How many frets do *you* need on your 4-string?

[coyote1]

My playing typically does not require 24 frets.
But since the space is there, might as well have them.

A Peavey Grind can be had, neck thru with 24 frets, for less than $300 in great condition. And they typically can do almost anything a P or J can do; they have a clear bright full tone. So no reason not to have 24 frets available.

But here’s 36 non-frets, just because:

 

[gumbynotpokey]

"need"? LOL

*fretless carrots*? amen to that!

YMMV fellow TB peeps.

Ok, so we need a thread on: "How many frets are the best amount for metal, regardless of P/passive/flats/tort pickguard, just metal per se?"

carry on

 

[chadds]

Well there is “none.”

 

[AlexDevineMusic]

I rarely play above the 12th fret, so 15 frets would be more than fine for me personally.
My Mustang has 19 frets which I know some people dislike, but it's more than enough for me to get the job done.

 

[MegaSwing]

Ya know how much I despise the ignorant muttering of "no money above the fifth fret"?

Jamerson- "I Was Made To Love Her"
Duck Dunn- "Knock On Wood"
Billy "Roar in the right key" Talbot" Down By The River"

All grammars leak.

 

[Nedmundo]

Question: why do the 21st frets on G&L fretboards not have the expected dots?

I don’t know, but maybe they want to preserve a more traditional appearance.

 

[80jazz]

Yes, it certainly makes sense in that regard, although my earliest basses were an Ibanez BTB and a Kubicki Ex Factor. So I learned to think in 24 and 23 frets quite early on. I actually found 21 fret 4 strings limiting for a while, but that only encouraged me to get around them in new and interesting ways.

24 frets can confuse me if I spend a bunch of time up there. It probably has to do with having one bass with 24 frets.

 

[wmhill]

all of em

 

[2112]

I routinely make deep forays into the double-digits, just way she goes. When I cover Tool's "The Pot" on my MIM P's, during the bass solo I have to come way off the fingerboard for that top note... fretless players eat your hearts out, at that point I've gone "fretboardless" lol.

 

[coyote1]

I routinely make deep forays into the double-digits, just way she goes. When I cover Tool's "The Pot" on my MIM P's, during the bass solo I have to come way off the fingerboard for that top note... fretless players eat your hearts out, at that point I've gone "fretboardless" lol.

Hey... who are you to wave your finger at those fretless players? You must be out of your head

 

[seedokebass]

It's not a major selling point for me, but I've always been a 20 or 24 fret only bass owner. Anything else throws me off visually if I'm playing upper registers.

20 fret = I can see where high D/A/E/B is quickly

24 fret = tiny bass above the 12th fret

 

[Oddly]

@JTE mentioned Duck Dunn's 'Knock On Wood' ... and that is just about the only song I've ever done that needed going near the 12th.
I voted 15, as that's closest, but 12 would do it for me.
That said, a 12-fret bass would look pretty weird...

 

[logdrum]

I can do harmonics for certain notes that I have to play, I am okay if it has 19 but I'd rather have 24. My fretless goes C above 2nd octave.

 

[bobyoung53]

There are two cover songs I can think of where I needed just about every fret on a 24. RHCP's By The Way and Free's All Right Now. So, yeah, glad I have them.

You must play All Right Now in a higher key than the record, there are only 19 frets on a Gibson EB-3. I've never heard By The Way.

 

[bobyoung53]

15 fret Fender and it's a fiver with a high C:

 

[Mili]

16-18

 

[bobyoung53]

My playing typically does not require 24 frets.
But since the space is there, might as well have them.

A Peavey Grind can be had, neck thru with 24 frets, for less than $300 in great condition. And they typically can do almost anything a P or J can do; they have a clear bright full tone. So no reason not to have 24 frets available.

But here’s 36 non-frets, just because:

View attachment 4096374

What's that? That's a beautiful bass.

 

[Hevy T]

For the most part 20, but a scattered song likes me to use the 23rd and 24th frets but its rare

 

[Yellow Bang66]

My bass has 24 frets, and this range is totally wasted on me. I wondering if I'm alone.

I usually hang out in the Money Area(1-9) but will venture higher if need be, rarely, higher than 12, though.
that said 21 is more than enough.if I m buying, I like with at least 21.

 

[coyote1]

What's that? That's a beautiful bass.

Marleaux Diva 5 fretless. My fantasy is to eventually get that, with an additional piezo arrangement similar to the Ibanez Portamento. But that would likely be a $7K instrument, so it’s doubtful.