• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I think I like this whole fretless thing..

Try rocking with your fretless. Here's a YouTube vid of Cynic so you have an idea..

That's pretty cool. I think the fretless has a little too slow attack to be punchy enough though.. but yeah, there's no rules. The album "individual thought patterns" by the band "death" is a great example of using a fretless in extreme metal. My favorite album from the band.
 
Thanks. It sounds better than it looks! By the way we would love to see your new fretless bass, pics?
After much trial and error I finally got the pictures up! It wasnt the most perfect job, but hey Im not bummed considering I did it on a lazy sunday with a neck that hadnt been used in several years. Soon enough the neck will go on this new red cedar body that I got in the mail today!
IMG_4448.JPG IMG_4450.JPG IMG_4451.JPG
 
I've been thinking about picking up an SX fretless just to try it out. I've got a couple songs it would be useful on.

Just do it! For the low cash it's just "fretless lessons" and if it's not you, you can sell it and get a good portion of cash back. I've still got my first fretless which was a $99 SX 5er I picked up a few years ago. I just dug it out and played it again the other day and it still is just one great bass! Today my main axes are fretted and fretless G&L L2500. The more I play the fretless the more I want to play it. I just LOVE that fretless bass. The only down side is that when you start pushing your abilities right to the edge the greater precision needed for fretless begins to take it's toll. I play fretted/fretless about 50-50. Count me in the "love fretless" column!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Duder
After much trial and error I finally got the pictures up! It wasnt the most perfect job, but hey Im not bummed considering I did it on a lazy sunday with a neck that hadnt been used in several years. Soon enough the neck will go on this new red cedar body that I got in the mail today!
View attachment 1022059 View attachment 1022060 View attachment 1022061

Yeah, the new body looks very nice and I dig the white jazz body too.

Here's one of my double basses with my little 100W 2X5" speaker combo amp (Phill Jones Bass Cub BG-100, perfect for DB)

IMG_20170103_200939.jpg
 
Welcome to the world of fretlessing. If you stick to it, you will see changes in your phrasing to fit the sound, learn the importance of using your ears more, and feeling a sense of freedom.
When I made the change to fretless, I played it exclusively for two years except for some recording projects I was working on at the time. I later went back to fretted, but since then I'd say its pretty well 50%. Again, enjoy the ride!
 
Fretless bass guitar is a gateway instrument. Be careful. Next, you will find yourself becoming a DB player, and then what? Next is a bow, and... It's a slippery slope into bigger and bigger things to carry around!


That is me. I am picking up my NS Electric upright next month! I am considering buying a cheap Thomann double bass too. How could you go wrong at 900 bucks shipping included? LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee
Well, my plan is to buy an Ibanez Mikro, which is my main bass now, at some point and convert it into a fretless.

I like the sound of a fretless bass too and it certainly does give some more options in terms of what you are able to play.

So I am all with you.

The newer GSRM20B models, with mahogany body that comes in walnut flat finish and weathered black and with black hardware, I think would fit perfectly for what I have in mind:

GSRM20B.png


Wouldn't part with my fretted though, and would most likely continue to be my main and most played bass.

Just like the option.
 
Last edited:
My take is that bass guitar players either progress into guitar players or DB players in time. I dabble on guitar, but play DB a whole lot these days.

I don't really believe that.

I started out playing guitar, and still does it from time to time, and am even fairly good at it, though I would say I am better on bass, since that is what I used most time on, simply because I like playing bass much more.

Also while I would like to get an upright bass at some point, if I ever get the money to spare for one, I am pretty sure that it would stay as something I would do on the sideline, with electric bass still being my main instrument.

I mean your assumption doesn't make much sense really, they are completely different instruments with completely different feel, sound and uses.
 
You are actually making my point. You are originally a guitar player who became a bass guitar player. That's fine - don't get me wrong. When you do something other than bass guitar, it is guitar.

Yeah, I think I misunderstood your post, as in you believed playing electric bass was somehow inferior to playing guitar or upright bass, sorry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gaolee
I ripped my Johnson by AXL 4 J string's frets out. I taped around and used super glue to fill in the gashes. Then I sanded by hand a very long time. It sounds awesome and it is freeing and confusing... where's the damn note? Hopefully, will learn muscle memory to find it and quit using my eye ball to find a shiny line that I must be behind with the ol' fret finger.
f!
probably never work... worth a shot
mmwwwmmwmrrrrr
 
Love playing fretless nowadays. My current band project is solely a fretless affair and couldn't be happy. I find it the purest way to play a bass guitar and the transition to fretless was very natural for me. I much prefer it over playing a fretted bass.

Here's a snap of mine made up from a Fender MIM Precision body, Status Graphite Neck, Handwound split-coil pickup made by The Creamery, Stellartone ToneStyler 10-position tone switch.

I use Fender flatwounds 45-100 on this bass mainly for their silky smooth feel, I've tried other brands that are supposedly superior, but these Fenders really suit this bass and the sound I'm trying to achieve in my project.
 

Attachments

  • FB_IMG_1480852859587.jpg
    FB_IMG_1480852859587.jpg
    655.1 KB · Views: 50
Last edited: