• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fretless sound vs Fretted sound?

#25
ghiadub said:
Fretless - softer and better for quieter music where you can hear what you are playing better. Slower attack.

Fretted - attack is fast and hard - better for faster passages and music where the fretless does not have time for the notes to "blossom".

Just my opinion.
Click to expand...


These are limitations that people put on the instrument... which eventually are percieved to be actual limitations by many.

Here's a friend of mine playing my six...

 
#26
Brad Johnson said:
These are limitations that people put on the instrument... which eventually are percieved to be actual limitations by many.

Here's a friend of mine playing my six...

Click to expand...


Man, that guy got's some chops, Intonation ain't bad either. It's epoxied too isn't it Brad?
That would attribute to the brightness with the slap, along with the rounds. I've got a fretless 6 epoxied too.
 
#27
ghiadub said:
Fretless - softer and better for quieter music where you can hear what you are playing better. Slower attack.

Fretted - attack is fast and hard - better for faster passages and music where the fretless does not have time for the notes to "blossom".

Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Don't agree. In fact I'd say it's a little more in favor of the reverse. The attack on the fretless is more pronounced in general, especially when you play a bass with extremely low action. The blossoming effect is still there immediately, particularly when you pluck close to the bridge (and again with the low action).
I also think faster passages are clearer on the FL, at least they are for me. Again, because of a heftier attack.

My L2500 FL for example gives an extremely aggressive attack with the bridge PU soloed and plucked directly over the pickup. With both PU's enabled, it gives a very scooped, pinched metal kind of sound that's worrisome even for my GK amp.

My L2000 is an even woolier version, pretty much a nuclear weapon with the bridge PU soloed in series mode.

Here's Bunny Brunel doing both regular fingerstyle as well as slap on the fretless, to give an idea of how they sound (wish I could play like this).



LS
 
#28
If you can find it, there's a special edition of Paul Simon's Graceland album (dripping with fretless amazingnessness) and it has a mix of 'Diamonds on the soles of her shoes' with just bass and vocals.
It's incredible. Bakithi's playing never fails to give me goosebumps.
 
#29
FWIW, would suggest you find a store and play a fretless. Just bought a 34 inch fretles on flebay, a yamaha RBX200F. Had a set of EMG active PJ's on it. Absolute delight! Have heard fretless on recorded media, though the sound live and through all valve gear is so good to my ear. The lads here have good advice all round, mine is to run to the nearest store and try one, it has taken me 33 years to think i should try a fretless....i'm converted in no small way.
Revelation is the one word description. Have on oder a SR300PWF ( just found out delayed stock until August ) and plans to build my own 5 and maybe 8 string fretless.Regards.
 
#30
sooo many 'theories'

I've been playing fretless almost exclusively since 1970 or so.

Fretless goes in and out of style but the bottom line is, you can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass but not the other way around (at least not easily).

I have played many gigs, like rock stuff, where some of the band didn't even realize I played fretless all night, when the bass was lined because my technic fit the music. No slip sliding away when its not called for.

I have 18 basses and 5 uprights right now (I think) and only 2 are fretted.

Frets are SPEED BUMPS, nothing more.:rolleyes:
 
#31
Alembicplyr said:
Man, that guy got's some chops, Intonation ain't bad either. It's epoxied too isn't it Brad?
That would attribute to the brightness with the slap, along with the rounds. I've got a fretless 6 epoxied too.
Click to expand...

He doesn't play fretless often, he borrowed the bass from me the day he recorded that. He obviously doesn't fear the fretless, which I've found is a common issue for many bassists I've run into.

The board is finished with polyurethane, like the rest of the body. The action is very low and the bass is super easy to play. Way too much fun.
 
#32
pnchad said:
sooo many 'theories'

I've been playing fretless almost exclusively since 1970 or so.

Fretless goes in and out of style but the bottom line is, you can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass but not the other way around (at least not easily).

I have played many gigs, like rock stuff, where some of the band didn't even realize I played fretless all night, when the bass was lined because my technic fit the music. No slip sliding away when its not called for.

I have 18 basses and 5 uprights right now (I think) and only 2 are fretted.

Frets are SPEED BUMPS, nothing more.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I was with you 'til that last sentence;)

I've done the same, played gigs where people didn't even realize I was playing fretless... even when I used my unlined Zon Legacy Standard 5.

For me frets are cool, too. Both types of instruments have things they do well. And while you can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass, they typically won't sound like any or every fretted bass.

:cool:
 
#33
pnchad said:
sooo many 'theories'

I've been playing fretless almost exclusively since 1970 or so.

Fretless goes in and out of style but the bottom line is, you can make a fretless sound like a fretted bass but not the other way around (at least not easily).

I have played many gigs, like rock stuff, where some of the band didn't even realize I played fretless all night, when the bass was lined because my technic fit the music. No slip sliding away when its not called for.

I have 18 basses and 5 uprights right now (I think) and only 2 are fretted.

Frets are SPEED BUMPS, nothing more.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ya know, it always amazes me with the fretless theories/myths out there. Before I put music on the back burner, one band was 100% fretless and the other was usually about 90% fretless. I prefer playing fretless, although tend to keep the various fretted basses around for 2 handed tapping, etc.
 
#39
ok, how about Jaco. Fast, tight and fretless.
I can play way faster on a fretless bass than a fretted and in tune. I hate frets, they just get in my way. It just comes down to what you are comfortable with. I played cello as a kid so frets just seem like speed bumps to me. I played a fretted 4 and 5 for about 2 months and ditched them both. Now I only play fretless.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back