What is your experience on fretless basses?

[Inara]

I do find it easier to play fretless, yes. Not for tapping, though back in the 90s I did woodshed to the point that all the tapping I was doing, I could do on fretless. Haven't tapped or slapped much in the last 20 years though. But I play fretless very nearly exclusively. I don't currently own a working fretted bass (I have a couple that are taken apart currently). I struggle when I switch back to fretted until I get used to the "speed bumps" again. And then when I pick my fretless up again, it's like I've come home.

 

[cnltb]

Anyone else remember those ~3-4 years in the late 70s/early 80s when a crap-ton of jobs did call for it?

It was just before the period when a crap-ton of jobs called for slapping, which preceded the period when a crap-ton of jobs called for a 5-string. (One could argue that we’re still in that period.)

Are you sugesting a renaissance fopr fretless jobs may be about to happen?

 

[kesslari]

Zon. Amazing fretless basses. My 5 string Zon is my main player by such a long shot that I could call it my only player and not be more than 2% wrong.
You can hear it on the tunes in my sig.

 

[GretschWretch]

Once I got passably good on fretless, I find it really hard to go back to fretted.

 

[mrcbass]

I own 2 5 strings (my jazz basses), one 6 string (up for sale) an acoustic 4 string and recently sold my Squier Jazz 4 string. If I didn't have to sing while playing, I wouldn't even own fretted - I hate all the fret noise. 6 strings is just too much for me - 5 is my number. I don't find them to be any harder than fretted, just different. I prefer the lines, but can manage on unlined (my acoustic is unlined).

My 5 strings are a Carvin LB75 and an ESP (don't remember the model). I love them both but the ESP is my first line bass - just because of the beautiful spalted maple top. The Carvin was probably more expensive (and they're now Kiesel). It was my first 5-string fretless purchased second hand - first one I found that met my pricing needs. I actively chose the ESP last year.

 

[baileyboy]

Had an FBB fretless that was one of the best sounding basses I've ever played, so kept it for a number of years. Hardly ever used it, never gigged with it, eventually sold it at a profit. I have always felt more comfortable playing with "speed bumps".

 

[John Stephen]

Do they make short-scale fretlesses?

 

[BooDoggie]

I picked up a used Ibanez SR-400 FR fretless from a local pawn shop for $175.00. I put about $25.00 into it to cleanup the wear on the fretboard caused by a very aggressive former owner that used roundwounds on it. I left the flats that were on it when I bought it and it plays great. I love it personally and wish that I had gotten one years ago...

 

[vvvmmm]

Do they make short-scale fretlesses?

I have a fretless Kala - don't get much shorter than that!
My preferred basses are headless Steinie-types; I have a Hohner BA2 with black-wraps that is so smoove, altho' I sometimes feel like I friction-burn my, eh, fretboard fingers.
I also have a MIJ Fender Jazz with a not-lacquered, not-epoxy'd Rosewood fretboard, and a fretless Taylor A/E.

Fretless is almost it's own sound, altho' it can sound close to reg'lar.

I've never used one on stage, but just for recording: I need side markers or dots, don't like lines.

Tip: I figured out how to play fretless by playing a P bass, then immediately going to the fretless jazz. By doing that, the muscle-memory had me going good. Did the same with the headless and then the A/E.

Every now and then when I plan on using the fretless, I'll play the fretted version first, and it's a easy switch-over.

Tip 2: playing fretless with filters and/or octaves is much, much harder, particularly when yer keyboardist wants to overdub.

 

[John Stephen]

Right, I'm familiar with the u-basses. I was wondering if the 30-inch scale bass makers produce any fretless models.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

I owned ;
Carvin BB70 fretless with lines
Carvin LB76 fretless with lines
Carvin Icon6 fretless without lines
Warwick Thumb BO6 fretless without lines.

Easier no, it is a little different and require more practice to me and also a very very good setup.

Since you are toucher directly the fingerboard, I felt that the strings are very important.

My Warwick is the one that feel to biggest in my hand but still I find it more responsive and with some nice roundwound like EBMM it does sing easily, easier than on my Carvins.

The lines on my various Carvin felt very more like poopie after a while. I don't know if they still do them with some kind of plastic but in my case they did pop up a little bit or broke in the slot. I don't know if other manufacturers do it the same way as them.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

It’s easy to stay in tune on a fretless if you already have good left-hand technique.

When Jaco Pastorius was asked how he practiced fretless, his reply was that he always practiced fretted bass, which kept his left hand fingers in the correct position via muscle memory.

 

[B-Mac]

Do they make short-scale fretlesses?

Eastwood Classic 4 Fretless
Semi/hollow 30.5” scale

 

[gtlover]

I also started on URB and a lined fretless, so it's second nature to me. I find I look at the lines more when I practice than when I'm on stage and I totally agree with the observation that playing fretted helps with the muscle memory. Also +1 on good fretless technique making you a better fretted player. I say take the plunge, the world needs more fretless!

 

[CereBassum]

My question is do fretless basses feel easier for some of you? Do anyone of you own any Fretless 5-6 stringed basses? Do any of you have recommendations?

Easier on the hands maybe, but more work to get good intonation.
If you're serious about fretless, get an Ibanez Portamento - 4,5 or 6.

 

[CereBassum]

Do they make short-scale fretlesses?

Supro makes a short scale fretless. I had one and sent it back - was not impressed.
IMO a short scale fretless is pointless.

 

[John Bess]

I have a 70 pbass with an unlined fretless neck. This particular neck is very thin and fast. So to me, it's easier to play than my fretted basses. I wouldn't recommend it for metal as fretless basses are much warmer sounding and don't cut through heavy guitars and loud drums very well.

 

[Passinwind]

My question is do fretless basses feel easier for some of you? Do anyone of you own any Fretless 5-6 stringed basses? Do any of you have recommendations?

I am another one who started on fretless, and it's always been immeasurably easier for me than fretted. Always four stringers for fretless here, and when I broke down and got a fretted bass a few years ago (first one in 30 years) I deliberately chose a fiver, with the idea and hope that it'd be completely its own thing. If I were getting a 5 or 6 string FL I'd go with as long a scale length as possible, maybe even a multiscale instrument. Not because it'd necessarily be better, but again, its own thing. I'm not into short scale at all, but I guess that could work that way as well.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

It’s easy to stay in tune on a fretless if you already have good left-hand technique.

When Jaco Pastorius was asked how he practiced fretless, his reply was that he always practiced fretted bass, which kept his left hand fingers in the correct position via muscle memory.

In Modern Electric Bass, Jaco mentions practicing fretted to keep from eating up the board. As somebody with a thick epoxy job like his, I think that worry is pretty exaggerated. You will need to eventually plane the board anyway so play what you enjoy.

 

[B-Mac]

I own 2 5 strings (my jazz basses), one 6 string (up for sale) an acoustic 4 string and recently sold my Squier Jazz 4 string. If I didn't have to sing while playing, I wouldn't even own fretted - I hate all the fret noise. 6 strings is just too much for me - 5 is my number. I don't find them to be any harder than fretted, just different. I prefer the lines, but can manage on unlined (my acoustic is unlined).

My 5 strings are a Carvin LB75 and an ESP (don't remember the model). I love them both but the ESP is my first line bass - just because of the beautiful spalted maple top. The Carvin was probably more expensive (and they're now Kiesel). It was my first 5-string fretless purchased second hand - first one I found that met my pricing needs. I actively chose the ESP last year.

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