302. Basstard79
303. HalfManHalfBass
304. basscheez
305. banditcosmo
306. Elrend
307. labrat
308. Pedulla?
309. VroomVroom
310. akmusicfreak
Sorry, I was away from my computer for while. That's a big stack of new entries for one week.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Fretless Club
- Thread starter JaySeeDoubleYou
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club
- Status
302. Basstard79
303. HalfManHalfBass
304. basscheez
305. banditcosmo
306. Elrend
307. labrat
308. Pedulla?
309. VroomVroom
310. akmusicfreak
Sorry, I was away from my computer for while. That's a big stack of new entries for one week.
Count me in as a new member of the club!
I'm pretty much a beginner, and I currently use an SX SJB and a Jay Turser violin bass at the moment for learning and jamming.
I bought a Rogue LX200BF for my introduction to fretless bass. I'm not terribly wealthy, so I had to go the cheap route. These seem to have pretty good reviews for a budget instrument, so I went for it. Along with the bass, I ordered a set of Fender flats since I knew I was going to have to replace the strings anyway. I got the fretless bug after trying out my friend's Dean electric upright bass. He also has a 6-string fretless, but I wasn't too crazy about that one. The Dean was nice, but way out of my price range. I chose the Rogue over the Squier Vintage fretless because I like the look of the unlined fretboard, and the less traditional (less Fendery?) look of the Rogue.
The bass arrived in a beat-up cardboard box, and I was a bit anxious until I opened it up and found no damage. The only problem found after inspection was about 3" of the fretboard down by the nut pulling away from the neck. After testing all the controls (working fine), I removed the stock strings and the cheap hollow plastic nut. Got some wood glue in the gap and clamped it. After a day and a half I removed the clamp, cleaned the excess glue off, and glued the nut back on. If I keep this thing for a while, I may replace that nut.
I did some reading on setting up a fretless bass (thanks to this forum and other sources), put the Fender flats on there, and got it sounding pretty good after intonating as best I could. The Fender strings are slightly heavier than the very light stock roundwounds. I had to tighten the truss rod all the way to get the neck straight, which is OK I guess, but I am concerned that there's no more room for adjustment. The strings could probably go lower, but I think I'll have my friend take a look and see if it's shaping up correctly.
So yeah, I bought a cheap bass which probably should have been sent back as soon as I saw the fretboard problem. I'm always up for a challenge, however, and I'm pretty sure I fixed it well enough to move on and concentrate on learning how to play it.
BTW, any recommendations for lessons, books, music, etc. specifically for fretless bass?
I'm pretty much a beginner, and I currently use an SX SJB and a Jay Turser violin bass at the moment for learning and jamming.
I bought a Rogue LX200BF for my introduction to fretless bass. I'm not terribly wealthy, so I had to go the cheap route. These seem to have pretty good reviews for a budget instrument, so I went for it. Along with the bass, I ordered a set of Fender flats since I knew I was going to have to replace the strings anyway. I got the fretless bug after trying out my friend's Dean electric upright bass. He also has a 6-string fretless, but I wasn't too crazy about that one. The Dean was nice, but way out of my price range. I chose the Rogue over the Squier Vintage fretless because I like the look of the unlined fretboard, and the less traditional (less Fendery?) look of the Rogue.
The bass arrived in a beat-up cardboard box, and I was a bit anxious until I opened it up and found no damage. The only problem found after inspection was about 3" of the fretboard down by the nut pulling away from the neck. After testing all the controls (working fine), I removed the stock strings and the cheap hollow plastic nut. Got some wood glue in the gap and clamped it. After a day and a half I removed the clamp, cleaned the excess glue off, and glued the nut back on. If I keep this thing for a while, I may replace that nut.
I did some reading on setting up a fretless bass (thanks to this forum and other sources), put the Fender flats on there, and got it sounding pretty good after intonating as best I could. The Fender strings are slightly heavier than the very light stock roundwounds. I had to tighten the truss rod all the way to get the neck straight, which is OK I guess, but I am concerned that there's no more room for adjustment. The strings could probably go lower, but I think I'll have my friend take a look and see if it's shaping up correctly.
So yeah, I bought a cheap bass which probably should have been sent back as soon as I saw the fretboard problem. I'm always up for a challenge, however, and I'm pretty sure I fixed it well enough to move on and concentrate on learning how to play it.
BTW, any recommendations for lessons, books, music, etc. specifically for fretless bass?
the redheaded stepchild of TB and the fretless singlecut community
my wish....
and to prove that they are playable......
my wish....
and to prove that they are playable......
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,120
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Vroom - that Sonus SC is a monster. I played one like it, but it was gone when I was looking... I love the way the mahogany comes through in the tone.
Still, I'm loving my Special and it does indeed play and sound "all that".
Your Roscoe is a beauty, too, for sure.
Still, I'm loving my Special and it does indeed play and sound "all that".
Your Roscoe is a beauty, too, for sure.
May I join? Here's my latest acquisition. Gorgeous, insanely playable, and sounds great though my MarkBass combo. Pete Hilton is a current builder for Carl Thompson, and is just starting to go out on his own. I took a chance on this one, and bought it from Brian Barrett at The Low End. Strung E to C, I just upgraded the strings to a set of Thomastik-Infled flats and I couldn't be happier!
). What do you have?
I'm in! Years ago I played upright. I just started playing again, and I have a Douglas WVEB Violin Bass VS Fretless.
What do you think of the fretless Douglas? I'm trying to decide if I want to get one or a fretless P or J from Rondo. No matter what I pick I'm joining the club though.
I have to wait for pictures as I'm getting my fingerboard re-finished. I get my baby back on the 15th of December. Once I get it back I'll post photos.
I have a 1980 Rickenbacker 4001 Fretless in Chestnut. My icon is not a picture of my actual bass, but it is basically an identical model.
What's cool about it is that Rickenbacker didn't add Fretless basses to their official line-up until 1984. Prior to that whatever fretlesses they produced were custom orders. I'm trying to figure out just how rare a pre-1984 Fretless is but I don't have a real answer yet.
Anyway its a beautiful bass. Personally I like the fretless more because of how it plays vs. how it sounds. ie: as more of a hard rock bassist (who will have fun with Jazz when with the right people) I don't do a whole lot of sliding and what not. I have the fretless because I simply prefer playing a fretless. I can take the action down even lower and I have that much more control over the notes and how they're played.
I have a 1980 Rickenbacker 4001 Fretless in Chestnut. My icon is not a picture of my actual bass, but it is basically an identical model.
What's cool about it is that Rickenbacker didn't add Fretless basses to their official line-up until 1984. Prior to that whatever fretlesses they produced were custom orders. I'm trying to figure out just how rare a pre-1984 Fretless is but I don't have a real answer yet.
Anyway its a beautiful bass. Personally I like the fretless more because of how it plays vs. how it sounds. ie: as more of a hard rock bassist (who will have fun with Jazz when with the right people) I don't do a whole lot of sliding and what not. I have the fretless because I simply prefer playing a fretless. I can take the action down even lower and I have that much more control over the notes and how they're played.
I really like it. The sound is a lot like I'm used to hearing from an upright - very mellow. The body is somewhat smaller and the neck slightly narrower, which is a lot more comfortable for me than the Ibanez I had before was (I'm a 5'4" woman with small hands!).
Quote:
Originally Posted by pringlw http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6614480#post6614480
I have the fretless because I simply prefer playing a fretless. I can take the action down even lower and I have that much more control over the notes and how they're played.
Absolutely! I have never played a more in-tune instrument then a fretless bass.
- Status
