Philosophy: Do I really NEED a FRETLESS bass?

[SoVeryTired]

THANKS, Roy.

First time I've ever seen anyone (but me) mention Danny Thompson, whom I've always liked.

I visited your website, and hey, if YOU say identical basses is smart, then I figure I'm on the right track.

Funnily enough I mentioned Danny Thompson on another thread just yesterday. He plays a mean DB.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

Lap bass is not new. Not every bassist stands. This hasn't changed much.

I sit most of the time when I play. Always have. I don't dance, so why stand?

I actually put my bass pretty far forward on my leg when I am sitting, to be Abel to get my hands at a similar angle to when standing.

 

[JacoNOT]

Funnily enough I mentioned Danny Thompson on another thread just yesterday. He plays a mean DB.

Amen, brother! Being in the UK, you have a much better opportunity to hear/see him do his thing. He's GREAT, and sometimes I get to see him on YouTube vids featuring live UK acts (Richard Thompson, EBTG/TraceyThorn, John Martyn, etc).

Hey. As the OP here, I just want to issue a word of caution to you and Roy Vogt :

You may have noticed how almost everyone who has posted in the latter pages of this thread is suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). They cannot stop focusing on ghost fret lines. Typically, OCD does not involve violent outbursts, but some of these guys appear to be very far gone...and there are so many of them...anything could happen.

It's nice to read posts relating to the original thread topic or to additional comments by the OP (me)...but guys, if you either of you post in this thread again, I suggest you try to include at least one silly comment about how fretless fret lines do or do not reduce your testosterone level.

 

[SoVeryTired]

Amen, brother! Being in the UK, you have a much better opportunity to hear/see him do his thing. He's GREAT, and sometimes I get to see him on YouTube vids featuring live UK acts (Richard Thompson, EBTG/TraceyThorn, John Martyn, etc).

Hey. As the OP here, I just want to issue a word of caution to you and Roy Vogt :

You may have noticed how almost everyone who has posted in the latter pages of this thread is suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). They cannot stop focusing on ghost fret lines. Typically, OCD does not involve violent outbursts, but some of these guys appear to be very far gone...and there are so many of them...anything could happen.

It's nice to read posts relating to the original thread topic or to additional comments by the OP (me)...but guys, if you either of you post in this thread again, I suggest you try to include at least one silly comment about how fretless fret lines do or do not reduce your testosterone level.

What I really want to know is what's the best material for fretlines? Do maple lines lead to a brighter tone than an unlined rosewood board?

 

[JacoNOT]

What I really want to know is what's the best material for fretlines? Do maple lines lead to a brighter tone than an unlined rosewood board?

What a coincidence! In response to the high level of interest indicated by this thread, yesterday I decided to devote my life to developing a space-age hybrid material for ghost fret lines.

I'm in my laboratory at this very minute, working on a carbon fiber / ceramic blend that not only lights up each time a metal string touches it, BUT...it will also reset your heart rate to 60 beats per minute IF you touch your bridge with your right hand while SIMULTANEOUSLY fetting atop the 12th fret line with your left - any string will do (and it only works for right-handed bassists [heart being on the left]).

 

[cvsurg]

And, of course, what's the best fret line material for metal?

 

[Calaverasgrande]

May be hard to believe, but there are a few bassists that play fretless in metal bands.
Death and Obscura come to mind.

I am entirely ambivalent about lined or not. It's kind of nice sometimes, but the one thing nobody mentioned is that fretlines will sometimes wear differently than the fretboard material. I have owned one and seen several others where the fret lines, being made of sawdust and some kind of polymer or epoxy, were harder than the pau ferrro or rosewood they were set in. So after a few years of heavy playing they were almost like tiny frets.
They were noticeable under my fingers, however they also added an almost sitar-ish mwah to the tone. So I had no issue with it!

As far as whether you should buy a fretless or not. Like I said above, it's all about whether you can pull it off in your current band(s), and if you aren't there yet, can you budget for a bass that only sees couch time?
All other things being equal, I think the answer should be yes.
I believe that whatever lessons we learn on other instruments only serve to make us better on our "home" instrument. If you learn to play drums you get a better sense of timing, tempo and syncopation. If you learn guitar you get a better handle on harmony and (if you stick it out) playing leads.
Learning fretless gets you better ability to hear bad notes and play on the note of course. But I also learned a lot about phrasing when I had mine.
Need to get another some day!

 

[Paraietta]

And, of course, what's the best fret line material for metal?

Obviously it's diamond, the hardest metal known to man.

