Fretless - should I?

[Thom Fioriglio]

Yes! And get an unlined one. I have a Tony Franklin Fender and it is stunning and inspiring to play. As others have said, I find it easier to play than a fretted bass. As for perfect intonation, I am of the belief that it's not 100% possible. But 100% if the time is close enough. And sorry for your loss. Keep us posted.

 

[JimmyO]

Absolutely. It opens up so many options and is really, really fun to noodle with. Get a lined board so you have the visual reference.

All I have ever done in terms of playing out on a fretless is using it for a cover of “Sledgehammer,” but I really enjoy just busting it out at home and messing around.

Edit: Though I will say, thinking about it, regarding lined or unlined: I’m a trombone player too, and had no problem getting the seven slide positions down by muscle memory, so if you want the badass look of an unlined fretless go for it. I’ve always looked at unlined fretless players as like the MD/PhDs of bass, like holy crap you’re about 1000x more capable than me lol.

 

[kesslari]

Fretless is a lot of fun. Sounds like a lovely way to remember your mum. The Tony Franklin is a wonderful PJ...

 

[Geepers]

Edit: Though I will say, thinking about it, regarding lined or unlined: I’m a trombone player too, and had no problem getting the seven slide positions down by muscle memory, so if you want the badass look of an unlined fretless go for it. I’ve always looked at unlined fretless players as like the MD/PhDs of bass, like holy crap you’re about 1000x more capable than me lol.

Perfect illustration of what I was saying before: that it’s only the mind that makes fretless “hard”. This person doesn’t think twice about playing a “fretless” wind instrument but his mind tells him a fretless stringed instrument is near impossible!

 

[akukulich]

There's little harm in buying a fretless. If it doesn't work out, you can sell it and make most, if not all, of your money back.

It's much harder to find a really good fretless than a fretted bass. To get a bass that really sings, you almost always have to be prepared to spend some money. There are builders who have figured out their secret sauce, and it's worth buying from a builder who knows what pickups, woods and hardware combine to get a great tone.

As for lined or unlined, I've played both. I was playing an unlined fretless when I took a lesson with Gary Willis, who asked me, "Why are you making your life more difficult than it needs to be?" Also, there will be times when you'll have difficulty hearing your bass, and those lines can be the difference between an in tune or out of tune performance. Lined or unlined, you'll need to get your intonation together. I think a lined board gets you there faster. Again, if it's good enough for Gary Willis, it's good enough for me.

Good luck in your search. My condolences on the loss of your mom.

 

[Artman]

Lined or unlined, not much different.
Make it a little easier on yourself by finding one with the same scale length, and fingerboard radius as your current most played fretted bass, preferably with a similar body shape and size as well, but the main things are scale length and the fingerboard should be the same radius as your current #1s fretboard.

Very sorry for your loss. Best wishes.

 

[tIANcI]

I love the sound of a good fretless … the mwaaaah. Going fretless is great but needs a lot of practice to nail it. Not a Herculean task but it does need effort.

I got a Fender Japan JB62FL and realised it’s not for me. I’m too lazy and can’t put in the effort. Shes being fretted now. My fault.

 

[DaveParker39]

There are so many options that are reasonably affordable (and possible to sell if you don't like it) I see no reason not to.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

My condolences. Playing fretless? Yes! And depending on your budget, I will buck the trend a bit and say - Buy a Wal! There are a few fretless ones on Reverb now and it's what Percy played! That sound you fell in love with wasn't just a fretless - it was a fretless WAL. And if, for some reason, it doesn't work out, there are few basses that are better investments.

BBB

 

[JimmyO]

Perfect illustration of what I was saying before: that it’s only the mind that makes fretless “hard”. This person doesn’t think twice about playing a “fretless” wind instrument but his mind tells him a fretless stringed instrument is near impossible!

Right. I think what makes it intimidating is the smaller scale, 21-24 positions vs. 7, and fine motor skills vs. gross motor skills. Double bass is a great proof of concept that’s been around for 300+ years. And Steve Bailey exists on the same astral plane as us somehow, so it can be done. I’ve reversed my position on unlined fretless basses tonight, and may think about getting one.

