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

[el murdoque]

I prefer 24, but can make do with 23.
For orientation, it's much easier for me to split the fretboard in 2x12 frets that have the same notes, only an octave higher.
When I play on a bass with less frets, I somehow loose track easier.

 

[Logic_11]

I mean, technically, I guess I only need one, and a tuning peg.

Literally one string, one fret, and one tuning peg.

 

[Logic_11]

I thought question said,” how many basses do you need?”, but it’s how many frets.

my answer is still the same though, 24+

 

[coy garcia]

I need 20, prefer 24

 

[The Deep]

The nice thing about having 24 frets is when you do need access to frets 15-21 or so, the body does not interfere. The music I play most often does frequently venture up there....

Easier and more accurate accessibility.

 

[maplebar]

20 frets is the exact number of frets required, to play 2 full octaves in every key. There is a nice symmetry in that, which feels "perfectly designed" to me. I think being able to play equally well in every key, was one of the underrated killer features of the Fender bass. Suddenly the recording industry is open, for any singer, with any type/range of voice, to come into the studio and make a hit record, with the backing band playing fluently in any key. This has a big effect on the breadth and depth of 20th century music, in my opinion.

I don't like the 21st fret because in my opinion, that steers the musician toward writing songs in the key of E: you can play a full 3 octaves in E, but not any of the other 11 keys. I prefer instruments that are "agnostic" as to key signature of songs.

Came here to post this. This is what I love about 20 frets on 4 strings. Each note in the chromatic scale can be played in 3 different octaves. No more, no less.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I thought question said,” how many basses do you need?”, but it’s how many frets.

my answer is still the same though, 24+

 

[lizardking837]

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

All of them.

 

[Planespotter]

I voted 20, but my EB-3 only has 19 and I am in no way held back by that.

 

[Sid Fang]

I like having 24, but there's nothing I do routinely that goes past the 20th fret.

 

[Kukulkan61]

12

 

[richwag]

With 24 frets someone could probably play Eruption on their bass!

I selected 15.

You asked for it. ;-)

 

[Doctor Morbius]

You asked for it. ;-)

Holy moley! That was amazing!

 

[Biggbass]

I could get by with 15

 

[aus_bass]

I could get by with 15

This.

I rarely get past 9 or 10. Think I got to 14 once. 15 is enough for me.

 

[thetragichero]

all of em. or none

 

[sawzalot]

So this is an interesting question for me. I used to thing 24 frets was it--why go smaller? Then I found that slapping sounds totally different on a 20 fret neck because the contact is at a different point on the string. I generally like 20-21, though more than half of my basses have 22--but I can deal with that. Basically it comes down to how the bass sounds, and there's something about that sweet spot right at 20/21 frets that I like.

 

[fretlessbass]

I like to do jazz guitar-type solo arrangements—which include a lot of stuff on the top of the neck.... and I’ve got fat, clumsy fingers:
Any more than 21 frets on a 34 in neck, or 22 on a 35 in neck, and things get too tight up there.

 

[Bent77]

Since I only use the first 15, it’s best to drop to C and make use of the “spare” ones parked down there by the pickups

 

[Bass Momma]

My teacher has me learning a jazz head a week, some of which take me up to 24, and working through Coker's Patterns through jazz, plenty of which take me up to 24. Not often that I'd do that in a gig, although being in a jazz trio, I am expected to do some solos. The main thing, though, is that those heads and exercises really work on my fingering technique, and knowledge of the fretboard. And keep me busy!!

On a side note - before this enforced break we did blues gigs and jazz gigs. I've a feeling that our blues gigs might be at an end; too many people need the work, too many venues have gone out of business, and I feel ... older.... quite a lot older....