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Aussie Mark

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2003
Messages
5,646
Location
Sydney, Australia
I thought this was going to be a poll, then I saw the 100 questions and lost interest. Here's the best I can do to contribute to the discussion .....

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bradfordws

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
386
Location
San Gabriel CA
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?
Pre-Gibson Tobias Killer B 5 - pau ferro - with poly (Jaco) finish on fingerboard

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
Rosewood or Pau Ferro - either one, because I would do the poly finish again - even if I got a Sterling 5HH fretless, I would send the neck out for the finish on the fingerboard.
Do you like lined or unlined?
Lined
What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
1%
What genres/contexts do you use it for?
Jazz standards; cover tunes that were cut on fretless, so I can get the same vibe; blues; any tune that calls for fretless, I'll give it a try (one of my original projects is sorta like Sting / Joni Mitchell, so it really calls out for fretless)
Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
Like the look of unlined, but prefer lined for accuracy

What strings do you use/prefer?
Round wound
What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
Delay and/or chorus pedal
Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
More concentration because I'm worried about playing out of tune
What scale length do you prefer?
34"
Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
Active with on/off switch, so I can go passive if necessary
Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
Magnetic only
Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
Two pickup, lines, Jaco finish on board
If you've never owned one before would you consider or are you considering purchasing one?
I would condsider a Sterling 5HH, but it's only on the wish list at this point
Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
No
Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
Yes - back in the 80s when Pino Palladino did a few hits with Paul Young, I remember tryinig to cop those lines and it was a lot harder than I thought
Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
Not anymore
Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
Yes

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
No - because I didn't play upright when I started out as some do
Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
No - I only play fretless when the song calls for it and 99% of my gigs are played with a fretted 5
Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
Yes
What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
It's great to hear a well-played fretless line, especially if it's in tune! I usually think Jaco because he had such an impact on most of us - and a lot of guys who play fretless will list Jaco as an influence. On the other side of this topic, there's nothing worse than hearing a cat play fretless when his intonation is way off. You really have to have a good ear to play fretless and do it well.
Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
Does not apply - even though I don't play a lot on fretless, when I do, I think I have pretty good intonation - but, I don't think in terms of not having reached my full potential or anything.
Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
No. Only when the song needs it as stated before.
What is your DREAM fretless bass?
Dream fretless: Sterling 5HH Natural or Sunburst
 
S

sitonmybass

I literally just "threw" questions out there. The fact that some have chosen to answer all of them is awesome, I never expected that. At best, I was hoping to get enough responses so that I'd have AT LEAST one answer per question. I also thought that having a wide variety of questions would lead to more responses even if those responses were only to individual questions.
 
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oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
What fretless basses do you own or want?
- Own: StingRay H, StingRay HH

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
- Ebony

Do you like lined or unlined?
- unlined. I always thought that I'd need a lined board to be able to play fretless, but found out that the lines were more of a distraction than help. With the lines I was always trying to visually verify my intonation instead of listening. The blank plank set me free. I still look at the side markers a lot, but just to have a coarse visual clue.

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
- about 5-10% in band situation, about 50% practice at home

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
- whatever song I feel it fits (rock, pop, ska, jazz, latin), I'm more thinking in terms of tone and feel than in genre stereotypes.

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
- unlined

What strings do you use/prefer?
- EBMM Super Slinky rounds or Group III flats

What effects pedals, if any, do you use with fretless?
- Octaver, auto filter, chorus, more or less the same as with the fretted

Do you find yourself concentrating more or do you feel more "free" on fretless?
- While praticing at home, I feel more free. Playing live with the band, I'm terrified...

What scale length do you prefer?
- The same as the main fretted I play

Do you prefer active or passive electronics?
- I prefer active basses in general

Do you prefer all magnetic or magnetic plus piezo pickup configurations?
- Never had a piezo. I tested them (on fretted) when I could but just never liked the sound.

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
- My fretless should be the same model as my main fretted bass to make the transition as smooth as possible, also to have not too much of a change of tone and volume in a live situation.

Do you know someone who would let you borrow theirs to try out?
- A friend of mine borrowed me his Pedulla about 15 years ago. I totally loved it, even though I totally sucked at playing it.

Were you easily discouraged at your first attempt at playing one?
- No. It was easier than I thought. But the first fretless I had was with a lined board. I thought I'd need that.

