What is your experience on fretless basses?

[franklindayala]

I’ve tried a few 5-6 string basses, never had much chance to vary as I only have a guitar center in my town and for the next 140 miles that has the same cheap Ibanez basses, but once there was a Carvin Lb70 4 string fretless that felt good despite the acorn sized truss rod nut looking kinda fragile and as a fretless it felt good and I must say my intonation was not that bad for a first time fretless user (I made sure as I have an ear for out of tune stuff)

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 feel faster on it whilst keeping my intonation well, as well as things like tapping felt so much easier than on my fretted Geddy Lee bass (and I play in a three piece metal band so playing fast is required to keep the temp while my guitar player solos) The only six string I have been able to try was the ESP LTD B206 and B205, which felt good but could use a better setup and bridge (the ones on there have bad sustain and are kinda cheap, but some versions have Emg’s that may or may not he active along with active 3 band eq)

My main player is a 5 string fretless for the past 14 years. My recomendations:
1.- Be patient.
2.- Practice slow with a tuner to have muscle memorie.
3.- Soft touch and dinamics.

Edit: For metal stuff, Sean Malone is an artist I enjoy.

 

[Sergius Durante]

One thing I noticed in the OP's comments is how much you enjoyed the fretless. If that's the case, let nothing stop you from playing one. As has been stated, you can find ways to fit it into what you are doing with your current band. Most importantly, getting one will get your technique together and may draw you to play other genres of music where the fretless is more prevalent. Enjoy the journey.

Yea I think I might now, I love how it sounds and my bands guitarist has been adamant in getting one even if a cheap one for some parts in our songs, Ill look around my area as I had seen the same model carvin lb70 or 75 fretless in a different color in my area's facebook market so Ill prob go check it out when I get the chance

 

[konfyouzd]

The feeling of not having frets is sometimes more comfortable to me. I have to practice a lot more when I'm playing fretless though.

Sometimes my intonation sounds good enough by myself but the moment I record it w other instruments I hear how off it is.

 

[MobileHolmes]

I have a carvin LB76 fretless that I picked up super cheap years ago (and it is the twin of my fretted one, same wood/finish, etc). I really don't play it all that much, because style wise, it's just not what I do, but it is a cool instrument