Fretless Follies!

[LowEndWonder]

Do you prefer lined or unlined fretboards on a fretless?
I'll take lined. :pancake:

[marnold]

I've never played a fretless. Unlined definitely looks cooler but lined would probably be the only way I could play it.

[hubberjub]

If you're playing fretless it must be unlined. It doesn't matter how in tune it sounds. If someone complains laugh at them for not recognizing microtonality when they hear it. Follow it up by muttering, "God, this club is full of amatures."

[LowEndWonder]

If you're playing fretless it must be unlined. It doesn't matter how in tune it sounds. If someone complains laugh at them for not recognizing microtonality when they hear it. Follow it up by muttering, "God, this club is full of amatures."
Why must it be unlined?
I don't get your point! Or are you just pulling my leg?:confused:

[oldguy]

Unlined, looks cool, good bass player makes it sound cool.
Unlined, definitely. That's what side markers are for, anyway.
And lined from out in the audience looks like lined.......not cool.

[hubberjub]

Why must it be unlined?
I don't get your point! Or are you just pulling my leg?:confused:

Sorry, I was just kidding. Both basses will play the same. I was refering to the many bass players that I know who would never play a lined fretboard fretless bass because they think it shows a lack of ability. And most of them spend the night playing out of tune. If you're just getting in to playing bass the lines are a great tool to help develop an ear for pitch. I would recomend the lines.

[t_ross33]

If you're playing fretless it must be unlined. It doesn't matter how in tune it sounds. If someone complains laugh at them for not recognizing microtonality when they hear it. Follow it up by muttering, "God, this club is full of amatures."

:rotflmao::bravo::master:

I vote "unlined" just because it looks cool. I just read an interview with Geddy. Apparently Fender sent him a Jaco fretless which he used on one tune on the "Snakes & Arrows" album. He was hoping not to have to add other instruments to the song, just bass and drums so no one could tell him he was out of tune! :rotflmao:

I haven't played fretless, but I love the sound.

Trev

[LowEndWonder]

:rotflmao::bravo::master:

I vote "unlined" just because it looks cool. I just read an interview with Geddy. Apparently Fender sent him a Jaco fretless which he used on one tune on the "Snakes & Arrows" album. He was hoping not to have to add other instruments to the song, just bass and drums so no one could tell him he was out of tune! :rotflmao:

I haven't played fretless, but I love the sound.

Trev
Jaco's fretless was lined.
Heck, the unlined does look cool especially an ebony board but why
not take advantage of those fretlines to play in tune?
They sure help me, my fretless sounds as in tune as my fretted basses when
I play.

[t_ross33]

Jaco's fretless was lined.
Heck, I knew that ;) In fact it was originally a fretted that he ripped the frets out of (a la Number 3 from the list above). From Wikipedia:

Pastorius was most identified by his use of two well-worn Fender Jazz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jazz_Bass) Basses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jazz_Bass) from the early 1960s: A 1960 fretted, and a 1962 fretless. The fretless was originally a fretted bass (at the time Fender did not manufacture fretless instruments) from which he removed the frets and used wood filler to fill in the grooves where the frets had been, along with the holes created where chunks of the fretboard had been taken out. Jaco then sanded down the fingerboard, and applied several coats of marine epoxy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epoxy) (Petit's Poly-poxy) to prevent the rough Rotosound (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RotoSound) RS-66 roundwound bass strings he used from eating into the bare wood.

I believe the fretboard of Fender's Jaco bass is lined and not "filled" as described here.

[LowEndWonder]

He pulled out the frets with his teeth, filled the slots with Silly Putty, and coated the board with maple syrup! :rotflmao:
All kidding aside, I thought he used Man-O-War spar varnish for the fretboard coating?

[pie_man_25]

/\ I wishI could say I knew, but unfortunately I don't, I want to hear some jaco, any recommendations?

[kencasino]

I have played both lined and unlined fretless, but I agree that an unlined one looks way cooler:rockon:

I have one now that I built from Brazilian Guajuvira wood and I have the side mnarkers exaclty where the frets normally are. I find that even though I am used to the normal side markers (in between the fret spot) THis bass is much easier to tell where you are at a glance when it is sometimes hard to hear.

[Carlström]

Unlined!

http://www.tomas-carlstrom.se/wendlerbas/IMG_3761.jpg

[NWBasser]

I play an unlined one.

You can quickly tell which guitarists play with their eyes or with their ears that way.

I'm only half-serious. It is a bit funny though when you play a repeating bass line and a guitarist just stares at your fingerboard and wonders what to do.

BTW - I don't think it matters a whole lot what other players use, just do what's best for YOU!

[NWBasser]

/\ I wishI could say I knew, but unfortunately I don't, I want to hear some jaco, any recommendations?

I doubt anyone really knows for sure how the Bass of Doom was created. A lot of conflicting stories on that one.

To enjoy some Jaco playing, Havona by Weather Report is pretty good.

Search on YouTube for him playing with Joni Mitchell. Pretty awesome bass playing along with her vocals.

[MAXIFUNK]

A good Friend of mine who has his own fender artist bass let me borrow his Victor Bailey fret less jazz bass it had lines and dots. I really mean really loved that bass hated that I had to return it to him.

Either way works personal preference for me since the 1 I used had lines I would like it to have lines. But i never gave it much thought one way or the other considering before I was loaned that bass I never played fretless for any long period of time.

[hubberjub]

Unlined!

http://www.tomas-carlstrom.se/wendlerbas/IMG_3761.jpg

Damn, that's a beautiful bass. Who makes that?

[pes_laul]

I've never played a lined fretless only unlined. I don't really have a problem playing them but I remember my friends uncle had a homemade fretless-while it was really sweet it didn't have lines or fret markers :eek: I'd pretty much slide into each note :P

[NWBasser]

Jaco's fretless was lined.
Heck, the unlined does look cool especially an ebony board but why
not take advantage of those fretlines to play in tune?
They sure help me, my fretless sounds as in tune as my fretted basses when
I play.

Hey, if the unlined ebony looks cool, then why not just use the side dot markers for position instead of lines? They're actually easier to use than lines anyway.

[Carlström]

Damn, that's a beautiful bass. Who makes that?


sorry been gone from the place for a while...

it's made by Dave Wendler, www.electrocoustic.com , I also have a guitar he made. Good stuff!! :happy

[kidsmoke]

Damn, that's a beautiful bass.


+1

I've never really played bass, but want a decent one so that I can become proficient enough to step up and add at least basic bottom end when playing with others, and who knows, maybe I'll fall hard and decide 4 strings are better than 6!

I recently came across a bass that had the frets ground flat, not removed. It's a beautiful vintage neckthrough, big brass bridge and SD quarter pounders.

My concern is that not having frets may make it more difficult to learn??

Obviously, the lines are there. And of course, I could spring for a re-fret.

Opinions?

What are the sonic differences between the two?

[NWBasser]

I've heard again and again that fretless is more difficult to learn to play.

I'm not so sure about that though. I started out with a lined fretless and found it to be quite easy. If you have a good ear for pitch then it's not very hard to pick it up. And, once you have it down, it's extremely easy to play without those frets getting in the way. Quick passages are clean and nearly effortless!

About the only negative that I can come up with for fretless is that it doesn't work so well for slapping and popping stuff.

[gndboy]

Can't see the lines anyhow, there or not, when playing. Side dots do it for me. That said, gotta be REAL careful with the fretless, which includes the intonation of all the other instruments in the ensemble. I am far too insecure to use a fretless with strangers.