I've played one before at Gruhns. 34" scale. Same basic weight as a P or J. The body is longer but not as wide. The neck is a little heavier due to the extra width.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How many frets and why?
- Thread starter BusyFingers
- Start date
I've played one before at Gruhns. 34" scale. Same basic weight as a P or J. The body is longer but not as wide. The neck is a little heavier due to the extra width.
I don't really go above the 16th. I prefer a 20-21 fret neck.
I played an Ibanez ATK for about a decade, then I got a smashed up early 80s ibanez musician (neck through).
Because of how I play, the 23rd and 24th fret really got in the way of my right hand, it felt bad, and when snapping I was hitting my fingertips against the neck in the 23-24 area.
Against everyone's judgement I cut out the neck material to turn the bass into a 22 fret. I don't regret it.
Now I avoid 2 octave necks for that reason.
I played an Ibanez ATK for about a decade, then I got a smashed up early 80s ibanez musician (neck through).
Because of how I play, the 23rd and 24th fret really got in the way of my right hand, it felt bad, and when snapping I was hitting my fingertips against the neck in the 23-24 area.
Against everyone's judgement I cut out the neck material to turn the bass into a 22 fret. I don't regret it.
Now I avoid 2 octave necks for that reason.
I occasionally wish my bass had 24 frets, but it's really not that often that I go above like the 18th or so on the G string.
I like having 24 frets, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker if I really loved a bass otherwise. It's pretty rare that I make it up to those highest of notes, but it does happen, and I feel like I'd miss them if they weren't there.
24 frets because it makes sense in my head to have 2 octaves.
I often play in the high registers (Yes, all the way to the 20th). I opt for 24 frets when I can, and I'll use 'em!
I have a bass with 24 and a bass with 20. I am with an originals band right now. One song has a recurring riff that centers around the 10th-12th frets. It was recorded with an octave up pedal. When I got to play that song live, I had to use my 24 fret bass because my octave pedal is down only, not up.
I like to have them. Just in case. I do use them, but sparingly. Often for more solo noodling type stuff, but I do write more spacey, intro type stuff at high on the neck.
I also have a 6 string as my main player, because I prefer to go to a higher string than shift my left hand position drastically down the neck if I can avoid it.
Either way, I'd rather have it and not need it, than get a great riff in my head and then be unable to play it. Same logic as when I first got my 5 string. I hated detuning, and still prefer not to if at all possible.
I also have a 6 string as my main player, because I prefer to go to a higher string than shift my left hand position drastically down the neck if I can avoid it.
Either way, I'd rather have it and not need it, than get a great riff in my head and then be unable to play it. Same logic as when I first got my 5 string. I hated detuning, and still prefer not to if at all possible.
When soloing I'll regularly go up to the highest note(s) of an instrument. If I'm playing a 24 fret instrument I'll get to the 23rd/24th fret (depending on the string and the key of the song). If it's a 20 fret instrument I'll get to the 19th/20th fret (depending on the string and key of the song). And so on.
Don't particularly care one way or the other. Got basses with 20, 21, 22 and 24. Used to think it really mattered to me to have 24 till I got a couple basses with 24, and it really doesn't. I'll use them if they're there but I'm just as happy with 20.
I don't go beyond the 18 fret, but I would love to have a 24 fret bass. Funny story, I was almost going to ask a luthier to make me a bass, and 24 frets was one of the things I asked for, but he told me "I don't recomend going beyond 22 frets, because is bad for slaping" (?)
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I use the whole neck and I play 5 string basses ... but in reality notes above the 17th fret are not very useful most of the time ... that being said I like 21 frets on a bass.
Pretty sure the mustang would have 19 frets. Fender J and P are usually 20. G&Ls come with 21. Ibanez SRs are 24.
I'm not aware of any 22 or 23 fret models. I think I might have had a Carvin with 23 frets once but I don't remember exactly.
For what it's worth adding more frets up there is basically to let you get in a guitar's range. Maybe you do some solos or rhythm chords. Some people use the expanded range of pitches available from having more frets.
So far I've preferred 21 the most. However, the advantage is small. Only for a couple songs I might use that last fret.
95% of the time I'm below the 17th fret. Above the 12th maybe only 20%. For little flourishes
Last edited:
Pretty sure the mustang would have 19 frets. Fender J and P are usually 20. G&Ls come with 21. Ibanez SRs are 24.
I'm not aware of any 22 or 23 fret models. I think I might have had a Carvin with 23 frets once but I don't remember exactly.
For what it's worth adding more frets up there is basically to let you get in a guitar's range. Maybe you do some solos or rhythm chords. Some people use the expanded range of pitches available from having more frets.
So far I've preferred 21 the most. However, the advantage is small. Only for a couple songs I might use that last fret.
95% of the time I'm below the 17th fret. Above the 12th maybe only 20%. For little flourishes
Yeah, it's a weird thing. I looked up Jazz bass on google earlier and came across a page that said the original jazz bass had 24 frets. I can't find the page now. Sorry for the confusion.
Me: "Did you dig my bass solo? I went all the way up to the 20th fret."
Guitarist in band: "You were right on top of it...the 20th fret, that is!"
Me: <slap>
Guitarist in band: "You were right on top of it...the 20th fret, that is!"
Me: <slap>
Personally I like at least 21, however on bass there's no disadvantage to 24 frets like it is on guitar. (On guitar it displaces the neck pickup and thus changes the tone. On bass it wouldn't move any pickups, at least I think)
