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The whole fretless thing..
- Thread starter mr.mow
- Start date
I just sold my fretless last weekend.
When my P was stolen in 1980, I replaced it with a new Ibanez Musician fretless.
I enjoyed playing it and it was bit of a novelty at the time. (This was still only four years after Jaco's debut album).
Eventually I stopped playing altogether and sold most of my gear including the Ibanez.
Several years later when I started playing again, I bought an old beat up MIJ Fender fretless.
I would occasionally take it out and play it at home and even played out with it a couple of times, but it just wasn't happening for me.
I've realized that I have so much other stuff to work on without having to worry about intonation.
And frankly, I just don't dig the sound that much anymore.
When my P was stolen in 1980, I replaced it with a new Ibanez Musician fretless.
I enjoyed playing it and it was bit of a novelty at the time. (This was still only four years after Jaco's debut album).
Eventually I stopped playing altogether and sold most of my gear including the Ibanez.
Several years later when I started playing again, I bought an old beat up MIJ Fender fretless.
I would occasionally take it out and play it at home and even played out with it a couple of times, but it just wasn't happening for me.
I've realized that I have so much other stuff to work on without having to worry about intonation.
And frankly, I just don't dig the sound that much anymore.
For some people it is that, and the OP was asking the general community how many people see it that way.
I played my first fretless exclusively for 6-8 months until I (re)discovered P basses three years ago. I sold the fretless, but bought another one a few months ago, a Mexican Jazz, because I was lining up a gig for which a fretless would have been perfect. I like using it doing duo trips with an acoustic guitar player who also sings - old time country, countrified rock and pop tunes from the 70s and 80s. Lots of fun. No gigs yet, but lots of fun. My P bass is exclusively used for my main gig still though.
My time seems to be around 70% Fretted and 30% Fretless, if it's going to get used for a lot of stuff, I spend a few weeks on intonation and spanning, one of the benefits for me is that it helps me get out of fretted rut's, I discover things harmonically that I wouldn't have considered/played on a fretted bass, takes me out of the zone for a while.
I think there's a certain mystique and a plethora of myths surrounding the fretless. To an extent, I think there are a lot of bassists who have a fretless as if it's some sort of bucket list item to have if you're a bassist.
I still play more fretless than fretted, but at one point, I was exclusively fretless for a couple years.
To be honest, if I slack on practicing, I don't find that I lost a lot on fretted instruments. On fretless instruments, the lack of woodshed becomes much more evident. Without dedicated fretless practice, it's easy to lose fretless skills. It's much less forgiving than fretted basses, which is probably why most fretless basses collect dust.
I still play more fretless than fretted, but at one point, I was exclusively fretless for a couple years.
To be honest, if I slack on practicing, I don't find that I lost a lot on fretted instruments. On fretless instruments, the lack of woodshed becomes much more evident. Without dedicated fretless practice, it's easy to lose fretless skills. It's much less forgiving than fretted basses, which is probably why most fretless basses collect dust.
Rickett Customs
Commercial User
Fretlesses? Nope, they get plenty of gigging from me, the only basses that gather a bit of dust are my 4 strings 
That is just why I enjoy playing fretless, I have to be more accurate so it stops me getting sloppy which as you say you can get away with on fretted. In fact it is the norm otherwise there would not be so many gathering dust.
I have three fretless and three fretted, but two of the three fretless are uprights. Only one of those sees any gigging and it's used for slap upright in a rockabilly band. The three electrics are sitting together in a stand and for practice I randomly grab whatever feels right and start in. I think the fretless (jazz bass) is just different from fretted basses not only in terms of tone, but how I approach it and use it.
If I had unlimited money, sure I'd get another fretless. How many basses do you need before something starts to gather dust? A couple more purchases and it might be my relationship with my wife!
If I had unlimited money, sure I'd get another fretless. How many basses do you need before something starts to gather dust? A couple more purchases and it might be my relationship with my wife!
Count me in. Bought an SX fretless P-Bass in January (Christmas cash) and I really don't use it. At all. To each their own!
Well these post I find all a bit odd.....
What music you do does not define the music you do.... I mean the music played by The Police was not fretless Bass music, but that's what Sting played....
I rather like Jaco's quote, frets are just speed bumps...
I personally see a fretted just useful for when one needs to slap....
Other wise I would play a fretless for any kind of music.... You don't see many fretted DB's used for blue grass...... oh yes sorry that's a mando-bass.... but my point still stands.... DBs are fretless for whatever style they are used....
Play what turns you on for whatever music you want!
What music you do does not define the music you do.... I mean the music played by The Police was not fretless Bass music, but that's what Sting played....
I rather like Jaco's quote, frets are just speed bumps...
I personally see a fretted just useful for when one needs to slap....
Other wise I would play a fretless for any kind of music.... You don't see many fretted DB's used for blue grass...... oh yes sorry that's a mando-bass.... but my point still stands.... DBs are fretless for whatever style they are used....
Play what turns you on for whatever music you want!
My fretless Corvette rarely sees daylight these day. It's a great bass, with a great tone that I fell in love with as soon as I first tried it.
I see the fretless as more of an 'effect' type of sound. There's a couple of tunes in my band that it would sound great on, but I'm a lazy sod too, and it's too much hassle to bring yet another bass along side my main bass and spare bass for just one or two tunes. Besides, I can't stand those dead breaks between songs whilst someone changes instruments and the dance floor begins to empty.
