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Should I get fretless?
- Thread starter Brownie3rd
- Start date
if you like it go for it. With questions like this a lot of people will say stuff like, "oh, intonation, get a lined one, or get frets first, etc." but, what if you wanted to learn the violin or the theremin? You'd have to learn how to do the intonation that way, so, get what you like, and with every instrument it takes practice.
I started on a lined fretless Gibson EB3 in 1976. It was beaten up and a local yokel sold it to me for $40.00. I've been using fretted ever since up to a month ago when I got a G&L Tribute Kiloton Fretless.
I'm waiting some to gig w/it as I'm still getting my chops together on it. Its a challenge to get it to do exactly what I want - Not unsimilar to training my dog...
I'm waiting some to gig w/it as I'm still getting my chops together on it. Its a challenge to get it to do exactly what I want - Not unsimilar to training my dog...
I'm a dedicated bass player, and the only fretless I could justify buying was under 300 USD. if you let your fretted collect dust, I'd just forget about it.
Fretless requires a bigger time commitment. If you aren't playing bass as it is, you will likely not have the time needed to get your intonation correct. On the other hand, maybe you will enjoy playin fretless so much you will play it more. My rule is that if I can likely sell it for the purchase price, then why not try it? If you can sell it for about what you will buy it for then go for it. If not, then hold tight.
I’ve found that fretless basses are cool and fun for a while, but as tools they don’t get much use. I had one for years that never left the house. Which there’s nothing wrong with if that’s your expectation going in.
I have considerably more call to play upright.
I have considerably more call to play upright.
The Squire Vintage Modified Fretless is a nice bass for the money. It's lined, which is huge leg up on intonation when you are starting out, or if fretless isn't your primary instrument. Lines get you into decent intonation right off the bat. There's a whole thread devoted to this bass on TB:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/squier-vintage-modified-fretless-jazz-bass.1412451/
I played one, and was pretty impressed for the money, more or less "Instant Jaco", tone-wise.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/squier-vintage-modified-fretless-jazz-bass.1412451/
I played one, and was pretty impressed for the money, more or less "Instant Jaco", tone-wise.
I went waaaay too long tryna emulate the “mwaaah” on a fretted bass. Envelopes couldn’t do it for me. Made the plunge in 2008 and never looked back. Once I realized that I wasn’t looking at the fretboard anyway, I kicked myself for not going fretless sooner.
works that way for me --- and i know i'm not the only one! 
lots of cats would rather practice on a fretless EB than any other option.speaking for yourself?! sorry it didn't work out for you. but i gotta push back --- many folks/players don't really know until they try it, and after they do: many of them prefer to keep playing a fretless. this joint has tons of 'fretless only' and 'fretless mostly' players!
I would love to play fretless , but I can never seem to get one that I want to keep . The only one I ever played that I liked was a Hondo (MIJ)PB and I returned it . Went back to buy it back and it was sold .
Only if you want to end up with two basses collecting dust.
Fretless is definitely a thing that is very unique in sound and not as intimidating to play if you've been playing bass for a while anyway. I personally go in and out of my usage of them, mostly not, but built 2 this year and enjoyed every moment I was using them.
Deciding to give one a try is definitely a personal thing, but if you buy it properly, you can always sell it for a little more or less than you paid, leaving you pretty much in the same financial place as before you decided on doing it. So if that sound is what you're into, give it a shot!
Deciding to give one a try is definitely a personal thing, but if you buy it properly, you can always sell it for a little more or less than you paid, leaving you pretty much in the same financial place as before you decided on doing it. So if that sound is what you're into, give it a shot!
The fact that your fretted collects dust and you're not a bass player doesn't inspire confidence in your prospects with a fretless, which arguably takes more time and finesse than fretted to just be able to play at a fundamental level.
My own limited experience - When I started back into bass after a decades long hiatus playing guitar, I bought a fretless as a second bass; It gathered dust and I was actually playing some bass at gigs. Now that I'm gigging regularly on bass, I've got another fretless that I've actually put a fair amount of time into. It's actually getting some regular gig use.
BTW, $300 AUD = just under $200 AUD. Not a lot, unless you're having to replace a roof, pay for major vehicle service, or have kid(s) in college. Only you can say for sure if it's worth spending $ on.
Personally, I wouldn't at any cost if it were just going to gather dust; My wife and I are trying to sell and otherwise move unused "stuff" out of our lives, not in. Every week I try to take a full load to the dump, consignment store or donation point; It gives me a great sense of contentment.
My own limited experience - When I started back into bass after a decades long hiatus playing guitar, I bought a fretless as a second bass; It gathered dust and I was actually playing some bass at gigs. Now that I'm gigging regularly on bass, I've got another fretless that I've actually put a fair amount of time into. It's actually getting some regular gig use.
BTW, $300 AUD = just under $200 AUD. Not a lot, unless you're having to replace a roof, pay for major vehicle service, or have kid(s) in college. Only you can say for sure if it's worth spending $ on.
Personally, I wouldn't at any cost if it were just going to gather dust; My wife and I are trying to sell and otherwise move unused "stuff" out of our lives, not in. Every week I try to take a full load to the dump, consignment store or donation point; It gives me a great sense of contentment.
If you have the money and the desire go ahead. I've never found my fretless basses to be any more challenging to play than my fretted basses.
Guitarist playing bass - Do you play with string bends? On a fretless, the better approach is to create vibrato by moving your stopping finger along the string rather than bending the string. Bends on a fretless will create more wear on the fingerboard.
If you aren't using your current bass, you'll eventually not use the fretless. I have a fretless and, while I do love it, it is my least gigged instrument. And times when I do use it at a gig, I'm really just forcing it. I simply don't play music that calls for fretless.
If you aren't using your current bass, you'll eventually not use the fretless. I have a fretless and, while I do love it, it is my least gigged instrument. And times when I do use it at a gig, I'm really just forcing it. I simply don't play music that calls for fretless.
Once you realize that you can roll rather than bend, thats half the battle. It’s relatively easy to roll going up in scale; its a natural movement. Rolling down is more difficult. Sliding down comes naturally.
I’ve found fretless is something you either take a shine to fairly quickly or you don’t. Most players who make it past the first three months with their interest and dedication still intact go on to add “fretless player” to their list of skills.
Fretless isn’t hard. No harder to learn than any other instrument assuming you want to play it well. But it does take some degree of commitment and a willingness to practice it regularly. Even full time fretless bass players will start losing their edge without regular practice sessions.
Bottom line: if you want it, it’s completely doable. 80% of success in life is just showing up. The remaining 20% is being the last to quit.
Fretless isn’t hard. No harder to learn than any other instrument assuming you want to play it well. But it does take some degree of commitment and a willingness to practice it regularly. Even full time fretless bass players will start losing their edge without regular practice sessions.
Bottom line: if you want it, it’s completely doable. 80% of success in life is just showing up. The remaining 20% is being the last to quit.
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