 

[Saetia]

I won’t speak for everyone but so do better with no lines than I do with lines. Now that we have that out of the way I’m not great at playing fretless, with more practice and conviction I know I’d be much better but I’ve never just given myself to the fretless for any amount of time and I ended up selling my last (was lined). I’ll end up with another and it will be unlined and I will give myself to it completely for at least a month if not more. When I’m on I love it, when I’m not I remember how familiar the speed bumps are lol and should buckle down.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Sorry about your mom. I’ve lost my mom and my dad and I’m not even old yet. The loss lessens but never goes away. You could sp me that money on something dumb, but getting a quality instrument that you’ll spend time with and will sing back to you is a wise move.

Get one and play it and be bad at it for a few hours. There’s no music police to beat you up. Play it melodically, see if you can make it rise and fall like a human singer. Even if you play it only in your room it will be worth it. It can do the same things a fretted bass can do, but think of it as a different instrument. Most guitarists have an acoustic and an electric.

 

[Yonni]

The

Buy a Wal! There are a few fretless ones on Reverb now and it's what Percy played! That sound you fell in love with wasn't just a fretless - it was a fretless WAL. And if, for some reason, it doesn't work out, there are few basses that are better investments.

BBB

The Bass Gallery in London has a few in, but I’m not looking to spend £13,000 just yet!

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Yonni I would look at a stingray. They work excellently at a fretless. I’m sure you’ve heard pino’s stuff?

 

[Jogobass]

In my experience most fretless players who play unlined struggle to play in tune. (yes, even the great Steve Bailey) That includes some famous double bass players. They often end up sliding into the correct pitch, if they correct it at all. The best fretless players, Gary Willis and Jaco, have lined basses and it doesn't seem to bother them. Taking your eyes out of the equation is just not smart. Your ear is going to have to be trained no matter what. Lines give you the approximate position of the note. And if you get used to them you will know where to aim exactly relative to the line. It keeps the picture similar to a fretted bass so it also makes it easier to switch between. You do have to do actual intonation setup with lines to achieve that accuracy. I suspect some people don't do that and then it becomes troublesome to intonate. Ideally, you want the note at the 12th 'fret' to be at the same place across all strings. on Upright bass this is simply not possible and as such players have to tune each note they play.

 

[Diddywah]

I bought my first fretless after 40 years of frets. Played it with my band first night. After an hour or so the singer: new bass tonight? Then later the drummers eyes pop: it's got no frets!
I had so much respect for guys like Percy Jones and Mick Karn I truly thought it was not for me. Turns out I was wrong.
The fretless was bought after my aunt passed and left me some unexpected cash.
Buy a nice one. Play it first, they differ more than fretted basses in my opinion.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[bassdude51]

IMHO and with all due respect for your "mum" mom............in her honor and remembrance, depending on her age, buy a birth year bass or if she was born before bass guitars, buy a bass for your birth year. And, keep it for as long as you live.

Fretless? They are fantastic sounding and I love them! But.......speaking for myself, over the years, I've tried them 2 times and fretless just isn't for me! (Had lined fretboard.) It took me too much concentrate to play one and I visually had to confirm each note for approximate accuracy!

I think that for at last some of us, a fretless is a novelty. YMMV

 

[basseux]

Do it! Fretless is clankless and schmooooth!View attachment 7147018

In US fender models there seems not be only american pro 2 jazz bass fretless, which I got, and the tony franklin signature precision that I wished it didn't have a mic selector only.
There is no regular fretless precision like the one you have, although I would say that for a fretless I would miss not having the J pickup at all.

 

[Geepers]

Taking your eyes out of the equation is just not smart…

On the contrary, I would say it’s very smart because it develops your ears faster.

 

[basseux]

IMHO and with all due respect for your "mum" mom............in her honor and remembrance, depending on her age, buy a birth year bass or if she was born before bass guitars, buy a bass for your birth year. And, keep it for as long as you live.

Fretless? They are fantastic sounding and I love them! But.......speaking for myself, over the years, I've tried them 2 times and fretless just isn't for me! (Had lined fretboard.) It took me too much concentrate to play one and I visually had to confirm each note for approximate accuracy!

I think that for at last some of us, a fretless is a novelty. YMMV

To me it's equivalent to a guitar player having an acoustic guitar, an electro acoustic guitar, a stratocaster, a telecaster, a gibson.
So yeah we have a 4 string jazz bass, a 4 string precision, a 5 string more modern bass, and we are lucky to not have to go double bass by only going to a fretless to have at least some of the fun and sound.

Now after that you choose and maybe don't keep all, but you never really now before giving it a shot, and life isn't that long, at worse you have a bit of buyers remorse.