How many frets do you really need?

[brianrost]

I need 12 so I can intonate the strings

How the heck do you properly intonate a fretless bass guitar? I know that my DB bridges don't allow per string intonation anyway.

 

[bucephylus]

That upper register is mainly useful for playing Jazz heads and solo parts. Also, I use that portion of the fingerboard to cover some keyboard parts for ensembles lacking an actual keyboard.

But, standard cover fare rarely needs anything more than 20 fret positions for the recorded bass parts; simply because that’s what’s the studio had.

My current variety cover gig has a guitarist and horn player; who both seem to feel that solos are their sovereign territory, and the bass player should just stick to the recorded part. My Blues Brothers Trib gig is much more free wheeling, with solo spots all around.

The answer about available scale “need” depends pretty strongly on the individual gig. I’d rather have more available on a given gig and not need it than too little; though that can also be a very interesting musical “challenge.” I also prefer to gig as little scale capability as needed.

The various bass guitar configs all have their advantages and limitations. For pop cover work, I currently favor the Will Lee 4 string config, with 22 frets and the Drop D Extender. I can cover almost everything with that. For small ensemble standard Jazz charts, I do like being able to take heads in the upper register. Charts, like the Take 5 head, require a high F#, requiring either 24 frets, E - C on a 5 string, or the 6 string instrument.

No single answer; depends on the parts required / appropriate for a given gig.

 

[bucephylus]

I need 12 so I can intonate the strings

How the heck do you properly intonate a fretless bass guitar? I know that my DB bridges don't allow per string intonation anyway.

As you know, fretless bass guitars do have positional reference marks; which are required for most players, due to the position of the neck. Upright basses normally do not have marks (except certain soloists), and we use physical references for positional shifting.

Anyhow, intonation on bass guitars is normally done with reference to the position indicators; similarly to the fretted instrument. But, I’m sure you know that.

 

[Nuisance]

I could survive with just 12........but why?

 

[ThaCoast]

Most of mine are 20 or 21: Fender style P & Js, Stingray, Gibsons, Yamaha BB. Only have one with 24, DA Plexi copy bass. I venture quite often nowadays in the upper frets, so all the frets i can get, the better.

 

[Gervais Cote]

17 so I chose 20 to make sure I have enough.

 

[2saddleslab]

How many frets you got?

No, I asked how many frets do you need?

And I asked how many frets you got?

 

[Nedmundo]

I like having 21 for the high E. About 20 years ago, I subbed in an original band, and one track had an upper register bass intro. I started learning it, and simply ran out of fretboard on my Fender! I needed that E at the 21st fret, and thankfully I also had a DiPinto semi-hollow with 24 frets.

I'm now in a Grateful Dead cover band, so I'm regularly in the 15-18 fret area. In that band I play fives exclusively. My G&L has 21 frets, my Sandberg 22.

 

[sawzalot]

I think slap playing sounds better on a bass w 20 or 21 because it gets the percussive action more to the middle of the neck. Otherwise I rarely venture above 15, but I’ll take whatever the bass has.

 

[Stewie]

What would I do with frets?

 

[BassicJazzy]

I answered 20 but have to admit that I sometimes run out of room on my 4 string fretted P bass, and wish for a couple more, at least on the G string.

On the fretless, it gets pretty dicey above the 19th fret line position, dangerous going up there for more than a few notes, yet plenty of basses have 30 positions, or more. Hats off to the brave souls who venture.....

 

[Drzejzi]

I started playing on a bass with 24 frets and couldn't image why would anyone accept less when you can have more. Then I bought a bass with 22 frets and it was still ok. Then I bought a Jazz Bass with 20 frets and while sometimes I miss the high E, I'm still fine.

 

[brianrost]

As you know, fretless bass guitars do have positional reference marks

Not all…my first fretless had no marks on the fingerboard and no side dots either.

I bought a Jazz Bass with 20 frets and while sometimes I miss the high E, I'm still fine.

I know that’s a common complaint, but why is the high E sacred? With 24 frets you can get to a high G, when do you stop?

 

[bucephylus]

Not all…my first fretless had no marks on the fingerboard and no side dots either.

Interesting. That would challenge my skill set. What maker was that, OOC?

 

[Jeff Scott]

How many frets do you need [...]?

As many as possible.

 

[Spidey2112]

The ones on the fretboard my fingers come in contact with.

 

[Ralph Manak]

What music do you want to play?

 

[BassicJazzy]

Interesting. That would challenge my skill set. What maker was that, OOC?

Yeah, I was wondering that too? Unless you are talking about a 10 inch scale like a violin I'm not sure how that bass would be very playable. Any significant shift is going to be off at least a hair and require instant correction. Most players do not have perfect muscle memory on a 34" scale fretless with a 2 octave string range, well, I sure don't. Am I missing something?

 

[bucephylus]

Yeah, I was wondering that too? Unless you are talking about a 10 inch scale like a violin I'm not sure how that bass would be very playable. Any significant shift is going to be off at least a hair and require instant correction. Most players do not have perfect muscle memory on a 34" scale fretless with a 2 octave string range, well, I sure don't. Am I missing something?

I have seen and heard a blind fretless bass guitar player, playing with excellent intonation, including shifts. So, it is not impossible. I just can’t imagine the endless hours to drill the muscle memory for that chore. My life isn’t long enough.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I have seen and heard a blind fretless bass guitar player, playing with excellent intonation, including shifts. So, it is not impossible. I just can’t imagine the endless hours to drill the muscle memory for that chore. My life isn’t long enough.

Well, they say when you take away one sense the others become more attuned. Probably has extremely good feedback from fine motor control muscles in his arms and fingers, plus perfect pitch?

Also, I wonder if he had markings he could feel on the neck, raised dots somewhere he could feel with his fingers or hand?

I, on the other hand.........well, I can tell when I hit the nut, or go off the end of the fretboard. Gotta at least have some dots on the side at the major intervals, ones I can see.