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As already said many times in the thread, it's completely individual/situational. If you find that you can't realize the music in your head or play a part without a 24 fret instrument then you'll know it and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. 21 is pretty standard these days, although it was interesting to learn about the Leo Fender 2 octave thing with the 20 fret bass. I've had several 24 fret basses over the years as well as 20 and 21. I've spent the most time playing 21 fret basses. I like them. It feels "right" to me to have an E natural up there. As someone also stated, 24 frets can get in the way with some right hand techniques. 21 is kind of the sweet spot for me for most of what I do.
Note that you can get high F# and G notes using natural harmonics. G is right where you would play it on the G string if you had 24 frets. F# is around the 16th fret on the D string. I occasionally play the Bach Cello Suite 1 prelude (concert pitch) in G major which uses those and also the F natural. I have to play the F natural on the D string a la Jaco on Birdland. Obviously, this Bach piece would be easier to play with 24 frets but there is something I like about the sound of it on the 21 fret. You have to work to get those higher notes, which makes me think of how a singer's voice increases in intensity when they get to the top of there range.
Note that you can get high F# and G notes using natural harmonics. G is right where you would play it on the G string if you had 24 frets. F# is around the 16th fret on the D string. I occasionally play the Bach Cello Suite 1 prelude (concert pitch) in G major which uses those and also the F natural. I have to play the F natural on the D string a la Jaco on Birdland. Obviously, this Bach piece would be easier to play with 24 frets but there is something I like about the sound of it on the 21 fret. You have to work to get those higher notes, which makes me think of how a singer's voice increases in intensity when they get to the top of there range.
What do you do when your need 25? A 5 banger isn't going to help you unless it happens to be a 5 string that has more than 24 or you need a low B. As for making things complicated going between a 4 and a 5 string, I played a 4 string from the 60s until about a year and a half ago when I bought my first 5 string. There are many players here that say they have or had no problem adjusting. I'm here to tell you that was not my experience.
My Warwicks are Korean made, so I only got 24 frets on the Thumb, and none at all on the Corvette.
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That is a real beauty, what is it?
Get a 7 string, and tell him he's now surplus to requirements.
Nice colour on that bass, what's it called?I own 1 bass with less than 24 frets... It's the one that I 'must own' due to bassist peer pressurean American Deluxe Precision (you must own a P bass, right?)... It is also the one bass that never gets played due to less than 2 octaves.
Looks great in the rack and I can say that I own the obligatory P.
View attachment 3002346
So I think it really depends on the type of music you're playing - and sometimes more than 9 frets are useful. LOL
Ask him why do seven and eight string guitars that drop down into the bass range exist?
Why do baritone guitars exist?
Some of us ascribe to more than just Classic rock and Motown.
Really? Notes high up on the neck sound fat and almost ridiculously juicy to me, I love dropping some bombs up there.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
I found that because my #1 for over 20 years had 24 frets, I went up there quite a bit. It's the nature of the music I play. That means that on our tours I would have to have 24 frets to be sure I could duplicate and cover all the parts I created on the records over the years:
The PRS became too valuable to take out of the house - so I retired it for stage use. My #1 and #2 stage basses became two identical Roscoe's that Keith made for me, both of course with 24 frets. Keith measured and duplicated the PRS neck precisely for me on the top bass - due to the birdseye maple top I call it "Birdy":
With the buckeye burl top, I call the back-up "Bucky":
Both basses have a built in midi out with a 13 pin jack to trigger the sounds I programmed in the VBass for "live" use, including very believable versions of upright and fretless sounds:
This allows me to duplicate all the previously recorded sounds over really 40 years. The Roscoe's turned out to be very admirable replacements.
So yes, for my stage bass(es) it is absolutely critical for me to have 24 frets.
The PRS became too valuable to take out of the house - so I retired it for stage use. My #1 and #2 stage basses became two identical Roscoe's that Keith made for me, both of course with 24 frets. Keith measured and duplicated the PRS neck precisely for me on the top bass - due to the birdseye maple top I call it "Birdy":
With the buckeye burl top, I call the back-up "Bucky":
Both basses have a built in midi out with a 13 pin jack to trigger the sounds I programmed in the VBass for "live" use, including very believable versions of upright and fretless sounds:
This allows me to duplicate all the previously recorded sounds over really 40 years. The Roscoe's turned out to be very admirable replacements.
So yes, for my stage bass(es) it is absolutely critical for me to have 24 frets.
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Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,084
- 46,056
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
I've never needed any frets, at all. First World Problems...
But seriously, I would like to mention that there are quite a few notes available that are higher than where your stop the last one on your fingerboard.
