Fretless - should I?

[Avezzano]

If you insist in playing fretless, there will come a moment in which you'll grab the fretless over any other bass, because it comes so easy and helps you in overcoming mistakes (wrong note? Just slide to the good one!). There was a period in which I was used to play only my GWB35 and my black 55-02 (both fretless). The reason I stopped the exclusive use of fretless was so... elementar: in the darkness of the pubs, I had trouble to see the lines and this annoyed me a lot!!! Ok, ok... I am a lazy guy that does not believe in the myth of the "muscle memory" !!! To finish my b.s. oozin, Jaco (IIRC) was used to say that the fretless basically is a bass without the speed bumps. Cheers...

 

[Yonni]

I played a Cort Artisan B4 semi hollow yesterday. Wasn’t inspired by it at all. Might have been partly my playing partly the amp and partly the guy shredding on a Strat in the same space.

One question: do you find you play differently on a fretless? I always want to play slower and more melodically when I pick one up.

 

[Avezzano]

I played a Cort Artisan B4 semi hollow yesterday. Wasn’t inspired by it at all. Might have been partly my playing partly the amp and partly the guy shredding on a Strat in the same space.

One question: do you find you play differently on a fretless? I always want to play slower and more melodically when I pick one up.

Personally, yes: I think I play slightly different, but I make every possible effort to play it as if it was a fretted bass. Then I know I have some additional chops/possibility in my bag...

 

[Michael Jewels]

I played a Cort Artisan B4 semi hollow yesterday. Wasn’t inspired by it at all. Might have been partly my playing partly the amp and partly the guy shredding on a Strat in the same space.

One question: do you find you play differently on a fretless? I always want to play slower and more melodically when I pick one up.

Yes, I deliberately play a little slower on my fretless.

I sometimes play a little too fast on my fretted basses if the practice session is going well; I think we all do.

I play slower on my fretless, and I try to choose the notes more carefully.

I try to play as though I'm playing an upright, but I don't play upright.

Does that make sense?

Mike

 

[Gopherbassist]

If you don't like it you can always have it fretted at a luthier. I say go for it.

 

[Yonni]

Maruszczyk is a very "affordable" custom bass maker with enough options to make your dream fretless bass a reality. While I love my Maruszczyk, I do think I would've been almost as happy with a fretless Sire Z7 5-string, whch would've been easier on my wallet.

I just specced this (based on their Jazzus). Apparently the pickups are voiced to replicate a Wal. Definitely cheaper than a lot if other bass configurations at $4,500. The F bass one came out at $11,000!

 

[Yonni]

There was a period in which I was used to play only my GWB35 and my black 55-02

I have owned Skyline (fretted) in the past and lived the neck and tone but i had to sell it due to shoulder injuries. Re the GWB - it ticks a lot of boxes but I’m worried it is a bit limited with the single pickup position? The UK seems to be out of stock so I can’t get my hands in one to try it out.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

If I do it needs to be something special. I’m thinking ebony fretboard boutique. Any suggestions?

This bass makes me wet. Still.

Second owner, might as well be first. Plays even better than it looks.

 

[SteveCS]

I just specced this (based on their Jazzus). Apparently the pickups are voiced to replicate a Wal. Definitely cheaper than a lot if other bass configurations at $4,500. The F bass one came out at $11,000!

View attachment 7174618

They look like Lusithand knobs - if it has the NPF preamp (or NPF Special with multi-coil pickups) then yes, it should be very Wal-esque.

 

[Yonni]

They look like Lusithand knobs - if it has the NPF preamp (or NPF Special with multi-coil pickups) then yes, it should be very Wal-esque.

Yes, that is the Lusithand pre.

 

[JMacBass65]

Losing Mum is horrible.

Playing Fretless is wonderful. I am a hack but I love it. Fretless opens your ear and your mind.

You will never be the same after losing Mum, and you will never be the same after getting a Fretless. Just be sure the setup is right.

I can speak to both of these. Both are true.

 

[Yonni]

I’m going to go for one of these but can’t decide on black or gold hardware and lined or side lines and dots. Lined would be good to get me going but I love the look of unlined and maybe side lines are enough?

 

[SteveCS]

I’m going to go for one of these but can’t decide on black or gold hardware and lined or side lines and dots. Lined would be good to get me going but I love the look of unlined and maybe side lines are enough?




