For shag's sake, are you trolling or something? The only people who think that poopie are people that don't know how to use higher registers
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What's the problem with 24-fret basses?
- Thread starter Dexterzol
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- 20 frets 24 frets bass necks frets
I have a 24 frets Ibanez and a 20 fret Squier. There are some projects where the 24 frets are a must. For example, I played with an electropop solo act as a supporting musician, the solo artist would launch some tracks using an octapad and some of them would have a synth bass line, or would be heavy on the low end. The extra frets, combined with my pedalboard would help me find my place in that sonic space. Was I playing bass strictly speaking? Maybe not, but I don’t think I would get the same sound using a guitar, even in the higher notes, bass guitar timber is really unique. I also use this bass for live looping, with no pedals other that the looper, the extra frets allow me to Replace other instruments.
Short version: each bass is a tool and there is always a place to use it. And, you don’t have to be blasting solos all the time to need 24 frets, just expand your definition of what “playing bass” means.
Short version: each bass is a tool and there is always a place to use it. And, you don’t have to be blasting solos all the time to need 24 frets, just expand your definition of what “playing bass” means.
I stand corrected, I'm a complete idiot. Gotta stop vaping while huffing spray paint and drinking single malts. There is a Db at the fourth fret of the A string, my bad.
All 12 notes can be found between the nut and 5th fret on a 4 string bass. So that's why there is no money above the 5th fret. It's also why you only need the first two positions on a DB to get all 12 notes but you have to shift positions more in certain keys like, eh, Db.
Back OT, when you run out of frets, whether it's 20, 21, 22, 24, etc. there will always be notes that can't be reached without adding higher pitched strings. The real advantage of more frets is that typically more frets are clear of the body. So even if you never use the 24th fret, maybe the 20th is now more accessible.
Look at the 60s Fender Bass V which had only 15 frets. On the high C string, the highest fretted note is Eb, same as the 20th fret of the G string. It's not like the access is any better, though, because the body is longer than that of a P or J so the body interferes with fretting above the 10th fret!
Also compare these two Danelectros:
Link Removed
Link Removed
The 24 fret model lets you get to the 17th fret easily, while the 15th frets model doesn't even have a 17th fret
Notice that the pickup is located in a different spot, the shorthorn pickup is much farther from the bridge so has a darker tone than the dolphin nose bass.
All 12 notes can be found between the nut and 5th fret on a 4 string bass. So that's why there is no money above the 5th fret. It's also why you only need the first two positions on a DB to get all 12 notes but you have to shift positions more in certain keys like, eh, Db.
Back OT, when you run out of frets, whether it's 20, 21, 22, 24, etc. there will always be notes that can't be reached without adding higher pitched strings. The real advantage of more frets is that typically more frets are clear of the body. So even if you never use the 24th fret, maybe the 20th is now more accessible.
Look at the 60s Fender Bass V which had only 15 frets. On the high C string, the highest fretted note is Eb, same as the 20th fret of the G string. It's not like the access is any better, though, because the body is longer than that of a P or J so the body interferes with fretting above the 10th fret!
Also compare these two Danelectros:
Link Removed
Link Removed
The 24 fret model lets you get to the 17th fret easily, while the 15th frets model doesn't even have a 17th fret
Notice that the pickup is located in a different spot, the shorthorn pickup is much farther from the bridge so has a darker tone than the dolphin nose bass.
Ha! I said getting into position, i.e. the transition of the thumb from back to front, not what you do once you get there...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I don't like 24 fret basses because I like a neck pickup around where the 24th would be. So I prefer 21 frets. I do have a 24 fret bass so it is not a deal breaker for me.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I stand corrected, I'm a complete idiot. Gotta stop vaping while huffing spray paint and drinking single malts. There is a Db at the fourth fret of the A string, my bad.
All 12 notes can be found between the nut and 5th fret on a 4 string bass. So that's why there is no money above the 5th fret. It's also why you only need the first two positions on a DB to get all 12 notes but you have to shift positions more in certain keys like, eh, Db.
Back OT, when you run out of frets, whether it's 20, 21, 22, 24, etc. there will always be notes that can't be reached without adding higher pitched strings. The real advantage of more frets is that typically more frets are clear of the body. So even if you never use the 24th fret, maybe the 20th is now more accessible.
Look at the 60s Fender Bass V which had only 15 frets. On the high C string, the highest fretted note is Eb, same as the 20th fret of the G string. It's not like the access is any better, though, because the body is longer than that of a P or J so the body interferes with fretting above the 10th fret!
Some people would string the Bass V BEADG and then your highest note would be A#