I see the fretless as more of an 'effect' type of sound. There's a couple of tunes in my band that it would sound great on, but I'm a lazy sod too, and it's too much hassle to bring yet another bass along side my main bass and spare bass for just one or two tunes. Besides, I can't stand those dead breaks between songs whilst someone changes instruments and the dance floor begins to empty.
- Aug 5, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
It depends. I play my fretless a lot at home, but I've only ever used it once for any live situation. I have another fretless that is in pieces right now as I wait for time to do my re-finish.
I don't feel that my intonation on it is good enough, yet. I'm wanting to incorporate it more, but as a full-time student, I have a hard time finding time to play, let alone devoting time to work on my intonation and learn to play the theremin.
I don't feel that my intonation on it is good enough, yet. I'm wanting to incorporate it more, but as a full-time student, I have a hard time finding time to play, let alone devoting time to work on my intonation and learn to play the theremin.
I have both a fretted and a fretless Fender Jazz and while the fretless goes through periods of dust gathering, I love the instrument.
I found it presented a whole new challenge when I first got it - more accuracy was required and I would just sit there and play it for hours on end just experimenting with slides and different tones, etc.
I prefer its neck to my fretted although it's only 1mm thinner not counting the frets. But that 1mm makes a difference in comfort to my hand. I've even considered sanding a 1mm off my fretted neck just to get that same feel.
For me playing fretless is a lot of fun and makes bass playing seem all brand new again. Lots of enthusiasm here. Sometimes I'll use it on a rock gig and nobody will notice, but I'm having a ball. The key is to get really accurate with it.
Otherwise it can stick out like a sore thumb.
I'd suggest dropping any pre-conceived notions about how it's supposed to sound, and just sit and get into the instrument. See if it will sing for you. Make it your own. Play what you already know on it and see how you can embellish it with the fretless sounds. It's great fun, I'm tellin' ya
I found it presented a whole new challenge when I first got it - more accuracy was required and I would just sit there and play it for hours on end just experimenting with slides and different tones, etc.
I prefer its neck to my fretted although it's only 1mm thinner not counting the frets. But that 1mm makes a difference in comfort to my hand. I've even considered sanding a 1mm off my fretted neck just to get that same feel.
For me playing fretless is a lot of fun and makes bass playing seem all brand new again. Lots of enthusiasm here. Sometimes I'll use it on a rock gig and nobody will notice, but I'm having a ball. The key is to get really accurate with it.
Otherwise it can stick out like a sore thumb.
I'd suggest dropping any pre-conceived notions about how it's supposed to sound, and just sit and get into the instrument. See if it will sing for you. Make it your own. Play what you already know on it and see how you can embellish it with the fretless sounds. It's great fun, I'm tellin' ya
Wow! Seriously?! You got offended because someone was asking if anyone else who owns a fretless doesn't play it as much as they might have expected they would?...Now, please log yourself in on the forum below and... open this very same thread...
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Wonder why that hit a nerve with you. Strange. Maybe it just doesn't take that much to get you upset, I guess.
I own a fretless. Sometimes I'll go a month and that's the only bass I'll play then go two or three months and not touch it at all
.
Wow! Seriously?! You got offended because someone was asking if anyone else who owns a fretless doesn't play it as much as the might has expected they would?
Wonder why that hit a nerve with you. Strange. Maybe it just doesn't take that much to get you upset, I guess.
That's nothing. Go over to the DB forum and ask for tips on learning to play URB. I've never seen so much indignation.
Some people who play challenging instruments develop lofty attitudes when lesser skilled players come around.
Frankly, I don't care for fretless. I'll stick with 4 strings, frets, and a design that looks like a Jazz. Give me a regular Jazz or PJ in a Jazz body and I'm happy.
You still in that coverband, Mow?
If so, just practice, at home, playing the tunes you know really well with the fretless. I spent about 8 months getting frustrated and angry and unhappy at my only instrument, beautiful as it was. One day I decided to stop mucking around and play it, not avoid it because it was challenging.
I take it to band practice, I play it at home. My intonation blows after the 7th fret, a lot of the time, but that's ok. I'm learning and it's a pleasure to play. My band doesn't mind that I miss the occasional note (don't we all?) and I'm definitely enjoying the bass more.
Someone told me that making a fretless sound fretted is possible, but you can't go the other way. Especially in lower registers it's easy enough to get rid of the fretless sound, so there are always options for using it in a band context.
I was shy and frightened about using fretless in a band: after all, my intonation was (and is) bad. But, you know what? They didn't care, and I can always simplify my playing to focus on particular notes and their intonation. I'm glad I didn't sit at home waiting to get better, playing the bass along to tracks, with people and never being wary of using it really helped, and is helping, my playing.
If so, just practice, at home, playing the tunes you know really well with the fretless. I spent about 8 months getting frustrated and angry and unhappy at my only instrument, beautiful as it was. One day I decided to stop mucking around and play it, not avoid it because it was challenging.
I take it to band practice, I play it at home. My intonation blows after the 7th fret, a lot of the time, but that's ok. I'm learning and it's a pleasure to play. My band doesn't mind that I miss the occasional note (don't we all?) and I'm definitely enjoying the bass more.
Someone told me that making a fretless sound fretted is possible, but you can't go the other way. Especially in lower registers it's easy enough to get rid of the fretless sound, so there are always options for using it in a band context.
I was shy and frightened about using fretless in a band: after all, my intonation was (and is) bad. But, you know what? They didn't care, and I can always simplify my playing to focus on particular notes and their intonation. I'm glad I didn't sit at home waiting to get better, playing the bass along to tracks, with people and never being wary of using it really helped, and is helping, my playing.
