fretless, why?

[scrowler]

whats the benefits of fretless?

[Khanzo]

whats the benefits of fretless?

different tone is one of the main differences

[joe_bass]

Search function.

[Janelectro]

you can do things with it you won't be able to with a fretted or an upright.

PLUS: Only fretlessplayers are real men :D

[Mitchell Royce]

You don't have those nasty "speed bumps" that you have on a fretted. Not that I can play without those speedbumps.

Edit to Jan: C'mere boy and lemme show ya what a real man is.

[scrowler]

oh ok thanks

[Esp Griffyn]

Smoother tone, more expressive feeling

[morpcat]

Slides are smooth. Vibratos have more clarity. Harmonic slides are easier. Tone is different.

[tommy the cat]

why not?

[Wintermute]

Possibly because it's harder.

Obviously enough, there's also no fretbuzz :p

[Esp Griffyn]

As you can see, the threadstarter has a Bc Rich in his avatar. Hes probaly that kind of bassist.

*rash statment*

;)

[disasterpiece_012345678_133]

makes slides sound really good

[shortass]

Search function.
How many times have you said that today?

[ToolBox]

Its all I've ever seen him say.

[ekadeath]

As you can see, the threadstarter has a Bc Rich in his avatar. Hes probaly that kind of bassist.

*rash statment*

;)
Thats not a Bc Rich, it's a Vintage Wraith Metal Axxe.

[BassStabbed]

it makes slides better and no buzzing, i preferr fretted though

[Aberrationbass]

it has a totally unique sound-very different from a fretted

and whoever said "hes probobly that kind of bassist" should stop being an elitist fascist retard

play whatever bass you like my friend

[cliffburtonrules]

No Fretbuzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Machines]

Thats not a Bc Rich, it's a Vintage Wraith Metal Axxe.

You beat me to it ;)

And on topic; fretless = fun slides, and emotive tone :D

[neal_672]

Because they're fun, and more oh a challenge :thumb:

[owlandtree]

I have a Sterling 93' 4-string fretless. I bought that because it is so smooth. The fretless gives a very warm sound. With the active pick-ups It has a very versatile sound. There is some buzz from the fret board from time to time, but nothing like you get from a fretted bass. What I don't understand is the appeal for a fretless with the cheesy drawn in lines.

[coddingtown]

Its all I've ever seen him say.
I hate people who tell people to search. If all there was on this forum was new Ideas and there could never be anything repeated, it would be much slower.

Also, most people want updated info, and the search does not neccisarily give them the best information to meet their needs.

Most people post "use search function" to sound like elite forum members. In all reality, they just sound like jackasses

[Low_End_Communications]

I love fretless. So much more expressive and free, but it's tough to master.

[PabloE]

It's basically just a different sound.

[CabbageStabbage]

Fretlesses are awesome for sliding, playing quarter tones, pretending you're Jaco, etc.

They sound awesome with metal, just listen to the new Quo Vadis album.

[mabba]

good for fast playing, don't have too worry about hitting a wrong note and getting fret buzz. I feel more creative on a fretless.

[Jody LeCompte]

I liked the smooth playability and tone. I still prefer my fretted though.

[irishslappop]

tapping on a frettless is fun, sounds better then on fretted IMO

[Jody LeCompte]

Funny story:

I went into a local family owned music shop and asked for a good bass for jazz band, and was INSTANTLY handed a Lakeland fretless.

[scrowler]

As you can see, the threadstarter has a Bc Rich in his avatar. Hes probaly that kind of bassist.

*rash statment*

;)
actually, it was a custom built bass, now its a wavy jumble of crap because it got screwed up at some stage by something

[tobo]

Funny story:

I went into a local family owned music shop and asked for a good bass for jazz band, and was INSTANTLY handed a Lakeland fretless.

BAHAHAHA.....I dont get it....

[Phalanx]

^^^^ Dude, do you know how many people have that avatar? :rolleyes:

I wanna get a fretless because of the "mwah" sound they give, such a cool and different sound. They also look the sex and I wanna be like Jaco :chug:

[Linkinbassist]

What I don't understand is the appeal for a fretless with the cheesy drawn in lines.

I like the 'Jaco' neck, just a defretted neck with light fret markings and the inlays...looks so much better than a plain wood in my opinion...

[Linkinbassist]

They also look the sex and I wanna be like Jaco :chug:

i want a fretless jazz like Jaco's...He is my fingerstyle/harmonics Idol...

