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Is fretless over-rated?

#122
To the original poster: Just two things I've got to say here:
(1) Watch Steve Bailey (on the Bass Extremes dvd w/ Wooten) and see what he does with his fretless. The sliding harmonics alone is reason enough for me to get one. Manring also does some wild stuff on his fretless.

(2) There are a gazillion non-Western scales that involve quarter-notes that you can only play on a fretless. Check this site: www.maqamworld.com for examples.
 
#125
Overrated by whom? Under what circumstances? Where and during what time period?:eyebrow:

Or do you really mean "I don't get XXX so if someone likes it, it's overrated"?:hmm:

I own three Precisions: a Classic '51 RI, a Classic '50s, and a fretless. I have just examined each one and determined that not one of the three is overrated.

Glad to help out.:D
 
#128
Gothic said:
Well, maybe that's true, maybe... But still, going to a metal gig with an upright's like George of the jungle with a tux. Do we really need that kind of attention? :)
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C'thulhu said:
YES. Ask Markus Grosskopf and his new band Bassinvaders. :smug:
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Gothic said:
I stand corrected! So, rephrasing/correcting my previous post: I would certainly not attempt that! :)

(btw, Markus is one of the craziest bassists out there!)
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I just got thinking about it again. I couldn't dig up a good link yesterday.

Double bass in metal band.

:bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist:

Sorry, am I the only one who finds that totally [a lot of masked profanity] awesome?

:)

To hear that double bass just sends shivers up my spine.
I am in awe on this one.
 
#130
lpdeluxe said:
Overrated by whom? Under what circumstances? Where and during what time period?:eyebrow:

Or do you really mean "I don't get XXX so if someone likes it, it's overrated"?:hmm:

I own three Precisions: a Classic '51 RI, a Classic '50s, and a fretless. I have just examined each one and determined that not one of the three is overrated.

Glad to help out.:D
Click to expand...

Ding, ding. We have a winner, IMO...

:)
 
#131
Almost afraid to weigh in here; I play Motown and 60s stuff, and started playing a fretless in my band or the first time (J-bass) last year. No one noticed the difference, and I really didn't feel much of one, but then I'm old (57) and haven't looked at my neck in thirty years at least so I guess it doesn't matter much so long as you know the fret (or fretless) board. I like the deep, rick tones and the feel. No big deal either way really.
 
#132
I bought a fretless after I started recording a song that just screamed for a fretless tone. I had fun using it and will occasionally doodle around on it. I think of fretless as being "application specific", but plenty of people use them for everything. Just remember, if it weren't for Leo Fender we would all be playing fretless!!! I'm sure you all know this, but the Precision Bass was named "Precision" because of the addition of frets.
 
#135
FJR Rider said:
I know this will probably get me flamed out of existence, but am I the only person here who's picked up a fretless, put some time into it, and come to the conclusion that its almost pointless? I understand the whole 'emotion' thing, but it just doesn't 'do it' for me. Maybe its because I'm not into playing jazz, or any other 'softer' styles? Dunno. I'm trying to like the fretless, but I just can't seem to care that much about what the instrument has to offer vs. fretted.
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That's cool, I like fretless though. You don't need to like. I don't use it all the time though, it's just one more sound I have access to when needed.

Why would you force yourself to like something that you know you don't like?
 
#136
It's not overrated but it does make you look like a badass when you can pull it off, especially, in unconventional settings. :bassist:

I think the overrated opinions may come from those who get frustrated with it and want an excuse to stop trying. I am of the opinion that it takes a good 6 months to a year to really "get into" playing a fretless. It's painful at first. Everything sounds off and you can't do the things you are used to doing on a fretted bass with any consistency.

The first time I tried to play fretless I didn't give it enough time and got frustrated with it. I came back to it a few years later and now I play almost everything on my fretless. The only thing I still go fretted on are songs with tapping and more complex chords which I haven't quite been able to nail on my fretless...yet. :p

And don't forget that if you hit the wrong note on a fretless you can always act like you were purposely sliding into the note for extra expressiveness. Does that work on a fretted bass? I think not!
 
#140
has mentioned Gary Willis in this thread. I bring him up because simply put, he is the one guy that I am aware of that can make his fretless bass sound anyway he wants it to. he can mmwwah with the best of them or play all kinds of styles and you would never know (at least I wouldnt) its a fretless bass.
Hearing him showed me that a fretless is more versatile than a fretted bass. Because no fretted bass can sound like a fretless, but garys fretless can and does sound like both.
So the fretless is a very versatile tool in the right hands.
 

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