TO GO FRETLESS OR NOT?

[bassdude51]

Fretless is fun. It is challenging. Fretless sounds a wee bit off with the tuning. It has a natural and/or organic sound. It takes some extra concentration to play fretless. It may not be a good choice for Hard Rock or Rock n Roll. YMMV.

Finally, fretless is not easy to play. Takes extra effort.

Get a "cheapie" and give it a try. Ask JRA.

 

[Sid Fang]

I see several rather different sensible courses of action:

1) Get yourself a GOOD aftermarket fretless neck, e.g. Status Graphite, for one of your basses. It will still be under your price threshold, and if it doesn't work for you, you can resell it with minimum depreciation.

2) Get yourself a Squier VM Jazz Fretless. Sure value for money, and you know you like Jazz basses and necks. You may take a hit on resale, but it's a percentage applied to a relatively small number.

3) Find a reputable fretless used somewhere (e.g. TalkBass Classifieds). The more open you are in terms of makes and models, the more sense this makes. This is what I did, years ago, pre-e-commerce. I wasn't looking for a Music Man Sabre, I was looking for a decent fretless, and the Sabre was the first really nice deal that came up. If you're patient, you should be able to resell it for what it cost you - or more - if it doesn't work out.

 

[7dollarbologna]

I am in a project band that has a couple of songs that the bassline was definitely recorded on a fretless bass. I don't have one in my collection of 3 electric basses. Is there a decent, under $500.00 fretless bass out there? Or should I take one of my current basses and buy a fretless neck for a conversion?

What I have right now are: Fender American Vintage reissue "75 Jazz Bass: New(ish) MIJ Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass; and a New Fender Vintera Precision Bass.

Personally, I don't want to change any of them, each has it's own feel, and sound. The only neck I am not in love with is the Vintera, it's finish on the edges is a little rough? I'd like to round the fret edges and even possibly the fingerboard top a little. Both my Jazz Basses have beautiful slim necks that play like butter. The Aerodyne with the P-J pups is killer punchy and rings with pure intonation and clarity in the higher registers. The Vintage reissue is just amazingly Jazz Bass perfect in every way. I guess I am convincing myself to not change any but to find a fretless to add to the collection.

Any suggestions around the size of the stimulus check?

Thanks,

John

Get a Squier

 

[Killing Floor]

I began my musical career i.e. learning on violin, so I understand intonation and natural vibrato, it will just be on a larger scale than that 10" neck! LOL

Thanks for the good advice of practicing with a tuner.

John

Started on violas well. Still pick it up sometimes. Just go at fretless without any worry. It’s the same as fretted. Just scoot your hand up a little!

 

[rylie]

A Fender player since 1976. A few years back, Squire introduced a "Jaco knock-off" fretless Jazz. At the time, no other brand could match the combination of playability and price. I bought a new one and was immediately hooked. First take-away with this bass was learning the vulnerability of the Ebanol fretboard. From my experience, rounds, played aggressively on this fretboard, ate it up. Not good. The solution was TI flats. Problem solved. Plus, flats on a fretless is butter under your fingers. Just glide. No speed bumps (frets). These same basses are now somewhat mainstream and can be found used for $300 +/- depending on condition. My advise, if you buy, make a close fretboard inspection.

 

[Koshchei]

I was making a recommendation to someone who does not play fretless regularly. Fretless has a way of making us think we are more in tune than we are. Recording in the studio is bad time to find out your intonation is lacking.

Great point, Dr. Cheese!

I'd recommend practicing with a long delay as a way to develop solid fretless intonation. As long as you have a reasonably good ear, the tails of the previous note will provide context for the current note's relative in- or out-ness.

Another good way to develop intonation is to sing an interval and improvise over and under it.

 

[rtslinger]

If you are going to use it sure why not. I played a Double bass in my youth and thought i wanted a fretless
bass guitar, but I guess for me once you have played upright, the guitar just isn't going to give you that "something" you get from the acoustic instrument, so I passed on it. Maybe someday I will buy a DB who knows, either way do what works best for you and your situation RTS

 

[nonohmic]

I'm always torn by this. I understand getting a cheap a$$ instrument until you know if you'll like it. But a cheap a$$ bass may give you the wrong impression as well - especially fretless. Why not spend a little more for something decent that will give you a good playing experience. If you do indeed decide it isn't for you, you can sell it with maybe more success than a really cheap bass? Maybe not. But if you like it you will already have a decent bass to continue with.

This is also a good point. I got a good deal on my Jaco sig, and prob wouldn't take too much of a hit if I decide to pass it on. Which ain't happening btw.

 

[Bassnkeys]

Nope. Getting a fretless just for a few setlist songs is not necessary. Audience will not even notice or care. I love my two fretless basses — even bought a Rob Allen ($$) to try and emulate an upright for traditional jazz. I love it. Asked Berklee jazz ensemble leader if he noticed a difference between that and my other basses. Nope. I geek out over this stuff as much as the next guy (my tone, my flat wound and tape wound string choices, scale length, 4 versus 5’ers, fretless versus fretted). No one really hears it the way we think they do (or hope they do) in the live band mix. Get a fretless for fun and to enjoy a new playing experience – but I would not let the tail wag the dog just for a few songs if you’re not really that excited about it.