[Phalanx]

i want a fretless jazz like Jaco's...He is my fingerstyle/harmonics Idol...

someday i'll have to buy a cheap Jazz sunburst copy, take the pickguard off and defret it just to have a jaco looking bass :thumb:

[darrell]

Why use a fretless bass guitar? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A711802)

[darrell]

someday i'll have to buy a cheap Jazz sunburst copy, take the pickguard off and defret it just to have a jaco looking bass :thumb:

I bought one off of Rondomusic.net... left-handed $140 fretless.. I'm actually quite happy with it.

[Linkinbassist]

someday i'll have to buy a cheap Jazz sunburst copy, take the pickguard off and defret it just to have a jaco looking bass :thumb:

i'm so with you on that!

[Phalanx]

i'm so with you on that!

Before I do that however, i wanna get my fretless 6 string Status Graphite first :D

[bleeding_fingers]

This thread is over a year old.

[Phalanx]

This thread is over a year old.

no, your mum is :thumb:

[peeted]

quater tones and the fact it sounds more like an upright.

[Linkinbassist]

Before I do that however, i wanna get my fretless 6 string Status Graphite first :D

I'm getting a cheap 6er off ebay for crimbo...If the 'leccies are crap, i'll put in a pre-amp or new pick-ups...

[Phalanx]

I'm getting a cheap 6er off ebay for crimbo...If the 'leccies are crap, i'll put in a pre-amp or new pick-ups...

cool, which sixer would that be?

[Linkinbassist]

cool, which sixer would that be?

the CH guitars one...basically this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-string-bass-Red-flamed-maple-top_W0QQitemZ7374252188QQcategoryZ4713QQtcZphotoQQ cmdZViewItem) but in green with an extra string...

[Killer Fridge]

Before I do that however, i wanna get my fretless 6 string Status Graphite first :D

ooh ooh ooh have you seen the one on ebay? its looking awesome :D

ala this one

http://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/c6/44/76_3.JPG

[Kobaia]

correction, you can get fretbuzz, if your action is too low, you'll get the strings bouncing off the board.

[Phalanx]

correction, you can get fretbuzz, if your action is too low, you'll get the strings bouncing off the board.

yes, but only an idiot would set their action low enough to do that :rolleyes:

The guy who is selling that status is selling me a different status fretless. That thing sure is a beaut though

[TheBassman238]

whats the benefits of fretless?

There are many reasons..(though i dont own one but want one)

-tone
-smoothness
-being able to play 1/4 tones
-Vibrato simplified
-Easy to correct noter when intonation is off
-no need for bends
-learn notes bette/ear training

and thats all i can think of right now...

-TBM

[TheBassman238]

ooh ooh ooh have you seen the one on ebay? its looking awesome :D

ala this one

http://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/c6/44/76_3.JPG


im a fan of the 6ers.... but that is just fugly IMO.

-TBM

[Killer Fridge]

awww how can you say that - it is a thing of beauty that i really want


badly

ive got about 1300 GBP which should be for a car...but i really want that now

what-a-to-do

[Phalanx]

awww how can you say that - it is a thing of beauty that i really want


badly

ive got about 1300 GBP which should be for a car...but i really want that now

what-a-to-do

i'd rather drive the fretless to work if ya know what I mean :thumb:

[Linkinbassist]

i'd rather drive the fretless to work if ya know what I mean :thumb:

...cause i don't! :thumb:

[vashts80]

I love my fretless, I'll never go back to fretted unless I have to (although, I've been screwing around with little doodles on my fretted, but that's only cos it's in standard tuning and my fretless is in CGCGC right now)

Sliding is a lot easier on fretless, and the "bumpyness" of frets is gone. Like somebody else said, it's also easier to get back in tune because you don't have frets making horrible noise if you play notes a little sharp if your bass is out of tune.

[Naveed Afzal]

Its like Cars, Stick vs Manual.

Its all performance baby, you race a stick vs a Manual. That manuals gonna lose.

Its personal prefrence, its all about what you need, and what you want.

[moghes69]

correction, you can get fretbuzz, if your action is too low, you'll get the strings bouncing off the board.
how can you get fretbuzz without frets?.... that would juzt be buzz i suppose

[Linkinbassist]

how can you get fretbuzz without frets?.... that would juzt be buzz i suppose

yeah, its just the string buzzing off the board nearer your finger...

[Guinpen]

fretless is only if you're too poor to buy frets

[Linkinbassist]

fretless is only if you're too poor to buy frets

...and thats why fretted necked basses are cheaper than fretless ones, aye?

