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Thinking about getting a fretless...

funkybassist2001

funkybassist2001

Guest
Dec 23, 2014
52
15
London
#1
Hi,

I've been recently thinking about purchasing a fretless for the first time. I have my eye on the Warwick Steve Bailey Signature because 1. I absolutely love Steve Bailey on fretless 2. I love the sound of the instrument.
Since it is my first time, is there anything I should know? or any tips? or even had any experience with this particular bass?
 
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#2
I love fretless as well, so much so that I find myself constantly torn between which basses to pick up to practice with when I practice.

Fretless basses have a warmth & tone that obviously fretted basses just don't have. (nothing against them).

Also I love how certain fretless basses can really mimic the sound of a stand up bass, eliminating the need to own or lug one around.

Even though all of the experts (including Mr. Clarke himself) will tell you that playing a stand up is the most sure fire way to get really good (for all basses, electric or not).

Of course I would advise you "not" to spend a lot of money on your first fretless the same way I'm sure you heard that when you got your first fretted bass. What's a lot of money............only you know that as it's relative to what you make or what you feel your worth.

Others will undoubtedly tell you to spend a lot the first time out, and be done with it.

I would definitely recommend you get one but I have no tips or pointers in terms of technique because that's the other beautiful thing about fretless basses.....it truly is a personal relationship between you & the bass. It's all about touch, finger pressure, sensitivity, and "feel" with fretless.

"You" have to feel it, and connect with it..................

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.....
 
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#3
Haven't seen this posted for while - time for another appearance...
Delirium Fretlesscylius | TalkBass.com

That's not just a fretless, it's a 6-string unlined fretless - that's a big commitment.
(I don't know your current experience level...)
Expect a steep learning curve for real proficiency.
My advice is commit and make the leap if you have the patience and dedication.
I did. (My unlined fretless 6 is a Roscoe, but that's a minor detail...
Somewhere, I have a photo, courtesy the bass' prior owner, of Steve Bailey playing my bass...)
Don't expect to be playing chords like Steve Bailey any time soon.
It's been my sole instrument for about a year and a half and I'm getting decent, but I'm still just at the beginning of being able to play consistent double-stops in tune.
Fretless is all about ear training, and the more tones you are trying to intonate at once, the harder it gets.
It is not an "easy" instrument, but it is one you will never outgrow.

(Addendum: I see you have a cello background. You'll be fine.)
 
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#4
Neveragain55 said:
I love fretless as well, so much so that I find myself constantly torn between which basses to pick up to practice with when I practice.

Fretless basses have a warmth & tone that obviously fretted basses just don't have. (nothing against them).

Also I love how certain fretless basses can really mimic the sound of a stand up bass, eliminating the need to own or lug one around.

Even though all of the experts (including Mr. Clarke himself) will tell you that playing a stand up is the most sure fire way to get really good (for all basses, electric or not).

Of course I would advise you "not" to spend a lot of money on your first fretless the same way I'm sure you heard that when you got your first fretted bass. What's a lot of money............only you know that as it's relative to what you make or what you feel your worth.

Others will undoubtedly tell you to spend a lot the first time out, and be done with it.

I would definitely recommend you get one but I have no tips or pointers in terms of technique because that's the other beautiful thing about fretless basses.....it truly is a personal relationship between you & the bass. It's all about touch, finger pressure, sensitivity, and "feel" with fretless.

"You" have to feel it, and connect with it..................

Good luck in whatever you decide to do.....
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the advice, I really value your opinion. :thumbsup:
 
#5
ArtechnikA said:
Haven't seen this posted for while - time for another appearance...
Delirium Fretlesscylius | TalkBass.com

That's not just a fretless, it's a 6-string unlined fretless - that's a big commitment.
(I don't know your current experience level...)
Expect a steep learning curve for real proficiency.
My advice is commit and make the leap if you have the patience and dedication.
I did. (My unlined fretless 6 is a Roscoe, but that's a minor detail...
Somewhere, I have a photo, courtesy the bass' prior owner, of Steve Bailey playing my bass...)
Don't expect to be playing chords like Steve Bailey any time soon.
It's been my sole instrument for about a year and a half and I'm getting decent, but I'm still just at the beginning of being able to play consistent double-stops in tune.
Fretless is all about ear training, and the more tones you are trying to intonate at once, the harder it gets.
It is not an "easy" instrument, but it is one you will never outgrow.

(Addendum: I see you have a cello background. You'll be fine.)
Click to expand...

Yeah I do, I'm no stranger to ear training and precise pitch (don't mean to brag or anything) :p
Wow that's amazing that Steve Bailey once owned it, I don't think I'll be able to imitate his sort of technique anytime soon but I'm sure if I do enough practice, I'll be on my way.

