What's the problem with 24-fret basses?

[Gravedigger Dav]

Anything more than 1 passive pup, VT, 20 frets is just fluff.

 

[jd56hawk]

"Any problems created by the left hand of man, Can also be solved with the right,
For he who manifests anything,
Also has the ability to
Destroy it."

 

[lfmn16]

I'm going to call this fake news. I've never seen this on TB.

 

[B-Mac]

Anything more than 1 passive pup, VT, 20 frets is just fluff.

fluffity fluff fluff

 

[B-Mac]

"Any problems created by the left hand of man, Can also be solved with the right,
For he who manifests anything,
Also has the ability to
Destroy it."

Or play it!

 

[B-Mac]

I actually have a 26 fret bass.
I couldn't really believe it when I noticed it and then it was like whaaaaa…..???????

2009 Prestige Wylde Active/Passive

...and access is easy via the ample treble side cutaway...

 

[Aloe]

For example, my Warwick Corvette has a 2-octave neck

this is something like 26 frets BTW. on fretted model the last fret is like 1.5-2 frets away from the end of the fingerboard.

I would say that on Corvettes the 24th fret is as accessible as 21th on Yamaha BB414 (I had both), so it's not a matter of frets number, but overall ergonomics.

any DB player will not understand you what's so difficult reaching there BTW. yes, they use different hand position from like 12th fret.

 

[kesslari]

The problem with 24 fret basses is that they have frets.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Nothing wrong with 24 frets, but the neck will be set into the body more than a 20/21 fret neck and that along with the differences in where you can slap will give a different tonality. I prefer 21 frets, but have no animosity against anyone playing a 24 fret. Some guitarists might have a problem that you're playing "in their range".

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Never heard of anyone being particularly bothered by 24 fretters. Personally I have no particular use for them, but I can’t imagine why anyone would be upset by their existence.

 

[Sixgunn]

Pretty much all the basses that I like have 24 (or more) frets but that's not why I like 'em.

 

[lz4005]

I like it, but it needs 2 more strings.

I was going to say it needed 2 fewer.

 

[onda'bass]

I used to think it mattered, but haven’t had a 24 fret in years and don’t miss it. A e-c tuning also opens the bass up that it’s not necessary to get those notes so high up on the neck. A high Bb is crazy up there for bass.

 

[TolerancEJ]

A bass does not require 24 frets, but to me the fretboard aesthetically looks more even to me when split 12 frets / 12 frets. I want to see two sets of double-dots (or the equivalent) at the 12th and 24th fret.

 

[jd56hawk]

"We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluable problems."

A bass does not require 24 frets, but to me the fretboard aesthetically looks more even to me when split 12 frets / 12 frets.

Even on asymmetrical basses?

 

[SteveCS]

this is something like 26 frets BTW. on fretted model the last fret is like 1.5-2 frets away from the end of the fingerboard.

I would say that on Corvettes the 24th fret is as accessible as 21th on Yamaha BB414 (I had both), so it's not a matter of frets number, but overall ergonomics.

any DB player will not understand you what's so difficult reaching there BTW. yes, they use different hand position from like 12th fret.

There is nothing like 1.5"-2" from the octave to the end of the fingerboard. Just about enough for a G# but certainly not A. And getting to the E/A strings is just about impossible as the back of the hand crashes into the horn.

Thumb position does work, and I use it occassionally, but the transition is not as seamless as it is with say 'cello or DB because the forearm and hand are not in front of the top in 'normal' play so the arm has to contort at the shoulder to push the elbow out to get your thumb onto the board.

 

[MonetBass]

I’ve seen quite a bit of hate for the Jazz 24 and not because Cort made it

Which I don't understand, because mine is a wonderful instrument.

 

[CatchaCuda]

"Jaco only needed zero"
I'll show myself out.

 

[ggvicviper]

The problem is the people who TRULY hate them generally can't count that high.

In all seriousness, one of my favorite basses is my 24-fret Yamaha BB5000, but I occasionally get confused when I have to jump to the upper registers for "All Right Now" after playing a different bass. Can we use that as the reason why "there's so much hate for them"?

 

[Afc70]

All of my basses are 24 fret 5’ers, I prefer 24 fret basses, visually, to me the whole fretboard layout is easy to identify any given note. Just my preference.. & it’s nice to venture up high occasionally when playing chords or really melodic stuff. I believe there would be folks on Tb complaining if they won the mega jackpot lottery.