Why do you play fretless?

[Moose308]

I know this might seem like a stupid question. Well, it is a stupid question. But I am going to post it anyhow.

Fretless basses, why?

Granted, I am not the best player in the world. And I have almost zero experience with fretless basses. I touched one once. And that's about it. But I am very curious as to why someone would want one. What does it do for playing, sound, and music? Is there something, other than sliding, that a fretless offers other that fretted basses just don't have? For you fretless players out there, why do you play fretless, rather than the more common fretted bass?

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

You simply can't get that muawh (sp?) sound from a fretted.

 

[smallequestrian]

Its mostly about a different sound. My fretless has a totally different character than the other basses I have had. The sound may or may not be applicable to certain music, but there is only one way to get that sound.

I may not have a lot of reason to play a fretless bass, especially with the music I generally prefer, but damn if it isn't fun to use...

 

[AnthonyD]

Totally different sound, totally different feel...

I don't use it for everything - there are select tunes/styles that I feel work better for me on the fretless. Mostly smooth stuff and the occasional blues jam where there's lots of "expression" as opposed to other music which demands more power or raw energy from the bass.

Besides, it's just so totally cool!

 

[Father Gino]

Why Not?

If you get one and spend the time to get comforable enough with it, you'll answer your own question. It's just a somewhat different instrument with a somewhat different sound. It's still a bass but you can make an array of sound/tones/attacks that you just can't do with a fretted instrument.

One reason to get one is that it will immeasurably improve your ear if you spend some time with it.

If you do get one, don't get a real crappy example. I wouldn't so much worry about the pickups & electronics as much as playability (a good straight, flat neck.) Don't worry so much about sliding around and mwahhing, that'll come along. Worry more about making it sound more like a fretted bass. You need to control that mwahh in both directions, i.e. attaining it and defeating it at will.

My favorite fretless of the half dozen I've owned is a MM Sterling. It has very useful pre-amp that can make its tone suitable for many, many styles of music.

 

[tiffles]

they look hot.



bloody hell i just hit 1000 posts.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Because it's fun.

 

[Lazybite]

fretless are a bit of an enigma too me. always wanted one because they sound so cool... but too scared they won't fit in with kind of music I play.

 

[Aussie Mark]

too scared they won't fit in with kind of music I play.

You can play fretless with any style of music. Fretless is not just about sliding. In that first pic above I'm playing in a Sixties Rock band, playing The Who, Stones, Monkees, Yardbirds, Cream and Hendrix. In the second shot I'm in a band playing modern pop/rock such as Jet, No Doubt, Powderfinger, Hole and Pink.

Anything you can play on fretted bass, you can play on fretless.

 

[NoFrets80]

flexibility...

I love fretless because, for my purposes and my normal spread of gigs, fretless allows me the most flexibility and versatility. My first bass, loaned to me by my first mentor, was a fretless, so I have never been scared of them. You can make it sound like a fretted bass if you want, mainly through left hand articulation and control, and yet you always have the fretless palette at your disposal. I've found that some of the coolest, punchiest, most engaging lines on electric bass come from fretless basses and their players. Coming from upright I have that experience to pull from as well.

 

[scottbass71]

You can play fretless with any style of music. Fretless is not just about sliding. In that first pic above I'm playing in a Sixties Rock band, playing The Who, Stones, Monkees, Yardbirds, Cream and Hendrix. In the second shot I'm in a band playing modern pop/rock such as Jet, No Doubt, Powderfinger, Hole and Pink.

Anything you can play on fretted bass, you can play on fretless.

Totally agree Mark

Also it is good to challenge yourself and put yourself out of the comfort zone once and a while

 

[Psychicpet]

ditto to Hawt Fretless Mark AND......

fretless feels more organic to me. closer to the sound of "that ultimate tone" in my head.
Also, the other reasons why I play fretless are: Tony Franklin, Jeff ament, and Jaco.

oh ya, and 2 other things:
1) ALWAYS use roundwounds on your fretless
2) UNLINED fingerboard is the most fun way to go

 

[strummer]

One reason to get one is that it will immeasurably improve your ear if you spend some time with it.

