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The Fretless Club (Part 2!)

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#62
blowabs said:
hyper

how does it help you a better fretted player? thx.
Click to expand...

The more you practice the more muscle memory builds up in your left hand (or right if you play lefty). Your hand will learn to fall into place just right. That's how DB players know where to put their fingers. When you go back to fretted your fingers will fall on the right spots too. Jaco P used to practice on fretted as he felt you had to be precise with your fingering or else you get fret buzz.

There is no reason not to go fretless. So much flexability. Great sound too.
 
#63
BassBus said:
The more you practice the more muscle memory builds up in your left hand (or right if you play lefty). Your hand will learn to fall into place just right. That's how DB players know where to put their fingers. When you go back to fretted your fingers will fall on the right spots too. Jaco P used to practice on fretted as he felt you had to be precise with your fingering or else you get fret buzz.

There is no reason not to go fretless. So much flexability. Great sound too.
Click to expand...

I see FL helps FR and vice versa. Yeah, he practiced on a P neck so he would fly on a J. I have FL's but need to play them more.

Thanks Alot!

Edit: Just whipped out 2 FL's and practiced away..thanks!
 
#71
tlr1293 said:
Seriously though:
Gibson L-9S Ripper?

...and Fender Jazz FL.
Click to expand...

Exact.. The first one is a 1978 Gibson L-9S "The Ripper" Fretless but...

The last one is a Frankenstein Bass of mine... It reads Fender but it isn't... I call her "The Shadow"
1978 Frankenstein Jazz Bass made out with a body made in Argentina (FAIM brand name). Neck (unknown brand name) Ebony Fingerboard.
BLACK IS COOL
What do you think about my All Black Franky?
All pictures of tis "Customization" in this linK:
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Some extra pictures:
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#72
Here's my current pair. I seem to be on a P bass trend lately.

TonyFranklin-1.jpg
PrecisionA-E.jpg
 
#77
Ok, you two. Break it up or I'm pulling over! Don't make me come back there! :eyebrow: :rollno:

I've gotta say, that Tony Franklin bass has turned out to be the most fun fretless bass I've had. It's got tons of tone and character and soundwise is the most flexible passive bass I've ever played. It took me a long time to find the strings that worked best on it for me (GHS Black Nylon Tape Wounds), but once I put those on, it came alive. It can be smooth and polite or in your face aggressive all just through changing your right hand position and dynamics. I think it's one of the best basses Fender has made in a long time and it's the first bass I reach for.
I just picked up the Precision A/E fretless and have been replacing the aged and anemic electronics. It's coming along nicely. Overall, it's a quality bass and plays well, it just needed some updating. It's my poor man's Rob Allen project.
 
#78
ric426 said:
Ok, you two. Break it up or I'm pulling over! Don't make me come back there! :eyebrow: :rollno:

I've gotta say, that Tony Franklin bass has turned out to be the most fun fretless bass I've had. It's got tons of tone and character and soundwise is the most flexible passive bass I've ever played. It took me a long time to find the strings that worked best on it for me (GHS Black Nylon Tape Wounds), but once I put those on, it came alive. It can be smooth and polite or in your face aggressive all just through changing your right hand position and dynamics. I think it's one of the best basses Fender has made in a long time and it's the first bass I reach for.
I just picked up the Precision A/E fretless and have been replacing the aged and anemic electronics. It's coming along nicely. Overall, it's a quality bass and plays well, it just needed some updating. It's my poor man's Rob Allen project.
Click to expand...

I now know what to do with my Fender 9120 Black Nylon Tape Wounds when they get here next week. I am putting them in my poor-man's TF, which has a DiMarzio DP126 pups. It should sound good as you say.
Cant wait...
 
#79
See avatar. :)
Fretless' I've also owned: RAL P-copy, a defretted AB-20(now owned by TBer Josh B), a Stambaugh 7 & 4, a Thumb BO-5, a Rebop 5 and I still own a butchered Hohn-berger as well as a fully-carved 3/4 German DB. I'm mediocre at best on any of these. Number, please. :cool:
 
#80
ric426 said:
I've gotta say, that Tony Franklin bass has turned out to be the most fun fretless bass I've had. It's got tons of tone and character and soundwise is the most flexible passive bass I've ever played. It took me a long time to find the strings that worked best on it for me (GHS Black Nylon Tape Wounds), but once I put those on, it came alive. It can be smooth and polite or in your face aggressive all just through changing your right hand position and dynamics. I think it's one of the best basses Fender has made in a long time and it's the first bass I reach for.
Click to expand...

I checked out that T Franklin bass in a shop last week. Well described.
I missed a second volumepot though, that probably had to do with my former PJ fretless. It allowed you to balance/mix the pickupoutput separately. The Franklin was kinda huge sounding compared to that.
 
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