Thank you again for the great advice and I value what you have to say because I've never really tried fretless and it's made me feel a lot more confident in terms of having the dedication and commitment to have a go.

Happy Bass Playing! :bassist:
 
#6
funkybassist2001 said:
I'm no stranger to ear training and precise pitch (don't mean to brag or anything)
Click to expand...
No point in having false modesty if you have a demonstrated skill.

Wow that's amazing that Steve Bailey once owned it...
Click to expand...
Need to correct this impression I mistakenly created... Steve didn't own the bass, but he was a teacher for the prior owner and played the instrument in the course of instruction. It's still a pretty cool picture ;-)
 
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#9
funkybassist2001 said:
Hi,

I've been recently thinking about purchasing a fretless for the first time. I have my eye on the Warwick Steve Bailey Signature because 1. I absolutely love Steve Bailey on fretless 2. I love the sound of the instrument.
Since it is my first time, is there anything I should know? or any tips? or even had any experience with this particular bass?
Click to expand...

I once traded off a bass for a Killer fretless Warwick.

Except...

It had a fingerboard flat as a tabletop. With every other bass I own having a radius fingerboard I just could not get used to this at all. Sold it, which was a shame because everything else about it was just darn excellent.
 
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#10
My first fretless was a $300 Brice new
I hated it so much I traded it with a flight case even up to a,4x10 Harte XL and drove 100 miles round trip to do it.
Then I went to this and love it.
be carful
20150228_202428.jpg
 
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#14
It sounds like you are going for this without actually having played the Warwick? Personally have always actually played every instrument I've ever owned before I bought them. Playability and how it feels in my hands comes top of the list with any other considerations up for negotiation - to the point where I can learn to live with anything if the vibe or muse is there.
If you are new to F/L you MUST get your hands on as many different instruments from as many brands/makers as possible. Don't set your mind to a particular model or make/brand just because your hero plays one. In particular, as you currently play 'fender-style instruments, I can guarantee you will find the Warwick is a very different beast - even more so without frets. £1,400 is a big ticket to find that it is not what you thought it would be.
 
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#15
First I want to say, don't think about if you want to buy a fretless to start playin fretless bass, just BUY ONE! THEY'RE AWESOME!

BUT... I wouldn't drop buko bucks on a fretless until you actually get familiar with what it's like to play one.

My first fretless was a b-stock MIM jazz that actually kinda sucked. But I learned the ropes of playing fretless on it, then got rid of it because I really didn't like the bass. It wasn't til years later (this year, to be exact) that I got another fretless. It is a modulus and I love it. It has everything the mexi fender didn't have and then some. It is a joy to play.

I picked up how to play normal stuff on a fretless rather fast, personally. Very light learning curve, just sorta different technique. But in that light, I think that if you don't already play a similar 6 string bass, do not jump into playing a fretless 6er from normally playing a fender jazz or something. I already owned a modulus vj4 before I got my vj4 fretless, so I knew I'd almost certainly be comfortable with it.

I consider my fretless worth every penny of the investment.
 
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#16
SteveCS said:
It sounds like you are going for this without actually having played the Warwick? Personally have always actually played every instrument I've ever owned before I bought them. Playability and how it feels in my hands comes top of the list with any other considerations up for negotiation - to the point where I can learn to live with anything if the vibe or muse is there.
If you are new to F/L you MUST get your hands on as many different instruments from as many brands/makers as possible. Don't set your mind to a particular model or make/brand just because your hero plays one. In particular, as you currently play 'fender-style instruments, I can guarantee you will find the Warwick is a very different beast - even more so without frets. £1,400 is a big ticket to find that it is not what you thought it would be.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I'll take that into consideration. What would you recommend? :help:
 
#17
Ballin'bass said:
First I want to say, don't think about if you want to buy a fretless to start playin fretless bass, just BUY ONE! THEY'RE AWESOME!

BUT... I wouldn't drop buko bucks on a fretless until you actually get familiar with what it's like to play one.

My first fretless was a b-stock MIM jazz that actually kinda sucked. But I learned the ropes of playing fretless on it, then got rid of it because I really didn't like the bass. It wasn't til years later (this year, to be exact) that I got another fretless. It is a modulus and I love it. It has everything the mexi fender didn't have and then some. It is a joy to play.

I picked up how to play normal stuff on a fretless rather fast, personally. Very light learning curve, just sorta different technique. But in that light, I think that if you don't already play a similar 6 string bass, do not jump into playing a fretless 6er from normally playing a fender jazz or something. I already owned a modulus vj4 before I got my vj4 fretless, so I knew I'd almost certainly be comfortable with it.

I consider my fretless worth every penny of the investment.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I may have set my hopes a little too high. I'll try to look for something cheaper before I get used to the feel of a fretless. Thank you though :p
 
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