10 replies to this topic

[sundance2012]

i have used the search thing but didnt find what i was looking for
a friend of mine plays both guitar and bass. he is thining about getting a fretless bass.
i really dont know anything about them. can you get almost an imfinate number of notes or just like sounds in between notes. sorry if i sound like the dumbest person with these questions. im just trying to think what sounds you could get out of a fretless bass.
any help would be appreciated

[mrscrunter]

a fretless bass is the same as a normal bass only harder to play because you have to press exactly where the fret markers would be (the metal strip things) to get the right notes in tune. You can slide really easily on them for obvious reasons.

[mahrous]

fretless basses are not easy to play. also they are almost the same as other basses. i was gonna buy one two weeks ago, but didnt have enough cash then.
about fretless basses. there are two types of fretless. the one that looks similar to this one:

this type of fretless basses are the main ones. u will find them everywhere. the hard part abot playing this, is u need a Chromatic Tuner to set to intonation extremely well so u can use it properly. also u need a "musical ear" to be able to know if ur playing the correct note or not.
the other type of fretless basses are:

this is a Yamaha RBX270F, notice the Inlayed frets. they are visible quiet well (i was gonna buy it) but dont get in the way while playing. i wish the fretboard finish was a little darker so u can see the frets easier, but u will get used to it.

[bluesbass]

fretless basses can give you a similar tone of a fretted bass. they are also famous for a "mwah" sound, this is the sound you should get on one when you slide up/down. they are also good for getting a good acoustic/upright tone without having to lug a gigantic instrument around.
for examples of fretless listen to anything by jaco, gary willis, or newer stuff by jack bruce...

[mahrous]

oh yeah, i saw the new Jack Bruce Warwick fretless bass. sheeesh, its wicked.
also the sound of bending a string on a fretless is wicked too.
all in all, fretless basses are worth every penny (my opinion). i am dying to own one.

[sqwiggly]

look the basic thing about fretless basses is be able to play a fretted bass really well cause like some one said you need a musical ear and a chromatic tuner to get them perfect or a really good piano
(i play both fretless and fretted bass and i find the fretless to be a bit of a challenge)

peace

[metaljesse1]

You can find fretless players everywhere. Les Claypool playes a fretless, Jaco, and even the bass player for the metal band OTEP, think he plays an Ibanez signature 6-string (the "Willis" signature). Fretless seems to be very versitile, if not a challange.

[junior01]

The thing about the fretless is that you got a whole different sound. It's true that it's a little bit more chanllenging to play but with a little bit of practice (the key to success) it can be very enjoyable.
But what is important to remember is that you use a fretless bass to get a mood, a certain sonority. Nobody will use a fretless to play punk... You use it for a accoustic song or a slow... I guess the best example still remain the Pink Floyd's Hey You. In the intro you can hear what a fretless is capable of.

[FenderVoxEHX]

I'm guessing that any style that can sound good with a standup would sound good on a fretless, or am I wrong? I play fretted and standup, but dont have the money to own a standup so I was planning on getting a fretless. Also: Will the previous training on a standup prove helpfull when playing fretless?

[ninjato]

I just went all out

Upright

5str

Fretless

acoustic pickups

Edited by ninjato, 24 December 2012 - 08:02 AM.

[lowden]

Fretless bass playing is a joy, it opens up all sorts of possibilities, but mainly it opens your ears to your own tuning and keeps you honest in trusting your ears rather than your hands.... always a good thing. It's a challenge to get started on fretless, but worth it.