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Looking for a VERY Versatile Bass + Fretless Questions

What plan of action should I take?

  • Get the fretless neck.

    Votes: 27 14.3%

  • Get the fretless bass.

    Votes: 96 50.8%

  • Get the "training wheels" fretless.

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • Total voters
    189
F

Fatalistic

Feb 16, 2011
44
0
#1
I'm looking for a very versatile, six string bass.
What I need it to do is to be able to go from soft, and dark, to chaotic and bright at a minute's notice (I'm enrolled in AP U.S. History in my High School. I thought I'd throw in a Minutemen reference). For that, I'm thinking of a fretless (Would that do what I need it to do?). Which brings me to my next issue.
I've never played a fretless before in my life.
Which is a bit of a problem. Before I go running out to pick up a fretless six, I would rather not blow money I have saved up from a seasonal job on a fretless bass which I can't play, or even worse, I'll end up hating.
The ideas I have are these: Before I run out and find a fretless six, see if I can find a fretless neck for my Squier Jazz Bass and punish myself for a few weeks learning where to place my fingers.
Or, I can actually take the risk, run out and get the six, and punish myself for a few weeks learning where to place my fingers.

Any comments on my ideas?
I'm looking for a bass in the $800 - $1200 range, preferably in the middle. I'd like it to be versatile... But judging from what I've read (as I synthesize information while I type), VERSATILITY = Fretless.
 
#2
Fretless is great, but I don't get the need for all of this 'versatility'. Are you in several gigging bands? Why do you need 6 strings? Get a cheap used 4 string. Play it. If it grows on you, keep it. If it doesn't, sell it.
 
#3
Do you currently play a fretted six? If you've never played either a sixer or a fretless go into your local GC or whatever you have around, play around with any kind of fretless they have, and play an Ibanez SR406 (I think that's the model number off-hand). It's a great starter 6, and even buying one new and then having it de-fretted or doing it yourself will get you a really good and easy to play fretless 6 at well under your projected budget.

If you're already comfortable with sixes, probably do the same thing but de-fret it right away if you feel you will be comfortable with fretless after playing around with some.
 
#4
I'm not in several gigging bands. I really like being able to play something soft and dark and ambient, and then being able to hammer out something aggressive. I also want a six for the expanded range.
I don't currently play a fretted six, but I'm very interested in picking one up. I was actually eying a Spector Legend Classic, but totally forgot that defretting was a viable option. XD I'll try to head over to a GC or something and see what they have. I'll see how I fare on a six and a fretless.
I'll think more about my options. Thank you.
 
#5
If you do get a fretless, try to get one with lines; trust me it'll make it a lot easier in the beginning. Squire makes a decent (for the money) 4 string "Jaco style" fretless that i've seen at most GC's.

I agree with above post too -- get a 4 string first then upgrade to the 5 or 6'er if you like it.

I've got a fretted and fretless in 4, 5 and 6 strings . . . never can have too many basses!!!;)
 
#7
I say, if you've been playing a while and already feel comfortable on the bass you already have, get an unlined finger board. You would be surprised at home quickly muscle memory takes over. Also, most unlined boards still have the dots on the side of the neck where the fret markers would be (only on frets 3,5,7,9,12, ect.).

I picked up fretless about 3 years after I starting playing fretted bass and it was not frustrating at all. I would recommend buying a wish bass. He makes some 6 string fretless basses which are great for getting your feet wet. They are relatively inexpensive, so it would be a great place to start. The quality is not super great, but its enough to help you discover whether or not you like it. Hope that helps!
 
#8
Fatalistic said:
I'm not in several gigging bands. I really like being able to play something soft and dark and ambient, and then being able to hammer out something aggressive. I also want a six for the expanded range.
Click to expand...

There really aren't many basses, especially ones that are made in a fretless 6 string combo, that will prevent you from doing any of that. Pretty much any one you find will be capable of it, to whatever degree you're able to dish it out as a player.

As for the range, what makes you so sure that you really want or need more? Do you find yourself frequently running out of notes in either direction, or is the 6 string idea really more of just an "idea"? I only ask because I remember GAS earlier in my youth, and it's a big leap of faith getting a 6 string fretless when you haven't owned (or even played, by the sound of it) either one.

