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I thought playing fretless was easy!

My opinion - it's not necessarily "bad technique" if it works for them - they may be blessed with physical characteristics (long, strong fingers, for example) that allow them to use what would be "bad technique" for others not similarly gifted. I mean - look at the pics of Hendrix's hands, man - those fingers let him do things us "more meretals" couldn't even consider. :D

I'm very familiar with this point of view. In fact, I've thought it through rather extensively, as I do with most things. Without trying to put words into your mouth (onto your keyboard?), I would characterize it as the relativistic view, i.e. if it works for any given player, then for that player, how can anyone say it's wrong?

For me, this doesn't hold water. So I take more of an absolutist view: There are certain ways of approaching the instrument that have stood the test of time. They are taught, passed down from one player to the next, because they work; because they have proven to be the most effective, most productive and/or most efficient techniques that are commonly known - at least until someone comes up with an alternative method that can be objectively demonstrated to be superior (the key phrase being "objectively demonstrated"), so as to remove the troublesome element of sheer subjectivity.

MM
 
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For me, this doesn't hold water. So I take more of an absolutist view:
I agree with your positions on most things, but here, I'm not so sure...

There's musicians, and there's technicians.
I agree the very best musicians are more often than not excellent technicians as well.

I think it's also interesting that it is an issue of fretted instruments.
There's only one place to get the intended pitch on a fretless instrument ;-)

(Actually, this is not quite true, if 'place' has two dimensions, rather than a single point along the fingerboard...
Just as it's possible to roll a note sharp (or flat...) it's possible to bend a note sharp just like our fretted friends sometimes do.
I have yet to see a documented technique for bending a note flat...)
 
My old Bass. Miss it. It is killer.

This was just TOO hard to resist!

1273488_38ff33867190cdf10b1666d3032d69c6_zpsgilkfzhs.jpg


Roscoe SKB custom - unlined maple diamondwood
 
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I'm very familiar with this point of view. In fact, I've thought it through rather extensively, as I do with most things. Without trying to put words into your mouth (onto your keyboard?), I would characterize it as the relativistic view, i.e. if it works for any given player, then for that player, how can anyone say it's wrong?

For me, this doesn't hold water. So I take more of an absolutist view: There are certain ways of approaching the instrument that have stood the test of time. They are taught, passed down from one player to the next, because they work; because they have proven to be the most effective, most productive and/or most efficient techniques that are commonly known - at least until someone comes up with an alternative method that can be objectively demonstrated to be superior (the key phrase being "objectively demonstrated"), so as to remove the troublesome element of sheer subjectivity.

MM

Yeah, I'm a bit of two minds about it, both relativistic and absolutist, hence my frequent quoting of the old "Theory and Practice" gag.

But in the end, everything, and I do mean everything, is inherently subjective. Which is, of course, why I subscribe to the scientific method (where applicable, I've learned it's a really bad idea to try to apply it in interpersonal relationships). :thumbsup:
 
I got a Squier fretless P last December and Im still totally in love with it. It was really no problem adapting to it. I mostly play funky jazz and Ive actually found it to be more versatile than a fretted bass. If I could only have one bass its the one I would keep. That mp3 sounds great btw.

Agreed, more sonic spectrum. I have no problem with any style on FL including slap which is maybe the only place a fretted sounds better.

Even chordal stuff, when your intonation chops are good, sound more organic and fluid.
 
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But I´m getting better day by day.

The challange started when I wrote a lullaby and was asking for a fretless bass tone. A fellow bassist laned me one (to whom I thank him a lot) and thought that in mostly one week I´d record with it.....yeah right. I´m on my third day with it and still have staying in tune issues. But I´m getting better day by day and I really like the approach, the tone...I WANT A FRETLESS!!!!!!!!! This is fretless addiction I say.

The bass is a MIM fretless, I can say I really don´t like fretlines but at this first stage they come really handy, though sometimes they confuse me....

Did I say I want an unlined fretless???? View attachment 627317

I had the same model and had lot of fun with it. It was my first fretless and it was definetly good enough to get me hooked on fretless. If fender would make a 5 string mim fretless Jazz Id be all over it.
 
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