let my step-dad play my new fretless...

[ninjaaron]

Disclaimer: I like my step-dad, but sometimes he's silly.

I just got an SX fretless. It's lined, so it basically plays itself. Anyway, I let my step dad, who is also a bassist (and drummer and guitarist), try it out.

He: "yeah, that's neat. I like it because you don't have to be as accurate."
I: "come again?"
He: "sometimes, when I play bass, my finger is a bit behind the fret, and it buzzes. With this, it won't buzz"
I: "uh... But it will be out of tune..."
He: "only, like, a quarter step. Nobody will notice that."
I: "I don't think that's how it works..."

 

[MalcolmAmos]

What's a guy to do? It's family.

 

[hrodbert696]

 

[INTP]

What's a guy to do? It's family.

Turn the volume down?

 

[eb3mike]

Well you said he was also a guitarist and a drummer.

 

[phangtonpower]

As goofy and maybe annoying it is now, you'll look back later and have great stories to tell.

 

[ninjaaron]

Well you said he was also a guitarist and a drummer.

Well, I'm also a guitarist and a whistle player and things. I don't think this is about that. He's the guy always looking for an easy fix when it comes to music. He plays mostly Line 6 guitars and basses and uses a POD for everything. He uses flats on everything (including guitar), not because he likes the tone, but because they are easier on the fingers, and he's always looking for a reason to lower his action and string gauge. He has two high-hats so he doesn't have to hold one down with his foot.

His motto, having worked for the DNR for many years, is "it's close enough for government work."

That's all fine. Line 6 makes decent stuff, and we all have our preferences about setup... It's when a preference for laziness compromises tuning that I draw the line!

I'm pretty sure he'd figure it out quick if he tried it with a band and run screaming back to his fretted Line 6 bass. If he didn't, I guess his band mates would help him figure it out.

 

[pacojas]

it's his hearing maybe.

 

[Hahaha]

Two high hats?? That would be pretty cool if he had a fake third leg for it.

 

[JMacBass65]

Wow - funny!

Tell him to play along to his favorite album, he might figure it out then.

 

[Sweeps]

Like Jaco said, it's harder to play a fretted bass because of the fret noise. I think he may have a point.

 

[MrLenny1]

Drummers!

 

[petrus61]

I get a similar reaction when I let my brother in law play my basses, except it's over setup.

"Why is it so easy to play? I think mines broken so I never really play it."

"You need a setup. It's easy to do. I can even do it for you. All I need is a set of Allen wrenches."

"Whoa! Wrenches? I think I'll just leave it."

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

We don't get to choose our family. But we do get to choose our bass instructor and other musical experts who can help us progress as musicians. No need to judge step dad. But it sounds like you already know you're in need of an expert so stop wasting time here on that question -- and get busy!

 

[SolaFide]

Well in support of the senior crowd...

Pitch is a subjective psychoacoustical attribute of sound.

-BL