played my first fretless this weekend.

[Nephilymbass]

it was a fender squire ''precision'' and it had the cheat lines (which i am happy for) and some flatwound strings.. i have to say that it was so much fun to see what a fretless is all about, it was hard to put down, it was so smooth and silky i couldnt stop playing.
so i tip my hat to you fretless folks im starting to understand why you play them! cheers.

yeah fretless is tons of fun. I think a lot of people never get into it because they come across a couple YouTube videos of people playing with terrible intonation and figure it’s not for them, but if you have good fretting hand technique it’s really not that difficult to play fretless.

 

[flannel cat]

yeah fretless is tons of fun. I think a lot of people never get into it because they come across a couple YouTube videos of people playing with terrible intonation and figure it’s not for them, but if you have good fretting hand technique it’s really not that difficult to play fretless.

even with some of my bad habits i felt pretty good with it,mind you i was staring at my hand and relying on the fret markers but man i was really digging the sound, and no clanking of strings on frets makes it sound so pure.

 

[Killing Floor]

Awesome. I agree, super fun. You'll find it is a pretty easy transition between fretted and fretless once you get used to the higher finger placement. Try running your tuner while you play to help you get comfortable with it. Have fun. The best part is the flexibility in your tone.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I know the feeling. I love my Fretless.

 

[flannel cat]

Awesome. I agree, super fun. You'll find it is a pretty easy transition between fretted and fretless once you get used to the higher finger placement. Try running your tuner while you play to help you get comfortable with it. Have fun. The best part is the flexibility in your tone.

i definantly would like to get one of my own some day, next time im at our local music shop ill be on it again thats just a given for sure. so fun!

 

[flannel cat]

I know the feeling. I love my Fretless. View attachment 3998705

that neck......whoa! love the inlay! cheers.

 

[nonohmic]

Yep, never looking back!

I'm even switched to drooling over fretless basses instead of fretted.

 

[flannel cat]

do the double leaves in that inlay indicate fret position? just curious..

 

[EatS1stBassist]

do the double leaves in that inlay indicate fret position? just curious..

No but after awhile you start seeing what notes land on the leaves! Lol!

 

[flannel cat]

No but after awhile you start seeing what notes land on the leaves! Lol!

lol right on! it would be a sneaky way to indicate position wouldnt it? if i was a builder id do it that way. cheers eh!

 

[Hummergeist]

thats how i felt "smitten" i will also say i felt free running up and down the board without the fretted borders holding me in place, it was like you could push the limit further in the tones.

Yeah that’s exactly it!

 

[EatS1stBassist]

lol right on! it would be a sneaky way to indicate position wouldnt it? if i was a builder id do it that way. cheers eh!

Cheers!

 

[delta7fred]

Yep, no frets is a slippery slope.

I bought a fretless J clone when a store was blowing out the last of it's old stock just to "try it out".

I now own an EUB and a DB as well!

 

[Hummergeist]

Enjoy Amigo. Some babies can really sing with no frets.
View attachment 3998406

View attachment 3998408

View attachment 3998409

Wow! That's beautiful.

 

[MirandM]

First bass I had was a fretted el-cheapo, made my own fretless and truss-rod-less neck (eeek, yeah indeed) just for the fun of trying. Second bass was my beloved Peavey T-20FL, yes fretless, the one I'm married to, never left me, loads of fun. As said, after a while you change fretless for fretted without trouble. Both have their charm.
Advice: be sure to avoid looking at the fret markers whenever you feel the urge to, it'll help you refine your hearing which is imperative when playing real (no markers) fretlesss. Anyone who ever played a violin or upright knows what I'm saying.

 

[Hummergeist]

First bass I had was a fretted el-cheapo, made my own fretless and truss-rod-less neck (eeek, yeah indeed) just for the fun of trying. Second bass was my beloved Peavey T-20FL, yes fretless, the one I'm married to, never left me, loads of fun. As said, after a while you change fretless for fretted without trouble. Both have their charm.
Advice: be sure to avoid looking at the fret markers whenever you feel the urge to, it'll help you refine your hearing which is imperative when playing real (no markers) fretlesss. Anyone who ever played a violin or upright knows what I'm saying.

Noted - I will have to face up the 'not looking' challenge sooner or later

 

[Jazzbassguy]

I used to have an '02 Fender MIM Agave Blue fretless Jazz that matched my '02 MIM Agave Blue Strat. I never should have sold it...

I've never been able to find another one..

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Noted - I will have to face up the 'not looking' challenge sooner or later

 

[nonohmic]

Also, as your GAS inevitably increases remind yourself of this picture. A MIM fretless is a fantastic thing. I have a Squier body, but a MIM neck and it feels and sounds great.

 

[mongo2]

My fretless...