough love, need to get it out and play it. Very unique sound.
D
Deleted member 165050
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For me it was hearing Percy Jones, Jaco and Boz Burrell and since all them years ago I have been fretless... I only own three basses of which two are fretless. I bought my first fretless in '79... which I have just realised with a sense of total disbelief is 40 years ago...
That's awesome and why I don't understand bassists limiting their choice of instruments to things from a catalog or off a MI website.
When I was 15 a friend gave me a Fender catalog. There was a sunburst fretless Precision . I loved the look of it, a lot. First real bass was a used 73 Jazz. The neck pretzeled. I went to Wurlitzers and bought a fretless P neck. Been playing it since 76. A few years ago, I bought an MIM P. The sound I was always looking for. Did a presto change-o neck swap and at 58, I realized my teenage dream.
Never heard of "mwah", just dug the look of the plain rosewood board. After so long, I just plain suck on frets. Transition to upright wasn't a big deal either.
Never heard of "mwah", just dug the look of the plain rosewood board. After so long, I just plain suck on frets. Transition to upright wasn't a big deal either.
I learned to play on upright, so after a few years of playing a fretted bass, it never felt comfortable to me. I realized that fretless was what worked for me and I haven’t owned a fretted bass since. I’m no Jaco or Mark Egan. In fact, if you couldn’t see me, you wouldn’t know right away what I’m playing. I don’t play fretless to sound like a fretless, I just like the open feel. That, plus I sound terrible on fretted. 
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