Fretless Questions

[Eggman]

With the LE 07s coming soon, I am starting to plan my order. It will be a fretless of some kind (4 string).

Can a two pickup Sterling be ordered with piezo - like an HSP or HHP - or is the only piezo option on a Sterling an HP?

Who has experience with Sterling fretless vs Bongo fretless? Please share your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[maddog]

Don't have extensive fretless sterling play time but have played NorM's for a bit. NorM's sterling has piezo, my bongo does not so comparisons aren't exactly spot on. Both were singleH versions. To me, after playing both, it comes down to, which one do I like, Bongo or Sterling, regardless of frets.

Also, roundwounds and piezo do not mix in my opinion.

 

[Eggman]

So far - I like both in the fretted variety.

Will one have a more "traditional" fretless sound than the other?

 

[MingusBASS]

I'm not sure what you mean by "traditional" but I'm pretty sure that my fretless Bongo 5 HScp is one of the most versatile basses I've ever played. You can get that Jaco sound all the way to a pretty convincing upright sound(how much more traditional can you get). It's truely awesome!

 

[maddog]

Paul's fretless bongo with piezo does a very good job at upright. Of course, his is equipped with flats. NorM's, equipped with rounds, not so much. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either unless you can't get it in a config you want.

 

[MingusBASS]

At the moment, the only Ray/Sterling you can get with a piezo pickup is the single H.

 

[AnthonyD]

Dual-ie Sterlings and Stingrays not available with piezos...




*sigh*

 

[smallequestrian]

Paul's fretless bongo with piezo does a very good job at upright. Of course, his is equipped with flats. NorM's, equipped with rounds, not so much. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either unless you can't get it in a config you want.

Actually, my Bongo is not equipped with flats. I think I might restring it with some slinkys tonight even. I am not worried about rounds with piezos either.

 

[maddog]

Was it when I played it in Tejas?

the feeling very confused this evening,

 

[tkarter]

You know them flats I play Tom? Those you played on Paul's were the same but rounds and I better shut up here cuz I loved that Bongo.

tk

 

[PzoLover]

Slinkys & MM5 Piezos All The Way

Depending on the music you're doing, and aside from amp, speaker and style of play variables which have huge impact on your sound ...

I'm using stock Slinkys on both my SR5 Piezos (fretted, fretless) since day1; and for what I do with SR5s I can't imagine 'wasting' good H/Piezo vibes with flats.
I use flats on my standup, and also on 4 str P and PJ basses, but not my MM5s.

Maybe there's another SR5 Piezo fretless (20th?) in my future; or depending on options available after the official launch, maybe a Sterling 5 Piezo fretless, or maybe even a BONGO5 Piezo fretless; maybe then I'd try some flats on one of them just for kicks.

There were some rumours kicking around once or twice a long time ago about SR5 or Sterling5 HSP or HHP in the future; otherwise it's BONGO4/5 for HSP or HHP.

The more MM5 Piezo basses I have kicking around, the more possibility there is that I'll play flats once in a while; otherwise, I'm totally Kinky for Slinkys with my MM5 H/Piezos

 

[maddog]

well I guess I had more to drink than I thought I did.