Fretless what can you tell me about them to persude me to get one.

[Doctor Intrepid]

I use white nylon tapewounds on mine. I get mostly the roundwound sound without any impact on the fretboard.

 

[Scoops]

I put away my fretted basses years ago.

As other have indicated, the tonal capabilities are just so much greater than a fretted bass.

I now keep 1 fretted bass, just for in case. I really don't like playing it because the frets get in the way

Also as others have indicated, if this is your first fretless, invest in lower cost, used instrument. If playing fretless is not for you, you can resell and not lose too much $$$, or any $$$ for that matter

 

[wildman2]

THX for all the replies..Man there are some purdy basses in this thread.Iknow im getting a fretless ,just not which one.May have to meander back to the store and actually hear what I can do with my fingers.Polly slick up the neck while they aren't looking.

 

[bherman]

THX for all the replies..Man there are some purdy basses in this thread.Iknow im getting a fretless ,just not which one.May have to meander back to the store and actually hear what I can do with my fingers.Polly slick up the neck while they aren't looking.

I second what many are saying - wonderful instrument but definitely not for everyone, plan on practicing nothing but for quite a while until you begin to get the intonation down. I'd suggest buying something used (TalkBass classifieds always a good start) and give it some time before deciding if its for you. I came to fretless bass from upright bass so I probably had an advantage - intonation on electric is way easier than on an upright - but it still throws me sometimes if I dont play the fretless for a while. Personally I prefer flatwounds (TI) or black nylon tapewounds over roundwound strings on a fretless. But everyone's tastes are different.

 

[Eminor3rd]

Yeah bay-beeeee

 

[Artman]

Lines or no lines. I've owned both and I've never thought of them as training wheels. Jaco played lined fretless. In fact, he invented it. He had no problem staying in tune on Jerry Jemmot's unlined bass. The unlined fingerboards still have position marker dots at the top edge to provide guidance, but after you play for a little while, it just won't matter much. Those lines don't make that big a difference. IMHO, I'd say no difference since you shouldn't be bent over staring at the front of the instrument when you play it.
Whatever bass speaks loudest to your heart when you play it is the one you should buy whether or not there are lines on the fretboard.

 

[packhowitzer]

I play fretless because I find that it's easier on my hands. I don't play a lot "mwah". In fact, I imagine that if most listeners closed their eyes when my band is playing, they probably wouldn't be able to discern that I'm playing a fretless. However it's nice to be able to break out a "mwah" here and there when the moment calls for it.
I've been playing for 26 years -fretless for the last two. my fretted basses get played live about 10% of the time. My fretless gets the rest of the work. I play about 60 gigs a year. just my .02

 

[arbiterusa]

Don’t play fretless. I don’t need more people trying to bag my gigs.

 

[Johno Dunn]

With a fretless, you have the ability to affect the attack and decay of every note you play. More so than with a fretted.
You guys are really making me want to get another one, or pony up for a fretless neck for my main Benny!

 

[HawldieMPB]

Total control. It's possible to express so much more freely and completely.

 

[Leo Thunder]

Since there are no frets I'd imagine a change in fingering would be in order.

Not really. If you've trained to play cleanly behind frets, it will be the same just 2mm further up.

You're afraid of them, admit it

I got mine out of curiosity. I wanted to see what it's like, see if I could learn to play one.
I got one without lines and I'm glad I did. It looks much better. I cut a white sticker in little short lines and stuck them on the side as markers where frets would be. I can peel them off if I want to one day.

 

[rylie]

the squire/fender fretless j-bass is the best money spent if you want to try fretless bass. even better if you can find it used (reverb.com). I have one with upgraded DiMarzio j-bass pick ups which, IMO, makes this is as good as any fretless bass on the market.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Polly [sic] slick up the neck while they aren't looking.

A nicely slimed up tongue is perfect for this.

 

[cnltb]

Depending on context, fretless can be a very useful alternative or even main voice.
I like playing fretless a lot!

 

[Larchi]

You could be the first person to get that "Jaco" sound!

 

[Old Blastard]

On lines, I have both. I learned on an unlined board and the lines sort of throw me off just a little. Nothing a little practice before a gig can't cure, though. Get what you want or can afford. Most nowadays have lines.

And I have tapes in all 3. Keeps wear on the fretboard down and adds to the tonal differences, I think.

 

[spvmhc]

I recommend trying a fretless bass to get the experience. If you get a relatively inexpensive or used instrument, you won't be out that much if you decide to sell it. Any loss can be chalked up as "tuition".

Think of it in the same way as facial hair. Most guys try to grow a beard or mustache at some point in their lives. Some stick with them, some don't. The fun is in having made an educated choice

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

if you never don’t vibrato, you’ll always never be exactly in or out of tune for long

 

[Rib 13]

I use white nylon tapewounds on mine. I get mostly the roundwound sound without any impact on the fretboard.

i think you and i have different ideas of what constitutes the 'roundwound sound'

 

[Old Blastard]

As an added benefit to playing fretless without lines, it was easier to transition to cello years ago. Of course, when I bought my first fretless it was so long ago they hadn't invented lines. And strings were made of real cats.

Lord, I miss the screaming.