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Is fretless over-rated?

#101
L-A said:
Overrated? No way.

It's overused, though, in the eyes of some (mine :p).

To each his own.
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Like a guitarist doing a solo every damned song? How did we ever survive the dark ages without guitar hero's? lol

I think if the music doesn't call for the MWAH sound, don't put it in. You can play a fretless to minimize mwah, not real difficult. Some folks just have to learn to hold back a little on the fretless. You don't have to change to a fretted, you just have to change your attack and tone a little. It's all in the hands, and the smarts to know when and how to use them.
 
#102
Kevin - you read WAAAAYY to deep into my initial post. I did not slam fretless basses or anyone who plays & loves them. I was simply trying to see if there were others out there who felt the same as I do - meaning that after purchasing a fretless, that they didn't care for it. I've been playing bass for quite a while (17 years), and I'm pretty good at it. I've recently gotten into fretless because everyone raves about it, but I'm just not that impressed with what 'extra' i can do with it. And its not about the bass itself, either. I picked up a fretless warrior 5-string, and it is professionally set up, so that can be ruled out. I don't find the intonation that hard to accomplish either, to be honest. I'm just not as satisfied as I thought I would be by the experience, hence the reason for me starting this thread to begin with.
 
#103
kevin newsham said:
Like a guitarist doing a solo every damned song? How did we ever survive the dark ages without guitar hero's? lol

I think if the music doesn't call for the MWAH sound, don't put it in. You can play a fretless to minimize mwah, not real difficult. Some folks just have to learn to hold back a little on the fretless. You don't have to change to a fretted, you just have to change your attack and tone a little. It's all in the hands, and the smarts to know when and how to use them.
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Agreed. I have a fretless, BTW. I just don't use it where I don't think it (and I) will blend well.

Kind of like the reason why I don't bring my GF to dinner at my parents' :p
 
#106
FJR Rider said:
Kevin - you read WAAAAYY to deep into my initial post. I did not slam fretless basses or anyone who plays & loves them. I was simply trying to see if there were others out there who felt the same as I do - meaning that after purchasing a fretless, that they didn't care for it. I've been playing bass for quite a while (17 years), and I'm pretty good at it. I've recently gotten into fretless because everyone raves about it, but I'm just not that impressed with what 'extra' i can do with it. And its not about the bass itself, either. I picked up a fretless warrior 5-string, and it is professionally set up, so that can be ruled out. I don't find the intonation that hard to accomplish either, to be honest. I'm just not as satisfied as I thought I would be by the experience, hence the reason for me starting this thread to begin with.
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Then please pardon my passion. Having owned a fretted Warrior 6 string neck through that didn't trip my trigger, I understand. Why fretted? I was going to convert it to fretless, but didn't like it.

The words pointless,and others really set me off, as I have been making my point successfully with fretless for many years. Kind of a kick in the junk.

I was not angry with you, just passionate about my fretless. If I did not convey that properly, then you have my apologies.

KJN:bassist:
 
#109
Mark Wilson said:
My fault.
I didn't mean to imply Cream was jazz, or that Jack played a fretless with them.

I simply meant to imply that Jack Bruce plays a fretless! haha
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And he played fretless on about half of the songs at the Cream reunion at Albert Hall. Look at the DVD. It sounded great, IMO.

I'll also just add that if you only think of Jaco tones and Mwah when you think of fretless, you really haven't spent much time with the instrument. Fretless can provide a very wide variety of sounds.

So, no, fretless in not over-rated.
 
#110
kevin newsham said:
Then please pardon my passion. Having owned a fretted Warrior 6 string neck through that didn't trip my trigger, I understand. Why fretted? I was going to convert it to fretless, but didn't like it.

The words pointless,and others really set me off, as I have been making my point successfully with fretless for many years. Kind of a kick in the junk.

I was not angry with you, just passionate about my fretless. If I did not convey that properly, then you have my apologies.

KJN:bassist:
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No blood, no foul :D
 
#113
I'm curious , and have question to all the guys who have a fretless and don't play much of it ;

have you tried it with a band/live ?

How would you rate your intonation?

Can the lack of good intonation be the reason why you don't like to play fretless ?
 
#114
fokof said:
I'm curious , and have question to all the guys who have a fretless and don't play much of it ;

have you tried it with a band/live ?

How would you rate your intonation?

Can the lack of good intonation be the reason why you don't like to play fretless ?
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It's just not like that, Think about it like this; If you shut your eyes and touch your nose after a little time you never miss by much. I can not juggle but people that practice can do it blind folded every day.
You would not be able to tell a intonation problem when a good fretless player is a little flat or sharp, he will be on it instantly. Look at all the up-right players, you can do it too, just give it time and a honest effort and you will be a fretless player also. Fretless Bass is a wonderful instrument. Warm and soulful, though it does require a degree of passion. which you probably already have.
I guess this question was not directed at me because I played it for four straight years before taking a sabbatical.
I still play it every day and a fretless Carvin is on the way.

IMHO
 
#117
fokof said:
I'm curious , and have question to all the guys who have a fretless and don't play much of it ;

have you tried it with a band/live ?

How would you rate your intonation?

Can the lack of good intonation be the reason why you don't like to play fretless ?
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1. Yes

2. Maybe 6/10. I'm able, but not reliable. Lots of technical practice left before I can call myself a fretless player.

3. I will usually decide not to play a song on the fretless if it goes too high on the neck. So in a way, yes.
 
#118
Gabriel51 said:
You would not be able to tell a intonation problem when a good fretless player is a little flat or sharp, he will be on it instantly. Look at all the up-right players, you can do it too, just give it time and a honest effort and you will be a fretless player also. Fretless Bass is a wonderful instrument. Warm and soulful, though it does require a degree of passion. which you probably already have.
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Takes a lot of practice and time on the neck to have good intonation , if you don't have perfect pitch. In the lower end , with a band on top of you , you HAVE to be dead on 'cause you'll look like a Moron.....

Over 25 years that I play fretless , still working hard on it , not there yet , but I think I never will..... It's worth it , I play 95% fretless.
 

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