Give up fretless?

[Dr. Cheese]

I’m considering giving up fretless because I never play with a lot of mwah or place much emphasis on my fretless being fretless. I could just use frets and favor the bridge pickup when I want to sort of get that vibe.

My other issue is that my nicest fretless has an unmarked neck and I have good relative pitch when playing with other instruments, but I am not that close playing by myself. On my cheapest fretless, my Glarry, this is not an issue since I marked the notes with a Sharpie on the side of the neck. I can’t bring myself to mark the neck of my pretty black fretless RSD.

I am not buying another bass. I made retirement purchase already, and I know that I strongly prefer fretted bass most of the time. I will keep my RSD, but I know somebody else would get a lot mode use out of it.

This me playing my RSD yesterday.

 

[GKon]

If you wanted to keep it, you could put ¼" or ⅛" pinstriping tape on the top of the neck. It's removable.

 

[GretschWretch]

Or better, get some 1/4" diameter file folder dots and use a tuner to position them correctly on the side of the neck. Accomplishes the same thing as the Sharpie on the Glarry, but without the permanence or the mess. And, it's reversible.

 

[nonohmic]

Sell all the fretted imo.

 

[Passinwind]

I’m considering giving up fretless because I never play with a lot of mwah or place much emphasis on my fretless being fretless. I could just use frets and favor the bridge pickup when I want to sort of get that vibe.

My other issue is that nicest fretless has an unmarked neck and I have good relative pitch when playing with other instruments, but I am not that close playing by myself. On my cheapest fretless, my Glarry, this is not an issue since I marked the notes with a Sharpie on the side of the neck. I can’t bring myself to mark the neck of my pretty black fretless RSD.

I am not buying another bass. I made retirement purchase already, and I know that I strongly prefer fretted bass most of the time. I will keep my RSD, but I know somebody else would get a lot mode use out of it.

This me playing my RSD yesterday.

Getting proper side dots put in isn’t that expensive or even particularly tough to do yourself. But I’m all for playing whatever you most enjoy. I sold my last fretted bass at a huge loss a couple of years ago and have zero regrets or desire to ever even touch another one.

 

[T McClure]

Sell the fretless basses to give yourself justification to buy more new stuff you want.

Yes, I'm the devil.

 

[iqi616]

Well, if you're really not feeling it you're not going to put in the time to overcome the issues so they're just hanging around making you feel guilty and should find a new home.

However, there's no rule that you have to go all Pino or Jaco on fretless. Personally I'm not a huge mwah bassist - I prefer to add subtle touches.

 

[ShadowGroover]

The simple truth is that fretless is far more expressive than fretted. If that doesn't matter to you, then sell it to someone who values its attributes.

 

[MrAB4003]

I’m considering giving up fretless because I never play with a lot of mwah or place much emphasis on my fretless being fretless. I could just use frets and favor the bridge pickup when I want to sort of get that vibe.

My other issue is that nicest fretless has an unmarked neck and I have good relative pitch when playing with other instruments, but I am not that close playing by myself. On my cheapest fretless, my Glarry, this is not an issue since I marked the notes with a Sharpie on the side of the neck. I can’t bring myself to mark the neck of my pretty black fretless RSD.

I am not buying another bass. I made retirement purchase already, and I know that I strongly prefer fretted bass most of the time. I will keep my RSD, but I know somebody else would get a lot mode use out of it.

This me playing my RSD yesterday.

Why don't you put your fretless basses away for 30 days and see what happens? If you don't miss them, sell them. If you do miss them, keep them. If you're undecided, repeat for another 30 days until you do decide.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The simple truth is that fretless is far more expressive than fretted. If that doesn't matter to you, then sell it to someone who values its attributes.

I think fretted is expressive too, it just takes a different approach.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Can I make a suggestion?

You clearly know what to play, notewise Doc. Play it out of the first position instead of waaaaay up the neck. Is that Eb? Yeah it's a little bit itchy, but you can do it. Keep that fretless. Put your shoulder into it.

