How is this tone?

[Dr. Cheese]

After thinking so much about upgrading to a “better” fretless, I went back and listened to my Yamaha fretless with an EMG P-pickup that I got for $110 at GC last November. It is an active pickup with a passive tone, and it is quite fat sounding with the tone rolled off. It could use a two band to get lows to keep with highs when I turn up the tone, but I think it is a bass that sounds better than $110. I played Pino Pallidino’s riff from the live version of Nine Inch Nails’ Sanctified he played back in 2013. I love that riff because it is so dark and atmospheric plus it has tons of groove. I know I can’t get the atmosphere he had on my little GK amp and stack with no effects at home. That said, how is the tone?

 

[Flaked Beans]

The tone is just fine. Really. Actually that bass line sounded pretty good on that clip!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

The tone is just fine. Really. Actually that bass line sounded pretty good on that clip!

Thanks, just listening to myself I thought the tone was good. I think a part me was thinking it sounds good for the money instead of just admitting the tone is good, period.

 

[4stringfarley]

I went and fired up the studio equipment to listen to it. It's a good tone. Tons of low end and nice and woody. I like it.

 

[Interspace Station]

Makes me want to pick up a fretless again, Doc. Nice sounds you got there!

 

[joelns]

More motivation for me to de-fret my j bass! Nice job.

 

[Chad Michael]

Sounds good. What strings?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Sounds good. What strings?

Whatever flats the bass came with.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This settles it. I will not buy another fretless this year. What I have is good enough for my purposes. As always, I will get more from practice than purchase.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This settles it. I will not buy another fretless this year. What I have is good enough for my purposes. As always, I will get more from practice than purchase.

More T shirts though?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

More T shirts though?
View attachment 4303284

Sure! A man needs clothes!

 

[DJ Bebop]

Sure! A man needs clothes!

You know that's right!

A man has to dress for success!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

You know that's right!

A man has to dress for success!


View attachment 4303287

That would be success at a nightclub in 1974.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That would be success at a nightclub in 1974.

That' me!
That's the type of thing I'd wear playing after hours clubs in da day

 

[DJ Bebop]

That would be success at a nightclub in 1974.

Wait!
Whatcha trying to say?

 

[kalanb]

I thought you had a fretless Pedula, Doc. Was I wrong or did you get rid of that bass?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Wait!
Whatcha trying to say?
View attachment 4303308

 

[JimmyM]

After thinking so much about upgrading to a “better” fretless, I went back and listened to my Yamaha fretless with an EMG P-pickup that I got for $110 at GC last November. It is an active pickup with a passive tone, and it is quite fat sounding with the tone rolled off. It could use a two band to get lows to keep with highs when I turn up the tone, but I think it is a bass that sounds better than $110. I played Pino Pallidino’s riff from the live version of Nine Inch Nails’ Sanctified he played back in 2013. I love that riff because it is so dark and atmospheric plus it has tons of groove. I know I can’t get the atmosphere he had on my little GK amp and stack with no effects at home. That said, how is the tone?

Doc, I know everyone's crazy about Jaco-Tone (TM), but give me a fretless that sounds like that any day over the bridge pickup sound. Fender's original fretless basses were Precisions, that's the fretless sound I grew up on (that and Bill Wyman's old modded Dallas fretless from the early 60's), and that sounded excellent.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Doc, I know everyone's crazy about Jaco-Tone (TM), but give me a fretless that sounds like that any day over the bridge pickup sound. Fender's original fretless basses were Precisions, that's the fretless sound I grew up on (that and Bill Wyman's old modded Dallas fretless from the early 60's), and that sounded excellent.

I think you and I are alike on this subject. I want a fretless bass with actual bass frequencies in its tone.

 

[mexicanyella]

I’m not a bass tone connoisseur but it sure sounded good to me, and it seemed to retain some snap up top despite you saying you had the tone rolled down.

Non bass tone connoisseur grains of salt dept.: “Good enough for the money” is selling yourself and your own ears and the bass short. Instead I recommend high-fiving yourself silly and having fun with that thing, and forgetting the price tag. Put that thing to work!