In any case, sit on it for awhile. My rule now is that unless I can hold on to an idea of what I want to buy (as in, the same specs the whole time) for a month, it's too fickle for me to actually drop any major cash on. Keeps me out of trouble, mostly. ;)
 
#10
De-fret something. You wouldn't want to fork over a bunch of cash on a fretless 6. I did a defret job a couple of years ago and it actually turned out well. Faded lines, so I had no problem training, then weaning myself pretty quickly. Overall, a good choice. Do it to your Squier Jazz. It shouldn't cost anything more than $50 (where a neck will be at least $100). Yes, it's some labor, but I cherish every second I spent on it, and I'm in the middle of an unlined fretless build.
 
#11
I play in several gigging bands around town from praise and worship to death metal to contemporary stuff. I have both fretless and fretted basses. And need very much versatility. But i have also noticed that my fretted tend to have more distance from one polar spectrum to another. They arent the best high dollar basses, but they are perfect for what i need. Get you a bass like that. My peavey has the most versatility for me.
 
#12
Playing a Fretless will need some practicing, but if you are good and play a lot it shouldn't take you long at all. One thing is sure, you will definitely not hate it!
You should go for a new bass, not much in that price range I can think of though, specially as 6 string. I would go to a store and try out different stuff. The neck on a Fretless bass is more "fragile", starts buzzing with low action when it's not perfectly shaped. If you desire a very comfortable and good sounding bass I would save a little more and look for used.
Fretless Warwick Thumbs are great, but thats also a question of taste.
Go try, you will know better then.
Regards
 
#13
Fretlesses are great. They require quite a bit of practice to truly master them and get every bit out of them you can.The rewards are great and I commend you for an interest in the fretless.
First, the fretless isn't for everyone. Since you probably will have some difficulty in finding a sixer in fretless locally, much less a variety of them, it will be hard to find one to try out As one post said, there is nothing wrong with the four string Squier fretless Jazz. You wouldn't be out of a lot of bucks if you decided fretless wasn't your thing, and there are always folks here at the site who'd love to get one, so you could sell it fairly easily.
If the 6 string is the way you want to go, you could still go on with a fairly inexpensive one (since you are on a budget). You might consider one of the 6s on this page:
Link Removed
For one in the price range you are seeking:
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As for whether the choice for lined or unlined, I know the Carvins have an option but others may be a "take what you can get" situation. I have both unlined and lined fretlesses, so it doesn't make alot of difference to me. If you like playing chords then the lines may be quite helpful.
Good luck with whatever you do, and I wish you great fun in your adventures in frelessing.
 
#14
Buy a used, inexpensive fretless 4- or 5- stringer and play it for at least a month. At the very least, you can sell it and think of any loss as a "try-it-out rental". If you're lucky, you might end up liking the instrument.

I think lines are over-rated. As long as it has nice side dots, you'll be fine. I hardly see the fretboard when I'm playing my fretless (de-fretted Tobias Growler) and frankly, no lines=nicer looking. Just make sure you've got a 1st fret mark...you'll be surprise how hard that is to get right.

You're bound to find someone here selling an Ibanez or Yamaha fretless here once in a while. Support your local TBer! :D
 
#15
Do you play your SQ Jazz much right now? If not, your hands are going to feel awkward on it even with the frets. Practice playing something that you would want to play fretless just as a test on the SQ with the frets. If you like how it feels, then just pick up a Mighty Mite UNLINED fretless online - should be about $100. Look up the countless videos about how to mount a new neck and move the tuners & string tree over (there will be some delicate drilling involved).

Don't get a lined fretless - the whole point is to develop and use your ear to play, not looking where the lines are. The "mwah" character of a fretless is partially from rolling your finger into tune (like a double bass or cello etc).

So, for about $100 and some of your time you have tested your experiment and given yourself a reason to play your squire. You will have also made your Squire anonymous without a headstock logo. If you end up liking it, put some new pups and/or a preamp in it and you will have a pretty sweet addition to your collection.
 
