Why play a fretless bass?

[Jackcrow]

Why do you play a fretless bass?

What’s your favorite part about it? I’m interested to hear peoples opinions.

Personally I enjoy it (most of the time). I like the additional challenge and the change in tone on a fretless. But I’ve also bought several fretless basses (Fender Tony Franklin, Warwick, Squiers, etc) and then when I want to buy something else they are the first to go. I think the last one I sold I said I wasn’t going to buy another fretless. But I did anyway. I think it’s a good idea to have at least one around.

 

[80jazz]

The sound and they are fun.

I wonder if a 10-string fretless is worth it?

 

[WillyW]

I find it more pleasurable to play fretless, that’s the best way I can describe it.

My collection of fretted bases keeps shrinking... I was at 3, but I’m converting one...

 

[cheapbasslovin]

If I'm playing in a sitting or standing position, I prefer fretless. If I'm rocking, it's a little harder to maintain intonation, so I play a fretted. Fretless is more fun unless I'm drained and the extra energy to maintain precision wanes.

 

[Killing Floor]

It's kinda like you can wear cutoffs and Crocs or you can wear a slim suit and Cydwoqs.
Nobody puts a gun to someone's face and says "Be cool, or else!"
Fretless is like that. Everything you like about your favorite bass but without the limitations. You can play anything on a fretless that you can play on a fretted. But the reverse is not true.

From a beginner fear factor perspective I tell folks it's not difficult to learn. You can use proper vibrato. Mwah is yah. And in a group setting it's remarkably easy to adjust your intonation to keep it tight. It's a great tool to have to expand your range of tones.

 

[lz4005]

Because it sounds good.

 

[flannel cat]

because frets are borders that hold you in,,life behind bars,,fretsless equals freedom..i dont have one but thats my thoughts of the first time i tried one..plus they look dead sexy in my humble opinion.

 

[2milehighspike]

Why not?

 

[Inara]

It's the sounds that I've always heard in my head. And I have a background as a singer ... Fretless lets me sing on the bass. I also find the playing experience to be much more pleasant. I haven't played in a cover band in years, so I don't need to try to exactly mimic anyone else's sound or technique ... Fretless, and the way I play it, is my own voice as an artist, and it's just what feeds my soul, both as a solo player and in my ensemble projects. About the only use I have for a fretted bass is for some intricate chording and tapping that I do in a couple of solo pieces. I don't slap much at all anymore, but although I've done a lot of slapping on fretless in my time, I would prefer a fretted bass for that if I still did it.

 

[fretlessguy]

Why? Because there is not much of anything more beautiful in the bass world than a 5 string fretless with an unlined ebony finger board. I do love their sound.

 

[2milehighspike]

Why? Because there is not much of anything more beautiful in the bass world than a 5 string fretless with an unlined ebony finger board. I do love their sound.

Roasted maple is pretty sweet too!

 

[DeliriumTremens]

I like my fretless but I suck above the 10th "fret" (it's unlined).

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Roasted maple is pretty sweet too!View attachment 4087706

Oh my my! That is a beautiful sight by the Christmas tree! As for fretless, I think fretless can be a great way to develop an individual sound. It is great to get that Jaco sort of tone, but getting darker or phrasing more like fretted bass is cool too.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Why do you play a fretless bass?

Well, here a few of countless reasons why I play fretless:

To start, this album is what started me down the trail of being fretless:

 

[mindwell]

As others have said, it sings. Increasingly I am of the mind that the pictured unlined SR5 is my desert island bass.

DSCF2021[1]

• mindwell
• Sep 9, 2017

Maiden voyage of my new '96 EBMM fretless Stingray 5

 

[Pings Bass]

It just feels more natural to me, and my playing is far less expressive with frets in the way.

 

[FeltTipPen]

What I hear in my head translates better and quicker on the fretless. I am faster on the neck as well.

 

[Iridescentone]

For the nuance.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

There's a sense of focus that's needed to be precise, even with lined boards. I can play my fretted instruments without looking at the board too much, but the fretless always demands my attention. I played one almost exclusively for a year and I had a blast, but I was less engaging on stage with it.

 

[blastoff]

why, play a fretless bass!

fixed the punctuation