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Fretless - should I?

#81
Yonni said:
I have always loved the sound of fretless since I first heard Brand X in the 80s. My mum passed away mast year and I’m a out to get an large inheritance. I already have 3 bases. Music is a hobby and I only play in a covers band that a P and a J are enough for. I’m thinking of getting a fretless with some of the inheritance money as a way to remember my mum. My only worry is that I will find the transition hard and not enjoy it. Any tips, thoughts or ideas for a fretless newbie? I would use it for composing and my own compositions rather than the covers band.
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Back in the early eighties I had one electric bass, a '73 P-bass, bought new; after a decade of constant playing, I disassembled the bass, defretted the neck, re-contoured and refinished the body, and replaced the p'ups with Quarter Pounders. I've never looked back. Now, five of my twelve basses are fretless. Given the opportunity to start this journey again in '68, I'd tell my younger self to buy the best fretless five-string I could afford, and a serviceable double bass, and stick with those two instruments. But, that just me. ;)
 
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#82
Bless you and your Mum.
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#83
Sorry to hear about your mother.

She'd want you to play cello. All mums love cello. And it's fretless. ;)

I play upright and fretless electric. And cello. My electric has lines, simply by virtue of being a de-fretted neck. Except for the occasional glance, I don't look at them. But the occasional glance is helpful, e.g., if the bass part calls for jumping into the upper registers and nailing a note.

I think the way to decide is, would you enjoy the lonely pursuit of developing the technique required to play in tune? Upright players would say yes, otherwise they'd have already chosen some other instrument. There's plenty of great music left to be played on fretted bass, so it has to be a personal decision based on what you're interested in.
 
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#84
Yonni said:
If I do it needs to be something special. I’m thinking ebony fretboard boutique. Any suggestions?
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Do it. Get your dream bass that also challenges you and name it after her!

This is mom. My mum went down the Alzheimer's rabbit hole and to honor the classical pianist/mezzo soprano oper-trained crazy lady, I had @Drake Custom make this beauty. Plays better than it looks. Got to show it to mom before she all but disappeared. Been 5 years now.

I recently had Andrew Drake make a fretless in honor of dad. He's still kicking booty and name taking at 91.
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#86
If I came into some money and wanted to try fretless, I would look for a good deal on a second hand Wal fretless. There are a few around on reverb. If you like it, great, keep it. If you don't like it, you'll probably get your money back because they don't really lose value.
 
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#87
Wal’s are very unique basses and well built but not IMHO an intro fretless bass. There are less expensive options out there that
are great basses I was able to pick up a lined fretless Lakland 55-02 Skyline for less than $1,000.00 it had a great neck and fingerboard.
Just my take of course. Here’s a recent example I found.
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#88
Wasnex said:
Different? Yes. Easier? :roflmao:. Not in my experience, but of course YMMV ;).
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It's KillingFloor - he has some interesting views like wood can withstand thousands lbs of tension, all amps need to be cranked to 11. That's definitely putting a spin of half glass full even if there are only a few drops left. He is a fiddle player so it's a different perspective you can roll your fingers to go a semitone almost. :smug:
 
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#89
For a special bass that's expensive but not ridiculous bass, get a Rob Allen. I do not have one but when I played one, I know why many are ga-ga over them. Europe has some amazing builders like that guy in Holland that the Bass the World Gregor guy raves about. Starts with an A... Yep London Denmark street shops will probably have one available now.
 
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#90
I did find it easier when I started. I converted my only bass to fretless and it was my only bass even though at some point, I was a working musician i.e. if I did not gig, I was not gonna be able to pay the rent or eat when I lived in NYC even though I had a second job in a pre press layout operation. I depended on it. My band leader actually advised I get a second bass and on a few occasion he lent me his fretted jazz. MAybe because I was young, and had to do it. What I did was I woodshedded - like 8-14 hours a few days in a month until I go it- just playing transcribing and listening. We did not have distractions back then, no youtube and if you are lucky a female friend with benefits. MTV, Bass Player magazine and Melody Maker was all there is LOL
 
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#91
Many years ago, I traded in the fretted neck of my Jazz bass for a fretless Precision neck. First played it in public a few days later (just an open mic in a college pub, but still). I'm still playing that fretless Frankenstein, in fact (despite having some really nice fretted basses) it's my #1 these days.

So, I'm in the "yes, do it" crowd. Don't go unnecessarily cheap, you'll enjoy a better instrument more.
 
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#93
rickdog said:
Many years ago, I traded in the fretted neck of my Jazz bass for a fretless Precision neck. First played it in public a few days later (just an open mic in a college pub, but still). I'm still playing that fretless Frankenstein, in fact (despite having some really nice fretted basses) it's my #1 these days.

So, I'm in the "yes, do it" crowd. Don't go unnecessarily cheap, you'll enjoy a better instrument more.
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I had a friend who owned a Fender Precision Fretless... it was known as "The Oxymoron"
 
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#95
Yonni said:
I have always loved the sound of fretless since I first heard Brand X in the 80s. My mum passed away mast year and I’m an out to get a large inheritance. I already have 3 bases. Music is a hobby and I only play in a covers band that a P and a J are enough for. I’m thinking of getting a fretless with some of the inheritance money as a way to remember my mum. My only worry is that I will find the transition hard and not enjoy it. Any tips, thoughts or ideas for a fretless newbie? I would use it for composing and my own compositions rather than the covers band.
Click to expand...
Other than do it, I have no other comments other than it’s entirely up to you to put the time/work into mastering it.
 
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#99
Ric Vice said:
Wal’s are very unique basses and well built but not IMHO an intro fretless bass. There are less expensive options out there that
are great basses I was able to pick up a lined fretless Lakland 55-02 Skyline for less than $1,000.00 it had a great neck and fingerboard.
Just my take of course. Here’s a recent example I found. View attachment 7147841View attachment 7147842
Click to expand...
I have the same bass. Recently re-strung with Dogal Hellborg rounds just to try something new after decades playing TI Jazz Flats.
 
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#100
Since I come from years of playing Double Bass, there’s a tactile sensation under my fingers that is gone with round wound strings on a fretless. In fact I’m such a Luddite when it comes to bass that once Ernie Ball developed Slinky Cobalt Flat wounds I was “back home”. I love “slipping and a siding” on flats across an ebony board. Just my thing . :thumbsup: :) :roflmao:
 
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