Does the thought of playing fretless intimidate you and prevent you from trying it?
- Yes. In fact, I was terrified. And therefore didn't have the courage to try fretless for over 20 years. Last year I finally got into it. And I'm glad I did!

Are the people you play with "open" to you trying/playing fretless?
- Yes. They love it. As long as I play it properly

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
- Much to my surprise, it did.

Do you feel you're "missing out" not playing fretless?
- I didn't. It was more of a curiousity. But since I started to play fretless, I found it to be a great source of inspiration and joy.

Do you "hear" certain imagined bass-lines in your head as fretless lines?
- No. I decide on sound (and fretless is a "sound" category for me) when I try to arrange or compose a bass line for a certain song.

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
- Enlightment, happyness, joy and awe

Do you feel that you haven't reached your full potential due to not playing fretless?
- No. I feel I haven't reached my full potential regardless of the bass.

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
- It will become a major part of my voice with time. But I love both types of tone and cannot imagine not playing fretted anymore.

What is your DREAM fretless bass?
- All black StingRay HH, mahogany body, ebony fretboard.... this one:

IMG_4916.jpg
 
S

sitonmybass

I want to "re-word" one of the questions.

Instead of:

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



It should have been:

"Do you feel that not playing fretless is limiting your growth as a player?"
 

Moontide

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
8
What fretless basses do you own or want?
Carvin BB75 Maple/Maple w/tung oil finish
Carvin AC40 Koa Top/Mahogany

What type of fingerboard wood do you prefer?
Pao or Ebony

Do you like lined or unlined?
Lined, No dots

What is the percentage of your usage of fretless?
At the moment 100%

What genres/contexts do you use it for?
Jazz, Fusion, progressive Rock, Folk

Do you prefer the look of lined or unlined?
Unlined but I need them for accuracy myself

What strings do you use/prefer?
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?
Freedom

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?
No preference

Are there certain features that you consider a "must-have?"
Quality construction, fast, flat neck

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?
Nope, felt right at home

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?
Yes

Did fretless automatically feel comfortable to you?
Definitely

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

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

What is your emotional response when you hear a well played fretless line?
Chilling (in a good way)

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

Could fretless possibly be your "voice" on bass?
It's mine

What is your DREAM fretless bass?
Roscoe skb, Fodera Emperor 5 or F-Bass BNF-5
 

Manfloozy

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
1,047
Location
Naples, FL
Don't own either anymore sadly enough (but they are in good hands of fellow Knuckledheads)... still for Fretless EBMM porn... this is currently the best I got! :)

img4166f.jpg
 

T Alan

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
411
Location
La Salle IL
I think I've already got my dream fretless-
Ray407.jpg

P1010018.jpg


between p/guards-
FoothillsOrganicsSept07II.jpg


New-
Ray1.jpg


Due to popular demand, from both bandmates and "fans", fretless has become my 'voice.'
I most certainly will never reach my full potential on fretless, or bass guitar, for that matter. :(
To me, a well played fretless "sings" more, but that all depends on the context, I suppose.
Whether or not I hear bass lines as fretted or fretless is about 50/50, I think.
Depending on the situation, I might feel as though I'm missing out.
I used to be VERY intimidated by fretless. I tried it once at a shop and was totally lost. Hadn't touched one in years 'til a friend let me borrow his for a week. I'll never forget picking it up and feeling it just "click". I took it to rehearsal that evening and rocked hard with it. Never forget that day. :)
I'm actually more comfortable on fretless than fretted...especially since I do 100% improv.
I'm about 50/50 with regard to active vs. passive.
I'm MUCH more "free" on fretless.
As for pedals, mostly just my Akai Headrush.
String preference depends on the situation.
Unlined ALL THE WAY(right, Grasshopper? ;) )
As mentioned in another thread, I wish ebony was an option for fingerboard material.
Still looking forward to my fretless Bongo 6'er. [sigh]
 
Joined
Sep 19, 2008
Messages
18
dude, with all those questions, it looks like you're doing market research to make your own basses. you should just get what you like. they're all good. buy the one that looks the coolest.

personally, i prefer unlined. i'd also prefer ebony, but that's not a standard option. i guess i'm stuck with pau ferro :(
 

tkarter

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 22, 2004
Messages
5,921
Location
Kansas
Bongo 6 H fretless will be my dream bass. I think I will go with lined but I am not sure of that yet. My real dream is a white Bongo 6 H fretless.

tk
 
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