Fretless ray

[DTG]

So I have been looking for a fretless ray for a while now but really diddnt have the cash to buy one and diddnt want another bass in the house getting in the way of all my wife's shoes and handbags.

I put up an add dot a fretless neck and Jim came to my rescue. So I now have the best of both worlds for my 4 banger.

I have never changed a neck before but with the help of my good buddy ( man he made it sound so easy, a complete guide for neck set up for a gorilla with a screwdriver) I got it done.

While I always live the honeyburst and maple board combo the darker wood is starting to grow on me too !

 

[cellkirk74]

Great! I played MadMatt's fretless Ray 5 and that's just perfect.

 

[J Romano]

Great job! That board on the neck is such a perfect match for the body. And that grain on the board is outstanding!!!!!! Great looking bass. I like the looks of it better with the fretless neck Pure Class!!!!

 

[oli@bass]

Very nice board... and now you have a fretless 2-band with mutes! Beyond cool!

 

[njhammer]

That's really nice! I have lined fretless SR5 and love it. The pau ferro board is exceptional.

 

[DTG]

Cheers guys , yeah the new neck looks pretty cool !
And yup a 2 band with mutes fretless is pretty cool !
Now has anyone got any tips for Playing ? At times it's sounding like a cat being kicked around the room n

 

[MrMusashi]

here are some pointers that have made it easier for me to play the fretless:

make sure it hangs the same way on the strap every time.
fret "on the frets" on your regular bass. that way your fingers learn the spread needed to play in tune.
practise in the dark or with your eyes closed.
and last but not least: put on roundwounds

MrM

 

[DTG]

Wow I have rounds on but I thought I was meant to have flats on ?
Thanks for the tips !

 

[drTStingray]

i suggest you put flats on if you want the board to stay in good condition. Rounds can eat it quickly if you use the bass a lot. Tips are practice a lot and listen carefully - make sure you stretch for the notes and enjoy

 

[oli@bass]

Now has anyone got any tips for Playing ? At times it's sounding like a cat being kicked around the room n

Don't let the kicked cat scare you away from playing it! Play a lot. Play tunes you play on the fretted. Check out YouTube videos of fretless (MM) players and try to learn those tunes (early Paul Young songs come to mind). Listen to tunes played with a fretless, and try to play along. Have fun! Enjoy the freedom. Don't be afraid to suck. Dare to be stupid. Take the fretless to a band rehearsal... as your only bass!

Listen, listen, listen

 

[MrMusashi]

hehe.. its my personal preference. you might like flats better

i dont worry too much about wear. pau ferro literally translates as iron wood. but of course, if you play 5 hours every day on it, it would wear on the fretboard

MrM

 

[drTStingray]

Dave your bass looks like mine's 2 band twin

hehe.. its my personal preference. you might like flats better

i dont worry too much about wear. pau ferro literally translates as iron wood. but of course, if you play 5 hours every day on it, it would wear on the fretboard

MrM

The sound is great with rounds - but my Ray fretless neck has taken a bit of a bashing from previous use of rounds - hence the comment - group 3 flats sound really good on it as well

 

[J Romano]

Go flat, love 'm on all my MM basses.

 

[bassmonkeee]

i suggest you put flats on if you want the board to stay in good condition. Rounds can eat it quickly if you use the bass a lot. Tips are practice a lot and listen carefully - make sure you stretch for the notes and enjoy

I would never suggest using a particular king of string to avoid maintenance on an instrument. Car tires won't wear out if you don't ever drive anywhere, either.

Use the strings to get the sound that you want, and do proper fretboard maintenance and you'll get years and years of use out of any fretless fretboard with regular use.

 

[DTG]

Dave your bass looks like mine's 2 band twin

<img src="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15090"/>

The sound is great with rounds - but my Ray fretless neck has taken a bit of a bashing from previous use of rounds - hence the comment - group 3 flats sound really good on it as well

Wouldnt it be cool to have them both in the same room so we could A/B them !

 

[DTG]

Thanks for the tips guys, I really like the sound of the rounds so I will leave them there for a little while
I had a few hours this afternoon to play with her and the first song I am going to play this live on is" call me al " I am not a slap player by any means but it Sounds class on a fretless.

 

[MadMatt]

Beautifull board! Welcome to the fretless world (altough is am just a dabbler)

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

Awesome looking bass, David. Enjoy the neck for years to come.

 

[DTG]

Cheers Jim !!
Btw it was indeed a great job of packing it!

Thanks again
David

 

[DTG]

This is nuts, I took it to a rehearsal today and it was great I am still all over the place on the fretboard but getting easier all the time.

There is one huge problem ..... I now want a fretless 25th, this may have been a very bad idea for my pocket.