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Retractable Frets!!!
- Thread starter malthumb
- Start date
The bass is supposed to have 5 strings, but the video has been compressed so many times that the bass looks like it only has 4.
Bigoo7e said:
I think you may be caught up in looking at the shadows cast by the strings. The shadows for the B, E, A, & D fall on the fingerboard. The shadow for the G would fall below where the edge of the fingerboard is. When I look at it, I clearly see 5 strings casting 4 shadows.
Peace,
James
Mark Wilson
Supporting Member
When I first saw this video, i thought it was a cool idea.
But, I first saw the video months ago, and i've seen it a good 3 times a week ever since.
Please guys. Search. For the love of God.
-Mark
But, I first saw the video months ago, and i've seen it a good 3 times a week ever since.
Please guys. Search. For the love of God.
-Mark
vene-nemesis said:
there's no way it could and do what it does. I've played flat boards, and I actually kinda prefer it.
I love playing fretted. I also love my fretless. I just have never imagined the want or need to switch from one to the other that fast.
It really isn't that hard to change basses.
It really isn't that hard to change basses.
Given the usual resistance we give to anything new, we shouldn't wonder why Fender sticks to the SOS.
syciprider said:
Well, if the bass was otherwise a great sounding and playing bass of the highest quality, which perhaps it is, it would be interesting if not for the fact that the guys wants something well over $4k for the thing.
You can go a really long way with a $2K fretted and a $2K fretless.
Chasarms said:
When you're in a pit in the theater, there's not very much room at all, and having one to switch back and forth might be just the ticket...
Bergerdude said:
Steinberger retractible frets just lowered until there was just the fingerboard.
These system uses a lever to make the frets roll to change between a flat surface and a round surface so it is actually an innovation of an older idea.
Also, Steinberger's system never worked properly.
Which is why it remained a prototype.
It works, no one achieved it before. This only should raise thumbs up from the once innovative, now conservative bass crowd.
Fretless action could indeed be a problem but frets are very low on the board and it tends to minimize the issue.
They used stainless steel frets so they should last you many years.
I have no problem with the price. Many basses sell for more with way less novelty and technology inside.
As for tone, I like what I hear but wouldn't judge an instrument based on a low quality video.
Which is why it remained a prototype.
It works, no one achieved it before. This only should raise thumbs up from the once innovative, now conservative bass crowd.
Fretless action could indeed be a problem but frets are very low on the board and it tends to minimize the issue.
They used stainless steel frets so they should last you many years.
I have no problem with the price. Many basses sell for more with way less novelty and technology inside.
As for tone, I like what I hear but wouldn't judge an instrument based on a low quality video.
His website gives a bit of information on the construction. It's really hard fret material (stainless steel ... that has to be a bear to work). So once the fit is right, I would imaging wear on the fret would be minimal (I don't know what it is seated in).
Here's from the website
Here's from the website
Yeah but noone plays the bass between switches, and the temperature is not changing during the process so it is not a complete test, and it doesnt looks like a bass for a van giging bass player the neck should be made of graphite to avoid wrapage or relief changes in order to preserve the integrity of the fret system.
Looks like a cool idea, but I gotta wonder about that neck. Humidity and climate changes? Yeah he's testing the mechanism a million times or whatever, but let's try flying with one down to Arizona and playing....then going up to Seattle...then over to Florida....
AuG
AuG
They test the system, not the neck.
Why would it behave differently from another bass ?
If you NEED graphite on your other instruments, thne you will with this one.
Why would it behave differently from another bass ?
If you NEED graphite on your other instruments, thne you will with this one.
I love the idea - but its a bit pricey.
I would also constantly worry that something would break or go wrong.
I would also constantly worry that something would break or go wrong.
This isn't doing much for me.
My main concern would be tone variance in fretless mode. Assuming you are playing at least near the frets, you're going to have metal on metal.
Weird.
My main concern would be tone variance in fretless mode. Assuming you are playing at least near the frets, you're going to have metal on metal.
Weird.