 

[Stewie]

I.keep.trying to play on frets. It's hopeless. After 50 years without frets, playing on them is tough (I sound like a locomotove just before it derails)
If you are so good on frets, why bother to work without them?

 

[alembicbones]

I gave up fretless some 12 years ago, thinking I just can't make it work. Then around 3 years ago, the second generation of the Sadowsky MetroExpress came out and I found a lined JJ 5 string. The cost was reasonable so I thought I would give it a try again. When it arrived I played it a bunch and really liked the results. So much so, I said to myself that I would play my band's next gig 100% fretless. I'm not the biggest mwah player but I do like the feel of finger on wood. Many of the songs at the show were videoed and the results were very positive. It dawned on me that I could actually play a fretless competently.

Doc, I get the disillusionment and frustration. I was there. As @MrAB4003 suggests, set it aside for 30 days and see where you are at. Your RSD is a fine instrument and you might want to scratch that itch again.

Bones

 

[theguy316]

When I play fretless I treat it as more of a solo instrument. I'll typically use more modulation effects (mainly reverb) and take advantage of the more "vocal" qualities that fretless basses have. Try different strings; like cobalt flats, nylon tapewounds or maybe even roundwounds if you're not worried about putting wear on the fretboard. Playing with very low action also made a big difference in my approach and sounded a lot better to me.
When I first started playing fretless, I just treated like a bass that didn't have frets and didn't understand why I was always gravitating towards different basses. Once I started seeing them as a different instrument that used the same body mechanics and equipment, I became much more interested in playing it.

 

[trothwell]

I have had at least one fretless bass in my instrument collection for almost all of my 30 years playing bass. I have never _mostly_ played fretless, but I find it a desirable sound option to have available.

I bought my first fretless bass about eight months after I started playing, and sold it about 15 years later. In less than a year I had gotten another one. I did miss it.

That doesn't mean you will miss yours. I have no idea. But if -- like me -- you opt for fretless even, say, 10% of the time, is that enough to warrant keeping one?

(I actually recently got a Yamaha TRB fretless that I very much enjoy, and may find myself opting for fretless more than that previous 10% estimate!)

 

[PennyroyalWe]

If you don’t feel like you’re getting any benefit from the fretless, then let it go. I don’t personally play with mwah in my fretless, I just love the way it feels under my fingers. I can slip and slide all around the neck without bumpy frets causing noise. When I really dig in, there’s a bit of a delayed and softer attack that creates this booming bloom, kinda like a train flying by, fraction of a second of quieter sound before WHAM! those are what make it worth the extra effort in intonation

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I’m considering giving up fretless because I never play with a lot of mwah or place much emphasis on my fretless being fretless. I could just use frets and favor the bridge pickup when I want to sort of get that vibe.

My other issue is that nicest fretless has an unmarked neck and I have good relative pitch when playing with other instruments, but I am not that close playing by myself. On my cheapest fretless, my Glarry, this is not an issue since I marked the notes with a Sharpie on the side of the neck. I can’t bring myself to mark the neck of my pretty black fretless RSD.

I am not buying another bass. I made retirement purchase already, and I know that I strongly prefer fretted bass most of the time. I will keep my RSD, but I know somebody else would get a lot mode use out of it.

This me playing my RSD yesterday.

Keep 'em, play 'em, don't give 'em up.

 

[Hectobar]

Senor Queso
Fretless isn’t only about mwah. Its also about laying down some fat angry bass!! If you like lines put a few on with a number 2 pencil. Invisible to the audience, there for you, cheap and reversible with spit and the end of your finger.

If it makes you happy, even now and then, keep it and be happy now and then!

I appreciate you and how you do talk bass!! Good luck!

 

[Todd Hamby]

I’m in the opposite boat, I’ve fallen in love with Fretless all over again.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Like Todd Hamby, you may come full circle.

Put that fretless out of sight and mind for a spell.

Rediscovering an 'old friend' can bring as much joy as a new Fodera ;-) would.