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Why shouldn't I buy a fretless

#23
My only experience with fretless basses was when I was a teen. I bought a beaten up fretless bass and restored it back to a quality instrument (maybe not quite to the finish of, say - a German Warwick - but a finish that a teenager would be proud of lol).

It was originally a horrible yellow P-bass replica bass. I painted it glossy white, fitted it with a matt black scratch plate, Fender Badass II bridge, Seymour Duncan Vintage P bass pick ups and a few other little odds and ends. For a bass I had built myself, I was shocked by how it's tone was so nice and clear. When drop tuned, it sounded absolutely unbelievable. Whilst the action was slightly higher than what I wanted, it still played really well. The thing that shocked me about the fretless was how 'fast' it felt compared to my other fretted basses.

I ended up selling it as I needed cash urgently. Looking back now, it is the one bass I wish that I had never ever sold...I loved it. I would recommend at least giving one a play and see how it feels, you might get a shock.

Only pic I have left of it, taken at a house party. Please excuse the pretty boy blonde frosted hair - I worked at the casino in Melbourne. And besides, most of that hair has disappeared now too :rollno:

Cheers,
Jordy
 

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#31
Hoodee said:
Ok, so none of you guys convinced me into NOT buying a fretless.

What are your thoughts on those VM Squiers Jazz bass ?
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How can we convince you not to buy one? You might as well have said, "Hey guys, I'm thinking of learning to play the clarinet! Should I get one?" Well, DUH! What WE think of the instrument doesn't matter. Obviously most of us here play fretless and love them. (me included) Your opinion has to be yours.

But that said, I'll also say that if a person gets interested in something new (fretless, clarinet etc.) the only REAL way to decide what you think of it is to get one and live with it for a while. It's just nearly impossible to second guess what something can do for you when you know nothing about the details of it.

Like some others I suggest a blank fingerboard rather than lined (I started with lined: do as I say not as I did!) because it makes little difference learning and LOOKS SO MUCH cooler than lined (which everybody in the audience thinks is fretted anyway).

I haven't played the fretless Squier's but I've seen good reviews here. It is not essential to have an expensive fretless. I've got an SX fretless that is pretty nice. And I bought a G&L MIA fretless used for $600 that can be put up against ANY other bass! Just keep your eyes open.
 
#34
bassbenj said:
How can we convince you not to buy one?
Click to expand...

Well, for starters, I thought there would be a great deal of cons regarding fretless basses. Since nobody pointed anything out, even better, that It could actually improve my playing, well, I think I'll just get that bass next week :)

I'm not sure about that lined/unlined thing...It seems a little bit safer to get a bass with a lined fretboard...On the other hand : unlined seems so much more challenging (and yes, it could look way cooler XD )
 
#35
MNAirHead said:
cheap and fretless don't go together.

I've owned countless fretless... quality makes a much bigger difference on these...
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Agreed Timmy!

The only reason I can come up with to NOT buy a fretless is not being willing to spend the necessary time with it to be able to play it confidently in tune.

For me... lined / not lined - had both, don't look, so don't care. Use your muscle memory and ears.

My fretless...

DSC03143.jpg
 
#36
Coming as an Upright player who went to electric, playing fretless gave me back my 'ear' hard to explain, lines are useless to me but generally on the cheaper ones, not played the squier but I like the other VM squiers I have, Ibanez has a pretty ok one on the cheap as well, I'd avoid the cheapo acoustic fretless though, least the Deans they stink.
 
#39
we mostly see advertised expensive FL basses.

depending on your style- jaco or claypool or palladino or fernando saunders or percy jones.... listen to their tone and start from there . see what they're playing , but
be advised that fender ,ibanez and stingray and g+l F.L basses sound and play much
like their $3k boutique counterparts.
for $5.00 ,plus postage (!) i'll even send you a pair of custom ground pliers ,and you can pull out your own frets ( the boat epoxy jaco used is your own mystery)

i play a warwick corvette fretless($700 ebay).... and it changed everything . my intonation changed ,

and so did my attitude and approach.

good luck.
 
#40
One caveat for fretted converted to fretless, the side dots will be off.

I have a pretty good "ear" but really need those side dots.

I enjoy being able to make a note just a little sweet or sour when playing, fretless makes it so easy. Similar (I imagine) to bending a note on your guitar.

=wr=
 

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