 

[Richenbacher]

Obviously it's diamond, the hardest material known to man.

fixed

 

[JacoNOT]

I got a good deal on the fretless LTD B-205sm-FL from zZounds.com. So I bought it, pulled off the SIT roundwound strings immediately and replaced them with D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds.

I love it, and am glad to have the matching fretted version along with this fretless. They're the same bass except for frets-vs-none: They feel the same. I put Neotech Mega Bass Straps on both so they hang the same, and no longer feel too heavy. EQ and pickup panning does the same on both...BUT...the SOUND is very different. I can cover a lot of Tonal Territory with this pair.

You guys were right. After a month, the fretless is opening my ears and creativity to things I never heard or thought about before. My bass playing--fretted and fretless--is improving for sure, but so is my sense of pitch, my guitar playing and even my awareness of melody in general.

FOR ME, GETTING A FRETLESS--AND PARTICULARLY THE TWIN OF MY FRETTED BASS--WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE

Woo Hoo. Thanks for all input / advice

 

[steubig]

excellent. congrats. (and good to have a matched pair, imho)

 

[satellite4]

Just sold my mim J fretless to fund my Spector...now looking for another fretless; maybe can afford one in a couple months..looking to buy a used 4 str in the ~$700 range. Now just gotta save up the $$ lol

 

[JacoNOT]

Thanks, Stubig. Like you, I think Twins makes excellent sense.

Just sold my mim J fretless to fund my Spector...now looking for another fretless; maybe can afford one in a couple months..looking to buy a used 4 str in the ~$700 range. Now just gotta save up the $$ lol

Everybody's different and I'm bass-noobish, but I think my LTD 5-string fretless is a LOT of bass for $399 ($350 on sale). If you're looking for 4 strings, take a hard look at THIS LTD FRETLESS 4 before you buy used. It's the 4-string version of my 5 and I'm sure you can get it for around $300 if you work the online sales. I'd be surprised if you don't like it.

 

[satellite4]

Thanks, Stubig. Like you, I think Twins makes excellent sense.


Everybody's different and I'm bass-noobish, but I think my LTD 5-string fretless is a LOT of bass for $399 ($350 on sale). If you're looking for 4 strings, take a hard look at THIS LTD FRETLESS 4 before you buy used. It's the 4-string version of my 5 and I'm sure you can get it for around $300 if you work the online sales. I'd be surprised if you don't like it.

Right on, that bass in the link looks sick! Never had a LTD, but have always like the look of them, and have heard good things about their action/playability. I'll definitely read up on them, thanks!

 

[SteveC]

I'm one of those guys (or maybe the only one ) that will only buy an instrument he has a gigging use for.

I can't bring myself to drag multiple basses to a gig. I like to play one instrument all night.

This is where I'm at as well. I get the most miles per gallon playing my Geddy Lee. I would like a fretless, and it may be nice for some tunes, but not for entire gigs. Right now, a fretted 4 string is what gets it done for me so that's what I have...and only one.

 

[JacoNOT]

Right on, that bass in the link looks sick! Never had a LTD, but have always like the look of them, and have heard good things about their action/playability. I'll definitely read up on them, thanks!

Glad to help. I'm new to bass; been playing my fretted since Spring 2012, and have only had my fretless for about six weeks now. BUT both basses are the same B-205sm - only difference is that one has frets and the other doesn't.

I know the fretted version pretty well now, and the fretless is so similar that I know that one, too. I bought both online with no chance to play either one locally beforehand (and had never even touched a fretless bass before). I HAVE NO REGRETS. Both online dealers offered FREE 30-day returns, so I "bought with confidence" and am very satisfied.

Both needed the truss rod adjusted and a bit of saddle height adjustment to overcome slight buzzing. My string heights are in the realm of what many consider 'low action' and the Pickups + EQ + Pickup Panning seems very versatile. Lots of tonal adjustment possible.

The 5-piece laminated necks are stable and amazingly thin from front to back, and for me, they play very well.

Two caveats: Both versions come with SIT roundwound strings. 1. The fretboard is rosewood, and I think rounds will chew it up pretty quickly. Think about replacing with GHS Pressurewounds (they sound like rounds but wear like flats), or Flatwounds, or Black Nylon Tapewounds like I did. 2. The 5-string models seem heavy. The 4s should be lighter (less neck) and the fretless 4 the lightest of all (no metal frets).

 

[bgavin]

My MIM-J fretless is up for sale, to help fund a Warmoth 5-string P/J fretless.
Maple body, lined ebony board, and Nordstrand pickups with full switching.

I'm Jonesing for a passive fretless P, with a J bridge in the 70's position for just-in-case.