Fretless poll thread

[sitonmybass]

I recently sold a 35" scale non EBMM fretless 5 with a lined ebony fingerboard which I had strung with flats to minimize wear (I ended up loving flats on it.) My next fretless will be an EBMM 5 possibly unlined.

Attention Knuckleheads:

What fretless basses do you own or want?

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?

Do you like lined or unlined?

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?

What genres/contexts do you use it for?

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?

What strings do you use/prefer?

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?

What scale length do you prefer?

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"

If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?

Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?

Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?

Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?

Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?

What is your DREAM fretless bass?

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

My "dream" fretless bass is the unlined fretless Dargies Delight II Big Al bass incoming as we speak. I'll keep her strung with Ernie Ball rounds.

Aside from that, I have a sunburst, unlined, 3-band fretless Stingray 4 fitted with "Acme" flatwounds. I aboslutely love this bass to pieces, but am giddy as Christmas over the arrival of the Big Al.

I only use a bit of EH small clone theory chorus... I use the fretless for anything and everything. It's helping improve my playing and ear training/accuracy quite a bit.

Cheers

Andy

 

[bdgotoh]

I like lined fretless boards, I've had both and I'm much better on lined.

I'm happy with ebony, rosewood, or pau ferro boards

I use nylon tapewounds or flatwounds usually

Scale length isn't a big deal on fretless, I've played 30" scale basses that sounded great when compared to 35" scale

I definitely got frustrated early on, usually that ended when I sold the bass!

 

[keko]

I'm considering fretless Bongo Hp, or fretless Stingray Hp!

Advantage of Bongo is 4 band EQ, and advantage of Stingray is body wood (ash) and vintage tone of alnico pickup, so I need much more time to consider this matter!

I think that good fretles tone needs only bridge pickup in combination with piezo, even for some bass lines piezo only!

More, and much more... I think that for average fretless bass lines are enough 4 strings!

Wish to have ebony fretboard, but not necessary!

Looks much better without fret lines, but lines wouldn't disturb tone anyway!

Usability of fretless during gigs that my band is playing could be max. 10% unfortunately, so for now I'm faking that tone using my freted bass with cutting off treble on bridge single coil position and way of playing with fingers, or sometimes when faking doublebass tone using single neck pickup with lots of middle...etc.

If I decide to buy a fretless I'll use it very rare in live conditions, more for home practice and my soul but maybe I'll have in future some small club gigs and that's I'm looking forward to!

 

[projectapollo]

I just entered the fretless world and have 2 basses at the moment: MM Sterling lined and another brand unlined passive. Observations:
- prefer the passive sound; the MM active is a bit much for me on the fretless
- the unlined looks cooler but I definately play the lined better
- the smaller gauge flat wounds play the best for me (EB Group IVs on order)
- I must be a SansAmp addict because I like it on the fretless a lot
- I find myself practicing on the fretless more than a fretted - more expressive and fun
- I bet the 25th Anniversary fretless is really nice (when passive)
- my Sterling is Single H which, to me, is not the best config for a fretless sound; would prefer an HH -- need the deeper neck PU tone -- this may be why I like the SansAmp with it
- the Sterling size and neck profile are just fantastic, very playable

 

[Manfloozy]

Attention Knuckleheads:
What fretless basses do you own or want?
DDII Bongo 5HSp, 25th 5HSS

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
Ebony honestly, but Pau Ferro does a great frickin' job.

Do you like lined or unlined?
Unlined, I'm blind anyways. Side dot markers are there for a kind reminder too.

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
Once I have one again, probably 75%. I love fretless basses.

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
I don't play hard stuff, and not a ton of "fast" stuff, so anything from Reggae to Blues. Primarily Reggae, Blues, Jazz, fusion, and some "Rock" type stuff. Anything

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
Unlined

What strings do you use/prefer?
Flats

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
No effects with anything

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
With a new song... concentrating, with something I've played a bazillion times, more free.

What scale length do you prefer?
Only ever player a 34"... except for an upright.

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
Don't have a preference really. But probably Active.

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
Can't say yet.

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
Nope. But when I picked it up after a while I found my intonation a bit lacking... but seriously after about 1 hour of practice I was as good as new.

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
Yes.

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
Yes.

Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
They develop in the fingers for me. When I play fretless... my fingers play fretless.

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
I don't think this is a fair statement. Fretted and Fretless are both great... one does not equate to the other.

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
Possibly.

What is your DREAM fretless bass?
Right now.... see question 1.

