Should I buy a fretless?

[Sid s]

Yes what?

Yes, sir!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Yes Mum......

 

[BarfanyShart]

Has anyone said "yes" yet? These TBers are so stingy when it comes to new basses.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Every bass player should own a decent fretless, in my opinion. A six-string? I mean, if you really want one, sure, but you'll almost certainly get WAY more use out of a fretless.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

uninitiated folks seem to look at the fretless as some 'huge leap' while not realizing (because they haven't played one) that they're actually easier to play in so many ways. the issue of intonation without training wheels (frets) is a real one, but working on that issue is part of the fun on the journey to becoming a real musician. a fretless helps the ear develop while being easier on all of the fingers and both of the hands...no fretted ax has action that feels as low as what is standard on almost all fretless pieces. and then: there's that beautiful sound!!! there are plenty of players on TB who only play fretless instruments...they're having way more fun than the others --- even while they're working (gigging)! also: there are 20-24 fewer setup issues (frets) which make things easier from the start...it's a no-brainer!

if you have the 'urge' = get one and don't look back! good luck with your fretless choices!

Inspiring!

 

[LoveThatBass]

uninitiated folks seem to look at the fretless as some 'huge leap' while not realizing (because they haven't played one) that they're actually easier to play in so many ways. the issue of intonation without training wheels (frets) is a real one, but working on that issue is part of the fun on the journey to becoming a real musician. a fretless helps the ear develop while being easier on all of the fingers and both of the hands...no fretted ax has action that feels as low as what is standard on almost all fretless pieces. and then: there's that beautiful sound!!! there are plenty of players on TB who only play fretless instruments...they're having way more fun than the others --- even while they're working (gigging)! also: there are 20-24 fewer setup issues (frets) which make things easier from the start...it's a no-brainer!

if you have the 'urge' = get one and don't look back! good luck with your fretless choices!

I thought that also until one day I picked up an Ibanez "Fret lined" and played with ease then when I went to put it back on the wall I realized it was fretless so as long as it had the fret lines "painted" on it I could do it, however no lines and it is a whole different story as for as I am concerned.

 

[EchoEcho]

Also I found each of the transitions: 4-string to 5-string bass guitar and ultimately 5-string to 6-string bass guitar to be fairly confusing. When you learn to play you learn a bunch of separate processes that you eventually automate and stitch together so you don't have to think about playing. Your brain maps the fretboard so when you want to play a note it simply happens with very little conscious effort.

When you start adding strings, the references for you mental maps are wrong so it's very easy to get confused. Basically you have to unlearn some automated mental processes and relearn them. You can get fairly comfortable in a couple of weeks, but IMHO reasonable mastery takes a few years. If you decide to play 6-string, I recommend you use 6-string exclusively until you get really good. That way you are only building the new mental processes instead of reinforcing the old way of thinking.

Yeah, I think ultimately you have to see the 5 and 6 string as different animals to the 4 string, rather than a 4 string with an added 1 or 2 strings. When you buy a 5/6 string your whole mental map of the fretboard has to change, provided you're serious about learning it diligently. Scales, arpeggios, scale patterns etc all have to be reformulated to take account of the extra string(s).

I know some bassists who don't even know how to read music, don't know how to tune their bass, don't know intervals or scales or chords. I've no idea how they managed to get by, but then again the likes of Paul McCartney et al seemed to do ok so I guess it must be possible.
I think they would find the transition to 5 or 6 quite easy for what they want to do. For such folk, a 6 string is probably just a 4 string with 2 extra strings that they may use now and again.

 

[Obese Chess]

Yes, you should buy the cheap one I have listed in the classifieds.

 

[dune]

From what you've written, I'd say yes to the fretless and probably keep it separate from adding any more strings at the same time. No "wrong" answer, but that's my $.02. I played a TRB-6 the last few years of my professional career, but rarely take it out of the bag these days. Just put a fretless neck on a MIM jazz body and digging that. I've had a few fretless basses before, and this is my first one with lines and I'm kinda likin' 'em so far, though it's not like a huge difference. I do think that no lines is a very cool look.

 

[steubig]

yes. get one.

 

[Gaolee]

I would buy a MIM fretless Jazz and play the snot out of it.

View attachment 3933675

But would you look half as good doing it? If that picture is you, I am either in love or wish I was you or both.

As far as six strings, I cannot count that many, let alone play that many.

 

[CatchaCuda]

I think I'll find a semi-cheap fretless (like MiM Fender) and try it out in a shop if I can find one. Also, I play 5-string. Should I take a 5-string fretless or should I go for a 4-string?
Thanks again to all of you people in this wonderful community.

Trying before buying could save you from a headache, that's for sure.

I don't think you'll regret having a few extra low notes, or alternate fingerings. If you're most comfortable on your fretted 5, go for a fretless 5.

