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Wow, fretless experience

#61
All three on the wall and within easy reach!

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#62
SteveC said:
Instead of playing "fretless" songs, maybe try playing your "usual" songs on fretless. You already know how the sound, which will help with intonation.
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Having spent a few hours on it today already I'm starting to warm to it a bit. But I keep coming back to the opening note on Wherever I Lay My Hat, which for me is the definitive 'fretless song'.
I get your point though, I can see how fretless will work for pretty much anything, so maybe the songs I already know are a better starting point.
Thanks :)
 
#63
Sarah_J said:
Having spent a few hours on it today already I'm starting to warm to it a bit. But I keep coming back to the opening note on Wherever I Lay My Hat, which for me is the definitive 'fretless song'.
I get your point though, I can see how fretless will work for pretty much anything, so maybe the songs I already know are a better starting point.
Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Wherever I lay my hat by Paul Young has a great fretless opening played by Pino. But listen to the original, sung by Marvin Gaye in '62. It didn't have that dramatic opening. If you think of it that way, you can add fretless bass as a spice to many songs.

 
#64
Update: I sold the fretless bass that I bought a while back because it really wasn't working for me and to be honest it was rubbish anyway. I put the proceeds towards a fretless Ibanez SR 300, same model and my fretted bass, so they're like matching twins:)
Anyway, this bass has fret lines on the neck, and the sound and quality is so much better.
Now I understand the fretless experience!
 
#65
Fretless is a wonderful addition to anyone's arsenal. I started playing in '72 I didn't touch a fretless till college in '82. I took double bass lessons for two semesters, after that nothing. In 2009 I bought a mongrel fretless P bass made up of a mid 70's Fender neck and suspect body. Video here http://youtu.be/3RdCZn-rbjc My first live fretless performance! Shortly after I bought a Real 70's Fender walnut body to replace the "suspect" body, pictured here
JOHNNYSMOKEBuffaloNYwaterfront8-19-13102.jpg
Last year I built another 70's P bass with a '77 unlined maple neck. aside from my 60's NR Thunderbirds I think these two are big favorites.............can't believe I said that. Opps here is the maple board fretless P
maplefretlessPbass003.jpg
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#68
Sarah_J said:
Update: I sold the fretless bass that I bought a while back because it really wasn't working for me and to be honest it was rubbish anyway. I put the proceeds towards a fretless Ibanez SR 300, same model and my fretted bass, so they're like matching twins:)
Anyway, this bass has fret lines on the neck, and the sound and quality is so much better.
Now I understand the fretless experience!
Click to expand...

Yes, I love the fretted-fretless stereo twins thing. It's why I have Identical USA G&L fretted and fretless L2500 basses (both in blueburst).

For me I started fretless quite a few years ago (with an alembic 6er) but really didn't "get" it for a long time. Slowly fretless crept into my mind until now it's about 50-50 fretless and fretted. Both have their place. I'm not ready to do the full fretless thing yet like some, but I have been surprised how it grows on you even when you are convinced it isn't "you".
 
#70
Thanks, Godofthunder (or may I just call you God?), I know what you mean about the floaty thumb thing; truth is I just never know what to do with it. I really envy you your place in a real rock band, I would love to find other people to play with.
Glad you liked my playing too BH2, I find I'm really drawn to 70's pop tunes and clever, melodic bass lines. My YouTube channel is full of that sort of stuff.
 
#71
I'm still pretty new to fretless. Bought a Squire VM fretless Jazz about a year ago and it's a pretty cool addition. Haven't used it a great deal, but two weeks ago I used it on a song that a buddy of mine wrote because it just seemed to hit the spot for that particular song. He loved it!

I hope to become much better at it. I tip my hat to you guys who play with no lines or markers of any kind. That seems like it would be quite a challenge.
 
#73
Sarah_J said:
I agree Mike, no lines or markers is a step too far! I bought a really cheap Stagg fretless and then sold it after only a few months because it was rubbish AND because it had no lines.
It's replacement, an Ibanez SR300 DXF has lines and a much nicer sound.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I fully admit that I at least need the lines. I don't feel bad about it though because Jaco had lines and markers and he seemed to do pretty good by it.
 
#77
got or Scott works just fine Sarah, God is a bit pretentious..................even for me ;) Any band would be lucky to have you as their bassist!
Sarah_J said:
Thanks, Godofthunder (or may I just call you God?), I know what you mean about the floaty thumb thing; truth is I just never know what to do with it. I really envy you your place in a real rock band, I would love to find other people to play with.
Glad you liked my playing too BH2, I find I'm really drawn to 70's pop tunes and clever, melodic bass lines. My YouTube channel is full of that sort of stuff.
Click to expand...
 
#78
There is no right or wrong in all this, in my mind it's to express yourself. Lines no lines who cares? Do what works for you. :) No points added one way or another.
Sarah_J said:
I agree Mike, no lines or markers is a step too far! I bought a really cheap Stagg fretless and then sold it after only a few months because it was rubbish AND because it had no lines.
It's replacement, an Ibanez SR300 DXF has lines and a much nicer sound.
Click to expand...
 

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