 

[kylierider]

What fretless basses do you own or want?
I own a 30th anny. SR. By far the best fretless I've ever played.


What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
No preference really.

Do you like lined or unlined?
Unlined..with dots above every "fret"

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
I am a one bass at a gig guy. It either goes and is played all night or it stays home.

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
Contemporary Church band and a blues band. Usually any situation where I don't need ear plugs.

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
I like the look of unlined fretless basses. Never owned a lined one.

What strings do you use/prefer?
EBMM Group III flats

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
None...Plug and play

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
Watching the board more than the girls dancing.

What scale length do you prefer?
34"

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
Definately active for fretless.

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
Single H

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
4 string..If I had to go 5 I would go high C instead of low B. Flats with as low as I can go action.

If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?
Always owned a fretless

Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
If you live in Cincinnati Ohio you can play mine.

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
No but my band mate made me play my fretted until I had some time with it under my belt.

Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
No it never did.

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
Yes nobody cares now. One you have played one a little while you can make it not sound like a fretless. I played one as my only bass back in the late 80's

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
Yes, once the innitial "Where did the frets go shock wears off"

Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
No

Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
Sometimes

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
Well I like it I guess.

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
N/A

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
It's a voice but not the only one.

Dream Fretless
I already have the best fretless ever...But maybe that Michael Roades Big Al in a fretless version.

 

[maddog]

 

[Duarte]

My dream fretless is a Bongo HSp, unlined.

I had a fretless Ray and I used it around 50% of the time, it sounded superb and played like a dream. The active electronics on EBMM basses give you a vast array of usable tones, and all MM basses seem to work as fretless models.

I love unlined boards, and it really really isn't as difficult as it may look - however my first bass was a fretless Jazz, so the first 4 years of my playing was fretless...I may be slightly biased.

As for wood, I LOVED the Pau Ferro on my old Ray. It is an increibly beautiful wood, and it showed minimal wear - impressive as it was a good 15 years old. However, you definitely can't argue with ebony.

You just use that picture as an answer to every question about fretless basses don't you, love it!

 

[adouglas]

What fretless basses do you own or want?
- Bongo 5 Hp, 07 LE, lined

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
-No preference

Do you like lined or unlined?
- Lined
What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
- At the moment about 5 percent, but that's because I'm in a gigging band right now. It was about 20 percent before the current gig.

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
- Ballads, torch songs... slow quiet stuff where it stands out.

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
- No preference

What strings do you use/prefer?
- OEM Slinkys

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
- None

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
- Concentrating on getting the right intonation and tone

What scale length do you prefer?
- I've only used 34" scale, so I don't know

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
- Active

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
- Mag/piezo

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
- Piezo, lines

If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?
- Not applicable

Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
- Not applicable

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
- No, it was easier than I thought it would be because of the lines (my first fretless was another brand, which also had lines... I didn't make the big jump into an EBMM right away)

Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
- Not applicable

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
- Yes

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
- Yes

Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
- Not applicable

Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
- Yes, definitely

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
- Drool

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
- Not applicable. I haven't reached my full potential, but not for that reason. It's more because I'm lazy and don't pay enough attention to being on time and tight in general.

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
- Part of it, but not all of it.

What is your DREAM fretless bass?
- I already own it!

 

[maddog]

You just use that picture as an answer to every question about fretless basses don't you, love it!

Not to trivialize the OP's request but why starve the eyes with all that text when you can feast your eyes on a picture or two.

 

[adouglas]

Not to trivialize the OP's request but why starve the eyes with all that text when you can feast your eyes on a picture or two.

Good point.

 

[Duarte]

Meh, Why not!

 

[R Upsomegrub]

I've played fretted SR5's as my main bass since 1993 and was finally able to swing a fretless SR5 purchase a couple of years ago; the familiarity of sound and feel made a big difference in my fretless playing. Previously I had owned 5 different fretless basses over the years from various manufacturers, and while they were OK instruments on their own, I never felt comfortable with them.

My actual percentage of fretless playing time varies. I play with a local singer-songwriter and play fretless on some of his stuff and play it occasionally at church.

I'm fine with either lined or unlined, but I will admit that the unlined boards look cool.

I put used-but-cleaned rounds from my fretted basses on my fretless (for purely economic reasons).

I often play fretless though a chorus pedal.

 

[koentje_bassist]

What fretless basses do you own or want?
Own: squier vintage modified fretless jazz bass
Want: stingray 4 or 5 fretless

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
Anything with epoxy coating on it.