 

[Fretless370]

Consider the Ibanez SR370EF - should be easily in that price range, and it's a lovely instrument.
Sire's probably worth a look as well, if you're reluctant to stray too far from the Fender blueprint.

+1 THIS!! I have the SR370F and the SR375F. Love the fast necks! You should be able to pick up a 4 string for $300 +/- and a 5'er for about $50 more. The SR500F is also another good choice for about $400

 

[Blankandson]

Cheap fretless? Glarry.
Fretless that punches above its weight? Glarry.

But unlined 'boards only, and the side dots are in the wrong place. That latter will have to be corrected.

Not trying to derail the OP but I'm not sure what you are referring to. (I've never even held a fretless) Are the side dots in the middle of the area where frets would normally be? Or are they on the actual line where frets would be. If the bass is tuned using the side dots then all of the notes (except open) should still be in tune. Am I making any sense? The side dots either way should be good to tune with. (Again I've no idea. Help me Obi Wan) I don't desire one but my sister who lives just outside of Branson hears someone in one of the shows who uses fretless and she wants me to get one.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I do want to go fretless but can's afford to spend over $500.00

John

@JRA, here has a lot of experience with fretless basses and he likes them cheap. For $500 you could have five.

 

[godofthunder59]

I bought my son a used entry level Yamaha fretless for $150 and it is a killer bass even at retail price I would highly recommend it.

 

[lordradish]

I am in a project band that has a couple of songs that the bassline was definitely recorded on a fretless bass. I don't have one in my collection of 3 electric basses. Is there a decent, under $500.00 fretless bass out there? Or should I take one of my current basses and buy a fretless neck for a conversion?

What I have right now are: Fender American Vintage reissue "75 Jazz Bass: New(ish) MIJ Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass; and a New Fender Vintera Precision Bass.

Personally, I don't want to change any of them, each has it's own feel, and sound. The only neck I am not in love with is the Vintera, it's finish on the edges is a little rough? I'd like to round the fret edges and even possibly the fingerboard top a little. Both my Jazz Basses have beautiful slim necks that play like butter. The Aerodyne with the P-J pups is killer punchy and rings with pure intonation and clarity in the higher registers. The Vintage reissue is just amazingly Jazz Bass perfect in every way. I guess I am convincing myself to not change any but to find a fretless to add to the collection.

Any suggestions around the size of the stimulus check?

Thanks,

John

Something you should only do if you really want to. If you do really want to, be ready to put the time in to getting your intonation down and get some good fingering techniques down, too. So worth it. But not just to play a few songs in a band.

 

[groovepump]

I do want to go fretless but can's afford to spend over $500.00

John

Squier fretless jazz, "new" on Sweetwater at $399. Unless you "really" have a NEED for fretless, don't bother. Create your own sound on "that" song with a fretted bass. I own 2 fretless: A de-fretted ibanez 4-string, and a Glary fretless P-bass that I installed Fender pick-up and La Bella nylon tape wounds on. Total cost was under $200 but took some time for the mods. It's my favourite bass now. The Glary fingerboard feels nice, has a lot of 'mwah". Has a bit of neck dive that I'm willing to ignore. If you go the Glary route, you'll find the position dots on the neck are located for a fretted bass. You'll want to black them out and apply your own markers if you need them.

 

[JRA]

@JRA, here has a lot of experience with fretless basses and he likes them cheap. For $500 you could have five.

yowza!


i could probably get one really good one ($500). FWIW: i've listed my axes and their respective costs: they average about $500, the most expensive is ~$680, IIRC.

 

[Ed Goode]

Not trying to derail the OP but I'm not sure what you are referring to. (I've never even held a fretless) Are the side dots in the middle of the area where frets would normally be? Or are they on the actual line where frets would be. If the bass is tuned using the side dots then all of the notes (except open) should still be in tune. Am I making any sense? The side dots either way should be good to tune with. (Again I've no idea. Help me Obi Wan) I don't desire one but my sister who lives just outside of Branson hears someone in one of the shows who uses fretless and she wants me to get one.

When playing an A on the E string on a fretless, you need to place your finger in the place the 4th fret would normally physically reside, right on the 4th fret position. The dot marker for the 5th fret (position) would be below where you need to place your finger to be in tune. Most fretless basses adjust the position of the dots to correspond with the location of the frets, namely right on the fret line. Cheap basses use a fretted neck blank and don’t bother to adjust the dot locations.

 

[Element Zero]

Good advice. It doesn't sound like the OP has the desire to be the next Jaco and playing in tune takes more practice than most realize.

No one says if you want to play fretless you have to be the next Jaco.

 

[Thomas998]

No one says if you want to play fretless you have to be the next Jaco.

If you look at what the OP said, it doesn't look like he is really wanting fretless beyond the need of one in a couple of songs.

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I do want to go fretless but can's afford to spend over $500.00

John

Then don't. if you want to try it then go cheap and see if its for you or not.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas...SXQl-XGmvfU_2pmwVTEP3Cch98ehlziRoCJpoQAvD_BwE