View attachment 7175293

Gold Unlined would be my choice. IME simple side dots are more than enough - you can always put little sticky dots on the fingerboard in the first few months, just until you get your hand working properly. Unlike inlaid lines, they are easily removed once you no longer need or want them. YMMV

I did a couple of similar mockups of a Sandberg a few years ago:

The only thing I would say is make sure that the gold is proper gold plating and not the nasty stuff that looks great for a few months then starts to flake off...

 

[Yonni]

Gold Unlined would be my choice. IME simple side dots are more than enough - you can always put little sticky dots on the fingerboard in the first few months, just until you get your hand working properly. Unlike inlaid lines, they are easily removed once you no longer need or want them. YMMV

I did a couple of similar mockups of a Sandberg a few years ago:
View attachment 7175298
View attachment 7175299

The only thing I would say is make sure that the gold is proper gold plating and not the nasty stuff that looks great for a few months then starts to flake off...

I was tempted by the walnut Sandberg anniversary that was on Thomann a few weeks ago but it has completely disappeared from the catalogue now. I guess they were limited.

The bridge would be brass but I don’t know about the hipshot tuners.

 

[SteveCS]

The bridge would be brass

Yes, it's the brass stuff that can get messy. Typically it gets a high polish followed by a clear-coat which prevents oxidation. Eventually the clear-coat starts to harden, crack and flake. The exposed bare metal starts to go dull, maybe black or even green in hard-to-reach areas.
The bridge here is well over 40 years old and the knobs are at least 37 years old (1988), from different sources and at very different price points - as you can see they have 'aged' in very different ways - the single Schaller knob is as bright as it was the day I fitted it. The others are devoid of gold and have started to oxidise quite badly. ;

 

[Yonni]

Yes, it's the brass stuff that can get messy. Typically it gets a high polish followed by a clear-coat which prevents oxidation. Eventually the clear-coat starts to harden, crack and flake. The exposed bare metal starts to go dull, maybe black or even green in hard-to-reach areas.
The bridge here is well over 40 years old and the knobs are at least 37 years old (1988), from different sources and at very different price points - as you can see they have 'aged' in very different ways - the single Schaller knob is as bright as it was the day I fitted it. The others are devoid of gold and have started to oxidise quite badly. ;
View attachment 7175312

The bridge looks like mojo to me! Knobs can be changed.

 

[SteveCS]

The bridge looks like mojo to me! ...

I guess that's one word for it! Once up on a time I used to polish it every time I changed strings - it looked great but eventually I realised that life really is too short for that sort of caper.

 

[RickDeckardCain]

View attachment 7175294I’m going to go for one of these but can’t decide on black or gold hardware and lined or side lines and dots. Lined would be good to get me going but I love the look of unlined and maybe side lines are enough?

View attachment 7175291
View attachment 7175292

View attachment 7175293

I like the black hardware (since the knobs come in black) with the ebony fingerboard. For my fretless from Maruszczyk, I went with mini ghost lines, which are only visible on the top edge of the fingerboard and looks unlined from the front. I don't look at the front of the fingerboard while I'm playing, so the mini ghost lines are just enough to have a visual reference where I should play a note.

 

[Avezzano]

I have owned Skyline (fretted) in the past and lived the neck and tone but i had to sell it due to shoulder injuries. Re the GWB - it ticks a lot of boxes but I’m worried it is a bit limited with the single pickup position? The UK seems to be out of stock so I can’t get my hands in one to try it out.

Not at all. The single pickup philosophy is the foundation of the StingRay success, just to mention one! And it gives you anything you want and some more. You could say the same about the P-bass, uh? And... which is the most recorded bass in the history of contemporary music? More: Jaco (somebody correct me if I am wrong) IIRC was used to play exclusively by the bridge Pickup. Serious: The GWBxx basses are the result of the collaboration between Gary Willis (a monster player) and Ibanez. Before his own signature, Gary was used to play standard SDGR two pickups Ibanez basses. Then he conceived his own axe as he pleased. My 2c.

 

[Yonni]

Yes, but a Stingray and a P bass are instantly recognisable for their sound. Of course they are classics. I have had both. I just want this to be a bit more versatile as I plan to record and compose with it.