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The fact that you can think of a song that requires 24 frets tells you something. How important is it to you to play it note for note. What would a 20-22 fret bass have that a 24 fret bass doesn't have?
I like 30 frets, but 20 is fine. 
I really do think that 24 is ideal for my purposes, but only three of my ten basses has 24, so it's certainly not a deal-breaker
I have one acoustic instrument with only 15 frets ( the rest is fretless) and I rarely if ever need to go up there in the slippery part (mind you, that one has a little extra upper range courtesy of it having 5 strings...)
I really do think that 24 is ideal for my purposes, but only three of my ten basses has 24, so it's certainly not a deal-breaker
I have one acoustic instrument with only 15 frets ( the rest is fretless) and I rarely if ever need to go up there in the slippery part (mind you, that one has a little extra upper range courtesy of it having 5 strings...)
My custom made bass has the equivalent of 27 frets (high Bb) above the G.
Its the one above and is a 5 string, but I prefer have a B low string and more fret space, as opposed to just the high C string.
I would get hired to do many gigs with duos and trios, where to take the pressure off the piano player I would be asked to play solos on every other song or so, ...so...I needed the flexibility of being able to play everywhere on the neck to keep from sounding like the typical low end rumbly, non-distinct bass solos.
But even with a bass that only reaches Eb, you can use true and false harmonics to get just about any note you can think of. Jaco is a great example of transcending a neck that only reaches to Eb.
Its the one above and is a 5 string, but I prefer have a B low string and more fret space, as opposed to just the high C string.
I would get hired to do many gigs with duos and trios, where to take the pressure off the piano player I would be asked to play solos on every other song or so, ...so...I needed the flexibility of being able to play everywhere on the neck to keep from sounding like the typical low end rumbly, non-distinct bass solos.
But even with a bass that only reaches Eb, you can use true and false harmonics to get just about any note you can think of. Jaco is a great example of transcending a neck that only reaches to Eb.
Didn't he pretty famously rip all 20 of those frets out?
- Dec 28, 2009
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- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
Well, in the case of my basses, a pickup where the 24th fret would be.
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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I'm a full time musician, and none of the instruments I own have 24 frets: take that for what it's worth
My basses have 24 frets.
And six strings.
I like to try out chord progressions for my compositions in the upper register.
And six strings.
I like to try out chord progressions for my compositions in the upper register.
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I downsized from a Yamaha 35” beadg w/24 frets to a standard Precision 4 string and 20 frets.
I do miss the range. 24 frets gives me a lot more comfortable chordal & solo options - perfect for certain gigs. Otherwise enjoying the simplicity of a regular 4 banger for now.
I do miss the range. 24 frets gives me a lot more comfortable chordal & solo options - perfect for certain gigs. Otherwise enjoying the simplicity of a regular 4 banger for now.
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Kind of looks like the design was based on a can opener.
