Interesting thread. As of this afternoon, I will be playing fretless exclusively. I did a few years ago, and I have missed it terribly. I am meeting up with a fellow TBer today to do a trade. I'll update when I have it home with me!!!
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Fretless??
- Thread starter ricfunk74
- Start date
I don't think you're alone OP. I've heard many a bassists say that fretless is a much more expressive instrument and has many more doors to open and notes to play. I didn't quite get it until I converted my Vintage Modified Jazz to fretless. I get it now. They are beautiful sounding instruments are I agree are very expressive. I wish I had the chance to play it more often with my band, but it simply doesn't suite our style. I still love playing it.
I still love my fretted basses though too.
I still love my fretted basses though too.
Fretless all the way
I have some fretted basses but that's because they don't make them in fretless.
I have some fretted basses but that's because they don't make them in fretless.
i forgot to mention that you may want to check out the fretless club if you haven't already!
I've been rocking a Fretless Lakland J-Sonic fiver for a few months now. The tones that I can coax from her range from docile to snarling. And yes, I did personify my bass as a lady...
~Nick "Klaus" G.
~Nick "Klaus" G.
Almost exclusively fretless in my new band. Was doing a lot of fretted 5 in the last project, which had 5-6 members at any given gig. In a 3-piece, I tend to do a lot of un-bass stuff (mimic strings, keys, etc), and the fretless just does it. Period. 
My fretless is by FAR my best sounding bass since I just recently had it rewired and had a proper setup done. However, my only "gig" right now is every Sunday at church, and 75% of the time I don't know what I will be playing until I get there on Sunday morning. And I'm not the best sight reader. So I usually bring my fretted bass to be safe. At the moment, I'm doing everything I can to my fretted bass to make it sound more like my fretless.
would be totally fretless if I could but still get the call for fretted so I keep them. It does feel awkward now playing fretted as does a 4 since I've gone to 5's
Let's see. First FL at 15 in 1970. 35 yrs pro, only one fretted which is still the ONLY fretted amung my 16 or so EBs. Fodera FL, Sad NYC FL, Bassline Worp FL, Jack Read FL, Colletti Archtop FL.
Got a new one coming this week. Rob Allen MB2 - can't wait.
Got a new one coming this week. Rob Allen MB2 - can't wait.
Exclusively fretless in one band I'm in. At some point I'll drag it out for the other band I'm in that plays mostly Stooges style rock. Most people can't even tell the difference, but that's because I just play it like a bass guitar, and not like Jaco.
Got a fretless Jazz w/ Status J neck. Something I never thought I'd say, but now I prefer it equally to my main fretted.
