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Learning on a Fretless?

M

MasterOfNone

May 24, 2008
7
0
#1
Hi all,

I want to learn to play the bass, and am probably going to pick up an SX Jazz bass when I get payed next. To help confirm this choice, I went to guitar center today to get an idea of the differences in feel between P and J basses. While there, I picked up this Squier fretless Jazz Bass, and started messing around.

Wow! I play cello, so frets have always seemed a little weird to me. I loved the way the neck felt, all smooth. I had all sorts of fun goofing around, it felt very familiar and fun, four strings on a smooth curved wood surface. I could also do really nice slides, and cello style vibrato (to an extent). I'm now considering picking a fretless bass to learn on, just for the feel and expressiveness. Is this a terrible idea? Have others tried this and been successful? If I pick up a fretted bass at a later time, will it be a hard transition? I also worry a little about the tone of the fretless not fitting in with songs while I'm learning, but this isn't a huge thing really. Of course, I also worry about intonation, though I know I'll be able to get that down with practice. Any thoughts? I just love the feel so much!
 
#2
Personally, I think it's just as easy (or hard depending on your perspective) to learn on a fretless than on a fretted bass. On fretted, intonation is probably a bit easier, or less hit or miss. But with practice on a fretless it'll come. There's no rule that says you have to learn on a fretted bass first.

I would think that since you have cello experience, playing a fretless would not be such a big adjustment for you.

Basically, if you like the Squier fretless, go for it.
 
#3
I have an sx fretless 5 string and it's definitely a fun bass to play, though I kinda wish i went with the 4 string now (personal preference..). I picked it up after I'd been playing a fretted ibanez for 7-8 months. However, I think the real thing when learning on a fretless is that it's harder to get used to what the note should sound like, where as with frets its generally going to be the right note no matter what. If you're coming from cello and already have some experience as to what each note should sound like it's probably not as big of a deal. It'd probably be worth atleast ensuring it's a lined fretless. However, if you got your intonation perfect on a fretless then I'd think switching to a fretted would be easier if anything.

My main bass right now is a fretted one, but with flatwound strings, which I find I can make sound very similar to a fretless and do smoother slides as well just because the strings are smoother, at least more so than I can with rounds, but that's just me....My next purchase will probably be a new cab, but after that I'm probably going to be looking for a nice (read expensive) fretless to replace my SX. So my answer? Get one of each! But seriously, it probably won't matter as much since you've got experience with another fretless instrument anyway.
 
#4
Sounds cool. The "get both" idea sounds cool, and I can probably swing it finanically with the SX basses, but I would feel ridiculous buying two instruments right off the bat! How long has it taken most of you guys to get the intonation down when playing a fretless? If it takes years, I might just go with the fretted to start, but if it was fairly quick, I'll do the fretless thing.
 
#6
MasterOfNone said:
Hi all,

I want to learn to play the bass, and am probably going to pick up an SX Jazz bass when I get payed next. To help confirm this choice, I went to guitar center today to get an idea of the differences in feel between P and J basses. While there, I picked up this Squier fretless Jazz Bass, and started messing around.

Wow! I play cello, so frets have always seemed a little weird to me. I loved the way the neck felt, all smooth. I had all sorts of fun goofing around, it felt very familiar and fun, four strings on a smooth curved wood surface. I could also do really nice slides, and cello style vibrato (to an extent). I'm now considering picking a fretless bass to learn on, just for the feel and expressiveness. Is this a terrible idea? Have others tried this and been successful? If I pick up a fretted bass at a later time, will it be a hard transition? I also worry a little about the tone of the fretless not fitting in with songs while I'm learning, but this isn't a huge thing really. Of course, I also worry about intonation, though I know I'll be able to get that down with practice. Any thoughts? I just love the feel so much!
Click to expand...

I started playin the bass 5 months ago and started on a fretless (check the link in my sig for the story), I dont regret it a second. The bass I have is lined, and I have dots on the side of the neck where the "frets" are as guides, but after a while it get's less and less needed but still very nice to have when needed.

Here's a little recording I did this weekend, and so far no one has reacted over the fact that it's a fretless bass I used there.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437219

Good luck, and post your recordings when you get there!

D.Don
 
#7
Don't worry about the intonation issue, just buy whatever bass you like the sound of. Bear in mind though, it's harder to get a gig playing fretless - most bands don't want that sound, they want a standard thumpy bass guitar sound.

One thing I would say is that time spent playing fretless can work wonders on your technique, so if you started on fretless it might help avoid bad habits.
 
#8
I assume you played the Squire Vintage Modified Fretless (Sunburst with ebanol neck)? that is one SWEET bass!

I just got my first fretless earlier this week and man - am I loving it!!! If you play cello, you have a leg up in my opinion since you know tone and can "feel" where you need to go for the notes.....I would say start with a fretless since that is what you feel comfortable with....fretless basses have a VERY distinct sound and that sound is desired for some types of music and cannot be duplicated with a fretted bass!

I think you will be able to transition to a fretted later if you feel the need....

Doug
 

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