Whats a Fretless bass?

A fretless bass has no metal bars across its fingerboard.

Most people want fretless because of their more organic sound, often referred to as the "mwaah".

I want fretless because I can play in tune with that (after some practice) which is not possible with fretted instruments, because the frets are not in perfect positions.
I also love th feel of an unbroken wooden fingerboard.

In short: unfretted is nicer.

 

What you saw is called fretlines. There is an option when you buy a fretless bass to have the fingerboard completely unmarked, or you can have white/light colored lines where the frets should be. It´s nice to have lines if this is your first venture into the world of fretless basses.
And as stated above, fretless basses have unique sound to them that cannot be duplicated with a fretted bass. The mwahh rules!

 

The mwahh cannot be explained in words, just like Morpheus could not explain the Matrix to Neo. Neo had to get out of the Matrix to fully see and understand what the Matrix was. Just like you have to try and play a fretless bass to understand the mwahh. I did not understand what the mwahh was. I had read about it, heard about it, but I didn´t understand it until I tried a fretless, then I found the mwahh (Or did the mwahh find me ) Once the mwahh takes you into it´s loving arms, it will never let go.
I recommend that you take a trip to your local music store and plug in a fretless and try it out for yourself


And to paraphrase Morpheus in the Matrix:
"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the mwahh is. You have to see it for yourself."

 

Actually, fretted basses don't have frets either. Its the matrix that makes us think that it has frets.

 

Once you learn it doesn't matter what bass you have, or even if you have a bass at all.
You control the matrix and thus your tone.

 

May the mwahh be with you....
eddie

 

Without frets, bass notes have the same attack as smooth warm water, just so delicate.

I just got mine yesterday and I am in love. So pure, so simple, yet so tasty...

 

There is no bass!

 

As a matter of fact, you ain't altogether there either. You are just a figment of our imagination.

 

No, your imagination is a figment of my imagination.

 

Also, when you de-fret a fretted bass you are left with 'slots' on the fingerboard (where the frets used to be). It is normal practice to fill these with some type of suitable filler, the result being a fretless bass with fretlines.

 

I think my thread count's juuuuust about to peak .

 

I just love it when me and my OLDER brother, Jeff, get to play silly games at the expense of everyone else.

 

What is it? It's beautiful.... I want one!


(Later..) DOH! Never mind, I just figured it out. I'm slow.

 

WHEW! Don't scare me like`dat Mr. G!

That`un and others are at clubbass.com .

(the double's due 11/01, tee-hee )

 

Keep it up "Brain" I am informing all of us lesser stringed mice about your plan.

 

I may be old, but I refuse to throw up.