That is one fine fretless. If I were to acquire a Spector, an NS4 or NS5 is the model I would want too.
Just beautiful!
MM
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Thinking about getting a fretless...
- Thread starter funkybassist2001
- Start date
That is one fine fretless. If I were to acquire a Spector, an NS4 or NS5 is the model I would want too.
Just beautiful!
MM
Thank You very much, I was very lucky to purchase this Spector from PJ Rubal (VP of Spector) and Todd Cooke (Guitar House of Tulsa) at last years Spector Hang event....getting ready to practice using it in a few minutes!That is one fine fretless. If I were to acquire a Spector, an NS4 or NS5 is the model I would want too.
Just beautiful!
MM
When I first desired a fretless, I just purchased one and also purchased another bass and had it converted to fretless. I owned my first fretless (unlined) for one day and played a gig with it that night without a hitch. Fretless bass is easy to play. EBMM makes a full line of fretless basses in 4, 5 or 6 string versions and now, even neck through models.
You should consider the SX fretless basses. SX Ursa 6-string Jazz bass | TalkBass.com
A lot of people like them and they are easy to resell if you wind up moving on. I have both a fretted and a fretless SX 6 string and while they don't compare to my customs, they are good basses. You should be able to determine if fretless is for you by spending some time on one of these.
Good luck.
A lot of people like them and they are easy to resell if you wind up moving on. I have both a fretted and a fretless SX 6 string and while they don't compare to my customs, they are good basses. You should be able to determine if fretless is for you by spending some time on one of these.
Good luck.
I like fretless a lot. My first was a mim fender jazz. I sold it am I'm on the lookout for the right 5(I might just wait and save up for a Fretless stingray because to me they are the ultimate fretless tone)
The warwick you mentioned is a nice bass. But I do have to say for you're first fretless it's pretty expensive. Expensive fretlesses lose a ton of value of you decide to sell it because there's just not as big of a market for fretless basses.
I have two fretless basses: a Warwick Corvette standard and a Fender P (late 70s). I can't speak to the Steve Bailey Signature as I've never played one, but my Corvette was the first of the two listed I bought. I love it, but to be honest I really struggled when I first got it to not be off tune. Even now, when I go back to it from the fretted bases I usually play I have to kind of recalibrate myself. Prior to the Warwick I had never played any kind of fretless instrument, so you may have an easier time than me adjusting to it. I bought the Warwick without ever having played it (yeah... I know... bad idea, but I had the money a few years back and just wanted it). Maybe because of my better familiarity with the neck shape / overall bass design, but I find it a little easier to play the Fender P fretless. All in all, it's obviously a personal decision but I say go for it! I don't think you'll regret it. Best wishes!
I love the suggestion of SX basses but I'm based in the UK and I'll have to get it from the states. Thank you though
Well I have a p bass replica that I probably won't use as much when I get my hands on my Sire V7 but I like the R&B tone and the fat bassy sound that I get when I roll the tone knob off. Do you have a luthier you could recommend at all? Thanks
Try the Bass Gallery in Camden. They shot-in the board of my home de-fret Aria SB-1000 to a seriously slick level. The place is run by Martin Petersen who produces Sei basses.
They also have a huuge range of basses in stock, so you could try a few options. According to their website they don't have a fretless Warwick 6 in stock, but they do have a fretted one. That ought to enable you to see if the general neck profile suits you.
Top Tip: If you go up there, make sure you have their 'phone number as they *sometimes* don't hear the door buzzer.
Pete.
Suggestion: Learn to play with your ears - not your eyes. That means don't become too dependent upon the fret lines (if you have them), or even the fret markers. Playing the fretless well requires one to hear tiny variations in the intonation of each note, then make the necessary micro-corrections on the fly - consistently and accurately. Develop your ear!
I once read an interview with the late Mick Karn in which he claimed to have not even tuned any of his fretless basses in years. So finely-calibrated was his pitch recognition that he allegedly didn't even need the string itself to be tuned to its correct pitch, in order to find his notes! That's hard for me to believe, but if it's true it certainly illustrates something about the power of a well-developed ear.
MM
Michael-
When you get the chance get on you tube and watch some of Mick's live performances. You will be astounded to how good his ears were. I've seen only one time he even looked at the neck of his bass. Amazing. Sleepers Awake is my fav.
I don't think I would ever sell it!
I sent eastcoasteddie some shots of my G&L. I did not post them here because I don't want to hyjack the thread, but if you want to see them I will post them here. Just let me know.
Duke
I have in fact seen a number of Mick's live performances on YouTube. Now that you mention it, I can't recall a single time when I've noticed that he actually looked at the neck.
MM
The Tony Franklin basses, both fretted and fretless, are gorgeous Precisions with great chunky necks. Needless to say, the P/J setup is a great one for fretless. Highly recommended model based on my
experience playing several of them over the years at Truetone Music in Santa Monica, CA.
I have an Ibanez SR500F--and love it.
I love playing fretless.
I was afraid to try it for sometime, but I played one at a store out of curiousity--and while it was a while before I actually bought one, that started my journey.
Lots of good tips here.
The main thing I find, is to listen & build up good muscle memory for where to play the notes.
I did slide a lot at first--but I warned people I'd be overdoing it at first--and it helps learn the neck as well.
I love playing fretless.
I was afraid to try it for sometime, but I played one at a store out of curiousity--and while it was a while before I actually bought one, that started my journey.
Lots of good tips here.
The main thing I find, is to listen & build up good muscle memory for where to play the notes.
I did slide a lot at first--but I warned people I'd be overdoing it at first--and it helps learn the neck as well.
I would suggest getting a relatively inexpensive fretless.
Just in case you decide that you can't conquer it,it won't be an expensive failure.
Buy a more expensive one after you get your "Wings"
Just in case you decide that you can't conquer it,it won't be an expensive failure.
Buy a more expensive one after you get your "Wings"
If you doing it for the first time yourself you either need a fall-back plan (e.g. do it to an unimportant instrument you can afford to mess up or have a spare neck for) or you do it to an instrument that has so much risk attached that the adrenaline sees you through!! In all seriousness, I did it myself because I had very little money at the time and could not see the point in paying someone to do something I thought looked easy. Now I know it is not easy, but at the same time it is not 'black art'.Wow, a lot of experience! Can I ask a question? What would say is better: taking off the frets yourself? or going to a local luthier? Thanks
To your question : I enjoy working on guitars at any level, so personally I would do it again. If you don't enjoy working on guitars generally, I would go to someone who does...
Just don't skimp on playability.
Soem people would consider my fretless cheap--some wouldn't--but it plays great.