Or it'll get you fired real quick

 

[mike not fat]

I'd love to have one, but I don't think i'll ever be able to find out the notes (need a lot of work, or then you must choose a lined one, but i don't like how they look). I must give it a try.

MNF

 

[Aussie Mark]

I'd love to have one, but I don't think i'll ever be able to find out the notes

The "notes" are the same as a fretted bass. If you closed your eyes and someone handed you a fretless bass in the same scale and neck width that you're used to playing, you'll be able to play fretless immediately. Believe me, it's not scary at all. Your left hand (if you're a righty) already knows what to do.

 

[lamerjay]

You can play fretless with any style of music. Fretless is not just about sliding. In that first pic above I'm playing in a Sixties Rock band, playing The Who, Stones, Monkees, Yardbirds, Cream and Hendrix. In the second shot I'm in a band playing modern pop/rock such as Jet, No Doubt, Powderfinger, Hole and Pink.

Anything you can play on fretted bass, you can play on fretless.

What about Cannibal Corpse/Slipknot types of music. I don't play anything that heavy but can it be done w/ a good sound on a fretless? ...

 

[ProgHead]

My first two basses, about 24 years ago were fretless.
Today my main bass is the fretted Stingray, but playing progressive rock, I need radical changes in sounds and style. The fretless bass forces you to also change style.

I often use roundwound strings on my fretless, mostly for studio work. Besides the sliding, there's that very tasteful vibrato you can do, there's that total absence of fret sound, and mostly I like hitting the strings very hard and fast so that they hit the fingerboard on a large surface and that's where you hear the wood in your sound.

Unfortunately all my past (80's) fretless' had maple fingerboard (a modified Stingray and a Ibanez -spaghetty logo- p-bass).

Maple fingerboards (fretless) sound very different from ebony, rosewood or all that standart stuff. They are impossible to find.

So I', not happy with my current fretless.

Andy

 

[SteveB]

The "notes" are the same as a fretted bass. If you closed your eyes and someone handed you a fretless bass in the same scale and neck width that you're used to playing, you'll be able to play fretless immediately. Believe me, it's not scary at all. Your left hand (if you're a righty) already knows what to do.

+1

I recently played a fretless (unlined) bass for the first time. I could play it just as well as a fretted one, which surprised me because I think I was buying into the idea that it would very different. It wasn't. My intonation was fine, too!

 

[davidwh2]

I know this might seem like a stupid question. Well, it is a stupid question. But I am going to post it anyhow.

Fretless basses, why?

Granted, I am not the best player in the world. And I have almost zero experience with fretless basses. I touched one once. And that's about it. But I am very curious as to why someone would want one. What does it do for playing, sound, and music? Is there something, other than sliding, that a fretless offers other that fretted basses just don't have? For you fretless players out there, why do you play fretless, rather than the more common fretted bass?

well i actually dont own one myself but ive played them at Guitar Center, and at first it was a little wierd and i kinda didnt like it. i kept trying and i have to agree with everyone, its just a different sound im not saying its better or worse, thats all opinion. i also noticed you have to be a bit more precise with a fretless when playing it, i could be wrong, i havent spent but maybe 2 or 3 hours on it in my life though

 

[Aussie Mark]

What about Cannibal Corpse/Slipknot types of music. I don't play anything that heavy but can it be done w/ a good sound on a fretless? ...

Whatever bass and amp combo works for the style of music you are playing will work just as well on a fretless version of that same bass. For example, if you play a fretted Stingray in a death metal band, you could just as easily play a fretless Stingray in the same band. It's no different. Sure, you won't be doing any Jaco or Pino slides and pops in that type of band, but for laying down the low end in a rock band there is no difference.