Having to switch to flatwound strings. Not too big of a fan of how they sound and feel. I got used to it, but rounds will always be my preference as far as I can tell.
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What complications did you not expect when going fretless?
- Thread starter Sophi1023
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- bass fretless fretless bass
Sorry mate, I could have been more clear. My rounds were chewing threw my fingerboard so it was an easier option to switch to flats.
With good fretless technique that is rarely an issue. (How do you do your vibrato?) Yes, eventually there will be some wear marks, but in the 40 some years I've been playing fretless bass it never got to the point of needing to dress the board. Of course, avoiding rough feeling strings (for example, Rotosounds) make a big difference; D'Addario Xls work well (I have not tried many other brands on fretless basses, other than TI Jazz Rounds). As to the TIS, if you can get along with the very supple feel of them, I highly recommend those strings. Great tone and feel (to me) and they are very gentle on fretless fingerboards.
You called it; I used Rotos then. It was also a fretted conversion with a cheap board wood. I used vibrato the same way I would on a cello or double bass. It wasn't the best specimen of a fretless, but I enjoyed it for a couple of years. Ended up getting rid of it. Can't remember what the board was made of though.
Carpal tunnel syndrome. Made a 6 fretless, played relentlessly, f*cked myself up good.
That may be. If so, I've been lucky with release surgery on both palms. 100% cure.
A friend of mine had the surgery on both hands. He can play, but nowhere like he could pre-surgery, even with the pain he was feeling.
He did. I know you're trying to convince us that CTS is 100% correctable, but that is really not true.
I defretted my '59 Jazz (yes they were released in1960 but mine is dated 1959 on the neck so....) in the 70s during the Jaco craze. Now the issue is the old epoxy drying out, and rising up from the fret slot, resulting in an annoying little buzz.....easily remedied by filing with steel wool. Very tiny and intonation challenging on a Jazz neck up top. The hardest thing about playing my bass is NOT sounding like Jaco!
I'm only relating my own experience. I'd encourage others to seek professional assistance. Nothing to do with fretless, BTW
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Yep. Best way to fix sloppy/lazy Fretless technique is to practice playing scales while using a tuner. Develop some muscle memory of knowing where to put your fingers - it makes Fretless sooooo much easier & heaps more fun to play.
Original board and the dots were removed when it was de-fretted in the '70s
I briefly owned a Rob Allen MB2 4 string. Lovely sound and easy to play, a wonderful piece of kit, but sadly I was straying too far out of my comfort zone. No frets, no low B and, sadly, a lot less muscle memory than I expected!! I made a reluctant executive decision and went back to fretted 5 string.
