Hi everybody !
So, here it is: my first and only fretless bass, a Peavey Palaedium, was stolen last weekend... I really need another one soon, but I'd rather take some time to decide what my best options are and ask you guys about what you think about it.
I must say I really liked the sound of my Palaedium so basses that have a similar configuration (passive, two soapbars with the bridge pickup being very close to the bridge, ebony fingerboard) would be good candidates. However one thing I did not like with the Palaedium was that its neck pickup was very close to the neck and had a very muddy tone, resulting in me using the bridge pickup almost exclusively. That's also because I mainly like the sound of the bridge pickup for fretless, but I would prefer a bass that has two pickups to one that has only a bridge pickup. Also I think a combination of soapbar for bridge / single-coil for neck could be interesting, even though I've never tried it.
What I really like about fretless is the lyrical, singing aspect of the instrument, I'm all about the "mwah", slides, vibrato and I really to play melodic lines or solos on fretless. I think sustain is an important factor so instruments that are neck-through or strung through the body are interesting to me. I like fretless sounds that have a very prominent midrange, or, as Steve Di Giorgio said, an "obnoxious fretless smear", and a lot of "growl", so I play on roundwounds. I'm not really into upright-ish sounds or the smooth, "creamy" tones of Gary Willis or Marcus Miller (even though I dig those guys). I like bright or midrangey sounds better, for example that of Steve Di Giordio's sound on the Vintersorg albums, Michael Manring, Jeff Ament in Pearl Jam, Jaco in Continuum, Mick Karn, Pino Palladino... Also I should mention that I usually play close to the neck when I want to bring out the mwah but also like to really dig in when I feel like it.
The main use of the bass would be to play and record for metal bands, but I'd like something that would work for other styles because I like to play different stuff on the side. Also I'm thinking of getting a five-string instrument even though I've only played on four-stringers so far, because I need to go below low E more and more often and alternate tuning doesn't really do it for me.
I'm going for a $1000-2000 price range but it there's a very good reason for it I might go up to $2500.
If you guys want to have a better idea of the kind of sound I like, here's a link to my band's last album, recorded with my Peavey Palaedium:
And here are a few timestamps to jump to if you don't want to listen to the whole thing: 0:53 / 12:45 / 22:22 / 24:40.
What do you think ? By the way, if you can't think of a model or brand in particular, recommendations for certain types of pickups, electronics or woods would be much appreciated as that would help choose a specific instrument down the road. Sorry for the long post and I look forward to discussing the matter with you soon !
So, here it is: my first and only fretless bass, a Peavey Palaedium, was stolen last weekend... I really need another one soon, but I'd rather take some time to decide what my best options are and ask you guys about what you think about it.
I must say I really liked the sound of my Palaedium so basses that have a similar configuration (passive, two soapbars with the bridge pickup being very close to the bridge, ebony fingerboard) would be good candidates. However one thing I did not like with the Palaedium was that its neck pickup was very close to the neck and had a very muddy tone, resulting in me using the bridge pickup almost exclusively. That's also because I mainly like the sound of the bridge pickup for fretless, but I would prefer a bass that has two pickups to one that has only a bridge pickup. Also I think a combination of soapbar for bridge / single-coil for neck could be interesting, even though I've never tried it.
What I really like about fretless is the lyrical, singing aspect of the instrument, I'm all about the "mwah", slides, vibrato and I really to play melodic lines or solos on fretless. I think sustain is an important factor so instruments that are neck-through or strung through the body are interesting to me. I like fretless sounds that have a very prominent midrange, or, as Steve Di Giorgio said, an "obnoxious fretless smear", and a lot of "growl", so I play on roundwounds. I'm not really into upright-ish sounds or the smooth, "creamy" tones of Gary Willis or Marcus Miller (even though I dig those guys). I like bright or midrangey sounds better, for example that of Steve Di Giordio's sound on the Vintersorg albums, Michael Manring, Jeff Ament in Pearl Jam, Jaco in Continuum, Mick Karn, Pino Palladino... Also I should mention that I usually play close to the neck when I want to bring out the mwah but also like to really dig in when I feel like it.
The main use of the bass would be to play and record for metal bands, but I'd like something that would work for other styles because I like to play different stuff on the side. Also I'm thinking of getting a five-string instrument even though I've only played on four-stringers so far, because I need to go below low E more and more often and alternate tuning doesn't really do it for me.
I'm going for a $1000-2000 price range but it there's a very good reason for it I might go up to $2500.
If you guys want to have a better idea of the kind of sound I like, here's a link to my band's last album, recorded with my Peavey Palaedium:
And here are a few timestamps to jump to if you don't want to listen to the whole thing: 0:53 / 12:45 / 22:22 / 24:40.
What do you think ? By the way, if you can't think of a model or brand in particular, recommendations for certain types of pickups, electronics or woods would be much appreciated as that would help choose a specific instrument down the road. Sorry for the long post and I look forward to discussing the matter with you soon !
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