Do you like lined or unlined?
Unlined for the view, lined for my head.

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
about 5%, don't use it in a band context - except some weddings

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
Pop, funk

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
Unlined

What strings do you use/prefer?
Roundwound

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
Chorus, from time to time, not much.

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
More free.

What scale length do you prefer?
34"

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
Active

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
Never tried the piezo's

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
3-band EQ for the mids

If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?
I have one, but I want another one

Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
Yes

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
Yes

Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
No

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
Very open

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
No

Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
/
Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
Yes, pino is in my head

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
Something like "horny"

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
/

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
Absolutely. I feel like it's something that my ears always wanted, but my head and hands didn't dared to.

What is your DREAM fretless bass?
EBMM Stingray 3EQ HSp - natural color - lined
or a lefay....

 

[sitonmybass]

More fretless pics!

More fretless pics!

More fretless pics!

More fretless pics!

More fretless pics!

More fretless pics!

I forgot to ask for them when I initially started this thread.

 

[DaddyFlip]

Attention Knuckleheads:

What fretless basses do you own or want?
Don't own one yet; see the DREAM question below. However, there is a lined Bongo 5HHp Orange Firemist online somewhere that I would buy if I didn't already have a dealer I like.
What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
Definitely pau ferro- better looking and feeling than ebony. Can't comment on the sound difference, if any.
Do you like lined or unlined?
Definitely unlined for looks; lined for practicality. However, as a 1-year beginner, I found I was placing my fingers behind the fret markers, so everything was flat. Would have to get used to placing ON the markers, I guess.
What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
Don't own one yet, but seems like it would be high % once I get one because it is a fun and liberating experience.
What genres/contexts do you use it for?
I would use mine for church hymn and solo accompaniment.
Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
Without a doubt- UNLINED
What strings do you use/prefer?
No experience yet, but I will use flats because I don't want any 'bite'; sound should be as smooth as possible in my book.
What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
Don't have any pedals, but I bet the A*u*l*r Octamizer would be nice.
Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
Only played in-store thus far, but liberating is what it was!
What scale length do you prefer?
34-inch is fine and dandy
Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
No experience, but probably doesn't matter in the long run.
Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
Never had piezo, but would opt for it on a fretless. Waiting for BP to authorize a 6-string piezo bridge for the Bongo!
Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
Just the pau ferro fingerboard. If this is a EBMM wish list, then my favorite fretless feature of all is offered by F8a$$ of Canada- side FRET markers so you get the practicality of lined with the look of unlined. AWESOME!
If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?
Absolutely! Trying to figure out what my first one will be right now.
Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
Tried several with Brandt@TPB.
Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
No. I am a beginner anyway and I found it very natural and not intimidating like I thought. In fact, my favorite was an UNLINED Sterling 4HH with the old style nut (pre-compensated). It was just plain fun playing my scales without frets to get in the way (so what if it might have been a little off-key).
Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
Did at first; not after trying.
Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
They would be at the church.
Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
Yes.
Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
"Yes."
Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
All I hear is that smooth, horn-like sound with no buzz or rattle.
What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
It's like a gentle tropical breeze.
Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
I haven't reached my potential anyway.
Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
It's definitely unique. I'm looking forward to what I can do with it.
What is your DREAM fretless bass?
Right now, the dream is made by someone other than EBMM, and I would buy one except I would rather buy EBMM from TPB exclusively, so I'm holding out. However, EBMM Dream #1 is a Bongo 6HHp, pau ferro fingerboard with SIDE fret markers (see "must have" features question) in either Candy Red or Black with shell pickguard. Dream #2 is a Stingray 5HHp, unlined pau ferro fingerboard with birdseye maple neck, Honeyburst with white pickguard and white pickup covers. I'll bet that a 1 of 100 redwood BFR Stingray would have been awesome in a fretless.

 

[bdgotoh]

Here's one I bought after playing Tom's fretless:

 

[Eggman]

Mine:
Currently strung with half-rounds. I am playing it more currently than I have in the past - love it.
The piezo is a must add on these.

Also have an NS WAV EUB and a 63 Jazz that is fretless.

 

[five7]

My 65 jazz with maple fretboard and roundwounds is one sweet bass. I would love to have a sunburst stingray 4H unlined. The sub 5 fretless I owned was a great sounding and playing bass but wasn't being used much so it went bye-bye. If I really think about it that dargie big al that Guitar Land had would be the ultimate fretless.