I need to be a little more observant!

[bound'n'blocked]

I was in GC today, killing time while the wife shopped next door. Not that I need another bass, but it never hurts to look right? That and the fact it was the last day to use a 16% off coupon...

So I'm browsing, and noticed a Spector Legend Classic 5 string in the used section. Got it down and played it. Boy, was it out of tune. So I got out my phone and used the tuner on it. Sounded better but still kinda weird. I kept noodling around. It was nice. And with the coupon, the price was right. I was considering trying to talk the Mrs into getting it. But something about it felt wierd. I couldn't understand why it would have flats on it. I'm not a fan of flats, but those could be changed.

Then it hit me! It was a fretless! I had been playing it for about twenty minutes before I noticed! That was a deal breaker, but it was a nice bass...

BnB

 

[jd56hawk]

I was in GC today, killing time while the wife shopped next door. Not that I need another bass, but it never hurts to look right? That and the fact it was the last day to use a 16% off coupon...

So I'm browsing, and noticed a Spector Legend Classic 5 string in the used section. Got it down and played it. Boy, was it out of tune. So I got out my phone and used the tuner on it. Sounded better but still kinda weird. I kept noodling around. It was nice. And with the coupon, the price was right. I was considering trying to talk the Mrs into getting it. But something about it felt wierd. I couldn't understand why it would have flats on it. I'm not a fan of flats, but those could be changed.

Then it hit me! It was a fretless! I had been playing it for about twenty minutes before I noticed! That was a deal breaker, but it was a nice bass...
View attachment 3250723

BnB

Happened to me not too long ago with a Fender Jazz bass. Absolutely beautiful bass in Wine Red.
Played it for about 10 minutes or so without realizing the frets were simply fret marker lines.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Being a fretless, I still don’t understand why it would have flats on it...

 

[sharkbait130]

Being a fretless, I still don’t understand why it would have flats on it...

Flats are a whole lot easier on a fretless neck than rounds are. Rounds tend to wear out the wood on the neck faster.

 

[Copperhead]

Being a fretless, I still don’t understand why it would have flats on it...

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Flats are a whole lot easier on a fretless neck than rounds are. Rounds tend to wear out the wood on the neck faster.

Still, I will always use rounds on my Fretless...always...

 

[eastcoasteddie]

 

[JRA]

Then it hit me! It was a fretless! I had been playing it for about twenty minutes before I noticed! That was a deal breaker, but it was a nice bass...

if you played it for 20 minutes before noticing = you probably became a fretless player....and then walked away from it!

Flats are a whole lot easier on a fretless neck than rounds are. Rounds tend to wear out the wood on the neck faster.

rounds might put some 'use' marks on the fingerboard. "wear out" from rounds takes years. have you played fretless? with rounds?

 

[bound'n'blocked]

if you played it for 20 minutes before noticing = you probably became a fretless player....and then walked away from it! /QUOTE]

Once I realized it was a fretless, I started to play "on the lines". I guess it was my horrible technique that helped me find out it was a fretless. Trust me, no fretless players are in danger of me stealing any jobs from them!

BnB

 

[Scoops]

Still, I will always use rounds on my Fretless...always...

Still, I will always use Flats on my Fretless...always..

 

[Solarmist]

if you played it for 20 minutes before noticing = you probably became a fretless player....and then walked away from it!

That's a great point, I would have noticed right off with my sloppy playing.

 

[jamro217]

I took your advice about being more observant and then noticed the guy playing the P bass in the pic. !!! What a rotten trick to play on us!

 

[Maxdusty]

You were probably thinking the bass was really used...the frets were so worn down.

 

[edencab]

I can't imagine not noticing for 20 seconds that I was playing a fretless never mind 20 minutes

 

[TheReceder]

I bought a 6 string (Guitar) Ibanez lawsuit era les paul copy based on a picture from a local auction house. It was factory fretless after the 5th fret. Very rare. I didn't know till it sounded like I was torturing cats on the upper frets.

Traded it for a bass I never play.

 

[saabfender]

So a fretless you were able to play normally and enjoy for about 20 minutes is rejected because it was fretless. You have to admit, that makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[fretno]

This goes beyond all of my previous thinking. Why do I play... is it for the feel ? Or the sound?? Do I care to look at it to make decisions and should i use the other one of the senses to achieve the goal. I think you may have had a zen like experience.

 

[Warpeg]

Hold up.....you couldn’t tell that you were playing a bass that didn’t have frets?! Truly, I don’t understand how something like that is possible.

 

[lz4005]

I can't imagine not noticing for 20 seconds that I was playing a fretless nevermind 20 minutes

I'm right there with you.

A bass player would have to be legally blind or wearing welding gloves for that to happen.

 

[mikewalker]

I bought a 6 string (Guitar) Ibanez lawsuit era les paul copy based on a picture from a local auction house. It was factory fretless after the 5th fret. ...

Well ya know, there is no money past the 5th fret anyway!