As for me, I've been a 4 string "player" (just a hobby, I'm no pro) mostly. I honestly feel more comfortable on my fretless 6 than I do on my fretted 5.

Did you give a general location? If you're anywhere near me, you're welcome to try out my budget Harley Benton B650FL, or my modded fretless 4 string Glarry P bass- super cheap fun!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I have been playing bass for 2 and a half years now, and I want to try a fretless or a six string bass, or maybe even a six string fretless. However, I have never played a fretless or a six string before, and the shops around here don't have either. Should I buy on of them online or should I maybe try to find a shop that has them?

Nope. Just go play one

 

[juancaminos]

Yes buy a fretless.

 

[coy garcia]

I would suggest buying a cheapy 4 string fretless. Practice good left hand technique. Once you get the hang of it the expressiveness is amazing like a cello. If you dig it then you can spend the money on whatever fretless you really want. I use fretless on everything from blues, to jazz to heavy metal cause I'm hooked.

 

[Gibson Victory]

Not my thing nowadays, but years back I had a Dean Fretless that was pretty nice. Regret selling it. I would get something a give it a try. The are a lot of fun to play.

 

[amper]

To expand, absolutely go buy a fretless six if that's what you think you want. The only way to get good at a thing is by doing the thing. To get good at fretless, you need to own and play a fretless. To get good at 6-string, you need to own and play a 6-string.

Fretless is harder in some ways and easier in others. You will never get a fretted bass to sound like a fretless without removing the frets, and you will never get a fretless to sound like a fretted bass without installing frets.

What I would not recommend is buying a Warwick Corvette Standard 6 fretless with the bubinga body, unless you have the strength of a gorilla. Wonderful bass, wonderful sound, heaviest thing I think I've ever picked up that was a musical instrument but wasn't a piano.

If and when I get around to replacing my current instruments, I will be getting two custom Warmoth Deluxe 5J basses, identical except for one will be fretted and one fretless. They will go in a dual gig bag, and I will never buy another bass again for the rest of my life. My first bass was a 1992 Fender Jazz Bass Plus V Ash, the first to use the smaller Jazz Bass body design, and to this day, it's my favorite Jazz Bass type. It has everything about the Jazz Bass that I love, and none of everything I don't like about Jazz Basses.

Fender last used it for the 2009 American Deluxe Jazz Bass V (shown below), so the only way you can get it now is from Warmoth. Or maybe two Sandberg California TT5s (at bottom), we'll see. You get the idea. The Sandberg is prettier, but the Warmoth has more options.

I like the idea of a six-string fretless, but honestly, I don't really feel like the B string on a 34" scale instrument is all that useful, so maybe I'll just go with a high C string, instead of a low B. Or maybe I'll just tune to D with heavy gauge strings.

I adore my current fretless StingRay and would love a fretted companion StingRay, too. My final choice would be a pair of Warwick Custom Shop basses something like the Streamer CV, but the price of Warwick Masterbuilt instruments is astronomical. When I bought my custom Corvette Proline 18 years ago, Warwick's operations were totally different.

It took me 20 years of playing bass to figure out what I really wanted out of my instruments. Now I know, but I no longer have the kind of money that would enable me to have precisely what I want.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I have been playing bass for 2 and a half years now, and I want to try a fretless or a six string bass, or maybe even a six string fretless. However, I have never played a fretless or a six string before, and the shops around here don't have either. Should I buy on of them online or should I maybe try to find a shop that has them?

I mostly play 5 string fretted but started on a 4. When I started playing fretless I picked up a 4 string Mexican fender fretless jazz For like $300 used. Later on I got a sterling by musicman Ray34cafl also a 4 string. I think the simplicity of Going back to 4 string when getting used to fretless helped me but eventually I was like meh now I want a 5 string fretless. For me 6 string bass is more fun for playing chords and tapping parts things I’m not really interested in doing on fretless unless I’m layering things with a looper pedal. It’s pretty challenging to playing anything beyond single notes and double stops with good intonation on fretless and as far as the additional range I normally prefer playing the same note higher up the neck on the g string instead of using a high C because it sounds fatter/warmer imo.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

No,
There you go.

 

[SteveC]

If and when I get around to replacing my current instruments, I will be getting two custom Warmoth Deluxe 5J basses, identical except for one will be fretted and one fretless. They will go in a dual gig bag, and I will never buy another bass again for the rest of my life.

It took me 20 years of playing bass to figure out what I really wanted out of my instruments.

I kind of did this - no double bag yet. I have fretted and fretless Roscoe 5‘s. Really all I need. My wife bought me a Roscoe Classic P for Christmas so I have one more that I keep in the rotation. It’s my “Pino” bass. Same color and everything.

Took me a long time and a lot of swapping to get to this point, but I pretty much know what I want and like, and for me, Roscoe is it.