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Why shouldn't I buy a fretless

H

Hoodee

Sep 22, 2011
30
0
#1
Here's the drill : I have some cash to spend on stupid stuff, my main target is a second bass, a cheap one, so I can leave my main bass at the studio and don't have to carry it around all the time, just so I can practice at home. I want it to be fretless...

Why shouldn't I buy one (knowing that for 12 years I've been playing guitar and I just recently switched to bass) and what to buy in the unlikely event it's a good idea to have a fretless for practice purposes :)
 
#2
Somehow "cheap" and fretless don't go together. At least make sure it has enough mass in the neck for sustain.
The other issue is, if you need to practice material that's to be played on fretted, use the same technique and same tool. Hand position is different, fretless is on the fret position, fretted is below the fret. Fretless also requires hand vibrato at times to keep the sustain going and sound more vocal. (Unless you are Jah Wobble or Bill Lazwell) If you need reinforcement as a beginner, it's best to keep it simple.
If this isn't an issue, go for it.
 
#3
Try out some fretless basses and see if you like them.
As a beginner I have a (lined, of course) fretless and it has made me a better player.

I have a MIM Fender Jazz fretless. Some TBer's are wild about the Squier VM Jazz at half the cost new.

NB: You can do well used. Fretless is a love-it-or-hate-it thing, and so you see them up a lot on Craigslist and other places.
 
#5
I've been a primarily fretless player for several years now. Can't think of a single reason why it's not a good idea to at least try that type of instrument. Who knows... you just might get hooked on the "feel" of fretless like I did... all those years ago.

One instrument that I've found to be a good "beginner" instrument is the Squire VM Fretless Jazz. It sounds just fine and it's a good enough quality instrument that with a proper setup can be pretty much where you need a fretless instrument to be. It's a good place to start.

Some folks suggest getting a fretboard with lines, and it's a reasonable suggestion. But as you develop, the thing about fretless that I discovered is your hearing becomes very sensitive to pitch. I pretty much don't need to look at the fretboard... I can hear when my fretting hand is straying from it's proper position.
 
#8
my son has 3:

a geddy lee which we modded with a moses lined fretless neck
a pelosi which came with one PU and a lined fretless neck
& a lakland made in USA 4-94 with an unlined ebony fretless neck

i can say unequivocally playing fretless has made him a better player. when playing fretless you have to pay more attention to your fingering and make sure it is precise.

go for it.

davesignatureII.gif
 
#10
BassBrass said:
Somehow "cheap" and fretless don't go together.
Click to expand...

I am not sure I would agree with you on that. I have a Pedulla Buzz, and a de-fretted Fender P-bass elite II with an epoxy fingerboard and the fretless I end up reaching for the most is my $125 electric blue SX Jazz copy. I swapped out the bridge, but other than that it is all stock, even the strings. The thing sounds really nice... the only thing I had to do was run a screwdriver shaft along the fingerboard edges to round them a little bit.
 
#11
I played a lined fretless 5 since 1990 and love fretless, but I truly discovered fretless a few years ago with my 6 string unlined fretless.

Nothing better for developing your ear. get any fretless you can and have fun with it.
 
#12
bassman4d521 said:
my fretless is unlined - i find that in my normal playing position i can't see the fingerboard anyway so lines would be useless... a combination of the side dots and my ear is all i need.
Click to expand...

Spot on for me too. In addition to not being able to see the lines in my normal playing position, the lines typically result in side dots located where they are on a fretted bass, which is not only no help, it's a horrible detriment. After years of using side dots on fretted, using side dots on a FL that has lines will practically guarantee horrible intonation. That's my experience anyway.

Lastly, due to differences in how important a bridge set up for intonation is on FL relative to fretted, the lines can impart a false sense of security because they ain't perfect.
 
#15
I recently decided to pick up a fretless. After many years of fretted playing... One day I had a dream of playing/owning a fretless. Didn't give it any thought. A few months later I picked up a fretless, semi acoustic bass (Godin A4 Nat ). It felt right to me. Picked up another fretless ( sandberg California) same liking. I am now looking to buy a fretless myself xD. I like the idea of a Warwick STD Corvette. Anyone have experience with that one?


And just a quick question. Someone mentioned playing a fretless where the line would be? Or did I read that wrong? Any tips a newbie cross over to the darker side? xD
 
#17
Why shouldn't I buy one (knowing that for 12 years I've been playing guitar and I just recently switched to bass) and what to buy in the unlikely event it's a good idea to have a fretless for practice purposes
Click to expand...

I don't know, I have one and love it.

I have a Squire Jazz Fretless, It has the frets marked on the fretboard. I practice with a tuner so that when I want to hit an F# or any note, I know I'm hitting that note and not just following where it should be as denoted by the fret markers.

I want to pick up a fretted BASS after X-MAS, when money isn't so tight. I wont be giving up my Fretless, I just want both.
Compare the sound, and upgrade.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Slapping works on a Fretless.

Hope that helped.
 
#20
Hoodee: No reason at all. I got my first fretless only a year or so after learning to play fretted bass and my development on both instruments progressed together. Personally, I prefer unlined basses, but try both as many players prefer to have lines. There's no wrong answer about that. Try a fretless out and have fun with it. It'll give you a range of sounds that you don't have access to now.

Papa Dangerous: Yes, on a fretless bass, you place your fingertips on the exact spot where a fret would be - not just behind the fret as you would on a fretted bass. If you play a lined fretless, you play right on the lines. Many unlined fretless basses will have the side dots placed where those frets would be as well, and not in between fret positions as you would find them on a fretted bass.
 

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