#16
I just picked up a second Ibanez BTB 676 to defret. They are pretty inexpensive basses but are very versatile and build very well. Going to defret the 12-24 first to see how I dig it then maybe defret the rest. I say pick up a used one for around 500$ and have it defreted and lines filled in. I have been playing both fretless 5 and 6 strings for awhile and having lines is really nice.

Many will argue that its cheating. But here is how I see it: Look cool or sound good? With fretlines it helps you make sure you are intonated.
 
#17
You should for sure try a 6 or a fretless 4 for an EXTENDED period of time first before deciding on anything. Renting and reselling here on TB may be the smartest way to go since you would pay or lose much on resale.

Just like when I switched to 5, you will run into some different feel issues right away.

1) What string spacing do you like best? They generally range from 17.5mm-19mm which make a huge diff in feel. 19 is the standard 4 string spacing, but can make some necks much bigger. I find that wider spacing is better for pick and thumb stuff, and smaller spacing for fingerstyle. I play fingerstyle 80% of the time.

2) What scale length for the neck? 34"-35" is the general norm, and I prefer 34". I like things to be as easy as possible for the left hand in the lower ranges. If a luthier can't make a great B string on a 34", they suck. A 35" scale doesn't guarantee a good B string anyways, but does guarantee left hand cramps for me.

3) How heavy of a bass? The more strings you add, the heavier basses can get. There aren't a ton of light 6 string basses in your price range.

These may seem like small details, but it took me a lot of trying for weeks and buying 7 different 5's to figure out what I like most. 17.5mm spacing, 34" scale, and no heavier than 10lbs. That said, I'd LOVE a Bongo 6! Highly recommended if you get a nicer 6. They vary in weight a bit for my taste, but everything else is butta!

Now as for fretless, I owned 4 of them and only 1 had lines. I HIGHLY recommend lines. I also recommend playing fretless all the time with a record, other musicians, etc... because as good as you might think your intonation is, it could be better. Intonation is very tough to be great with. It takes a lot of practice and patience. Both of which I had plenty of at the time, but I still found that fretless wasn't for me. Keyboard however, is which has plenty of mwahh built in... :D A Squire Vintage Fretless should tell you whether it's for you. They resell just fine too.

You want "versatility"? "To be able to go from soft, and dark, to chaotic and bright at a minute's notice"? That my friend isn't the bass, it's all on you. Technique, dynamics, and phrasing are the big 3 for that. Switching instantly from tapping, fingerstyle, slapping, pick, fingerpicking, and palm muting will give you a plethora more versatility than any bass. Victor Wooten could switch to any of those techniques in an instant on a Squire or a million dollar bass. Dynamics are all about using those techniques to varying volumes which will surprise the audience with the "soft, dark, chaotic, and bright" that you want. Phrasing is about what you say and when.
 
#18
Hey man, fellow AP-taker here (I'm a junior and I'm taking AP chem, AP Calculus, and AP Language/Composition. ughhh).

Are you open to doing a conversion? I've heard of some guy converting his Ibanez SR506 (a great bass for sure, especially for the price) into a fretless.

Edit: yep, here's a link to a beautiful video of it..
 
#19
I'd say its best to start with a 6 then move to a fretless 6. work on a solid base of technique before jumping the gun on a bass that requires loads more technique training.

also have you ever played a 6? I can understand the GAS for one. matter of fact i wanted to start on a 6..... then I played one a realized that they are not for me. the extended range is fantastic, but beyond the "cool" factor of "OMFG i play a 6string!!!!!1!!!!11!111" you need ot look at what your playing and figure out if the extended range is right for you and what you are playing. I've never seen a situation where a 5 or 6 is needed, helpful I could see but needed, never.
 
#20
Fatalistic said:
I'm not in several gigging bands. I really like being able to play something soft and dark and ambient, and then being able to hammer out something aggressive. I also want a six for the expanded range.
Click to expand...

This is very little to do with the instrument, and everything to do with the player.

What aspect of extended range do you want? Are you finding that you can't live without a low B? Are you running out of neck and doing a lot of chord comping up high?
 

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