[TheClap]

you can do things with it you won't be able to with a fretted or an upright.

PLUS: Only fretlessplayers are real men :D



uprights are fretless and you can use a bow and alot of different techniques on it no need to insult the upright basses plus they started it all.

[Guinpen]

...and thats why fretted necked basses are cheaper than fretless ones, aye?

exactly, but only if you're converting australian to U.S. currency, due to inflation and pork-barrel spending in minority demographics

[faelun]

why are fretted ones cheaper? that makes no logical sense

[vashts80]

Because they are? Because people don't normally play fretless so it's more supply-and-demand based? I don't know, ask the industry

[doodooking]

i havent read through all the posts, but if it hasnt been mentioned, one of the reasons to go fretless besides the tone is vibrato because you can do vibrato like a violin rather than like a guitar

[owlandtree]

why are fretted ones cheaper? that makes no logical sense
I am not sure what brand you are referring to, but if you order a Bass from say Fender or Carvin the option for Fretless is the same price. Music shop owners jack-up the price because Fretless is more of a novelty in Rock (which is the most popular genre here in Detroit), so the demand is lower. My Fretless Musicman Sterling was the same price brand new in 1993 as a 93' Fretted M.M.S, except mine has the custom concert muters, which made it approx. $100 more back then.

[Jaded]

What I don't understand is the appeal for a fretless with the cheesy drawn in lines.
Yeah, to hell with intonation, I say!

[Jaded]

I am not sure what brand you are referring to, but if you order a Bass from say Fender or Carvin the option for Fretless is the same price. Music shop owners jack-up the price because Fretless is more of a novelty in Rock (which is the most popular genre here in Detroit), so the demand is lower. My Fretless Musicman Sterling was the same price brand new in 1993 as a 93' Fretted M.M.S, except mine has the custom concert muters, which made it approx. $100 more back then.
My local store tries to sell their fretless am. Jazzes for 1400 :lol: . No wonder they;ve had the same ones for like 4 years.

[Wintermute]

Yeah, to hell with intonation, I say!

You can intonate without them. Ask a violin player, or an upright bassist.

Once you get used to it, an unlined fretless is really no harder than a lined fretless - and it looks ten times cooler. :D

[Jaded]

Its like Cars, Stick vs Manual.

Its all performance baby, you race a stick vs a Manual. That manuals gonna lose.

Its personal prefrence, its all about what you need, and what you want.
What?

Doesn't stick shift=manual transmission?

[Jaded]

You can intonate without them. Ask a violin player, or an upright bassist.

Once you get used to it, an unlined fretless is really no harder than a lined fretless - and it looks ten times cooler. :D
WTF! Since when are violins and uprights fretted! You just blew my ****ing mind, WM.


Yeah, dude, no sh*t, but not everybody has a good ear. I've heard a lot of bassists playing unlined fretless basses that had godawful intonation. I think it's better to be on the safe side in some cases.

I don't think either looks any cooler than the other, btw.

[Az_Holl]

What?

Doesn't stick shift=manual transmission?
:lol:
I was going to say, but was afraid that you Americans had Sticks and manuals instead of manuals and automatics.

[owlandtree]

Yeah, to hell with intonation, I say! I don't understand....Are you implying that you have difficulty with your intonation on a fretless?

[BrodieBear]

Search function.

fretlesses have a search function?



















i'm so very sorry, i know that one was terrible, i couldn't help myself.

[darrell]

fretlesses have a search function?


i'm so very sorry, i know that one was terrible, i couldn't help myself.

Don't let it happen again. :rolleyes:

:smash:
:D

[Naveed Afzal]

What?

Doesn't stick shift=manual transmission?

Yeah, thats a mental **** up...

[Jaded]

I don't understand....Are you implying that you have difficulty with your intonation on a fretless?
No. I was implying that perhaps the reason behind those silly ugly lines is to help with intonation, but then again, that was just a wild guess.

[Teh Glees0rz]

Fretless basses sound really nice. I love to slide on them. It really quirky. I've only ever played one fretless though and it was a Dean Edge. I might of bought it, but I didn't have the £300 for it. The shop it was in don't get much custom, so for all I know, it could still be there.

[Acrophobia]

You got those really cool slide tones! Bwaaaang, dwaaaaang... yeah I love that tone :D

[albinoblacksheep]

no need for long arguements.

Its that majestic, majestic mwaaa you can get, that singular mwaaa you cant get out of anything else.
All other factors are secondary.