tapping on fretless

I don't think it hurts the bass, I just hate the sound of it. It depends on a lot of things, especially the bass itself and how you do it. Like I've heard Vic Wooten do it on his Fodera and it sounds great, but that's Vic Wooten playing a Fodera. Anyway, I doubt it will hurt the bass. Try it out. If you can do it cleanly, go for it. I find it very hard to tap accurately on a fretless though, my right hand never hits the string in the right place.

 

The only problem I have (or see anyone having) is getting intonation correct.
I stick to fretted for tapping, but I know people do it, like Victor Wooten and Les Claypool.

 

i found that with my fretless, the neck is starting to show "string markings" if you will. I use flats. I'm still trying to figure out what's causing it :\

Mark

 

It's the strings . . . I mean, you're still putting hard pieces of metal up against wood and putting pressure on it, of course you're going to get marks. But it won't get mangled like with rounds.

 

I actually like tapping on my fretless muuuuuuuuch more than I like tapping on any of my fretted basses. It's just so fun and the sound is amazing... I love the sound I get when im tapping and I slide down the fretboard. I say get that fretless and tap away!!!

 

Fretless bass+sweet tapping=Michael Manring

 

Just remember you'll chew up your board pretty quick that way. Either coat the board, or make sure it's something rather dense like ebony. Rosewood just doesn't cut it for tapping.

 

+100000

Manring is not human.