Why do you play fretless?

[Psychicpet]

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? ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_DiGiorgio


Fretless Death Metal maestro!

 

[lamerjay]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_DiGiorgio


Fretless Death Metal maestro!

Very cool. I'll have to check him out...

 

[tplyons]

For me, it's about the expression you can get. A fretless vibrato is different from a fretted vibrato and can be used to express emotion better, IMO.

My fretless gets the most playing time behind my #1.

 

[AnthonyD]

Agreed, and what I like about it best.

To Mark's point earlier, a fretless can also be played in the same style and perform the same function and produce the same sound/feel as a fretted bass - with slides & vibrato optional of course.


One thing I find helpful - I picked up a Sabine RT-7000 rack tuner and it reflects chomatic tuning so I can grab any part of the fretboard and know if I am sharp, flat or dead on. It's helpful when practicing precise placement.

 

[Eggman]

A question for you EBMM fretless players.

I have a line on a 2001 Sterling fretless. Is the new compensated nut that much of an improvement that I should not get the 2001 bass?

 

[smallequestrian]

A question for you EBMM fretless players.

I have a line on a 2001 Sterling fretless. Is the new compensated nut that much of an improvement that I should not get the 2001 bass?

Fretlesses don't actualy come with the compensated nut. The point of the nut is to help out the intonation on the first 4 frets. Since you are playing fretless, you are your own compensating nut.

 

[Eggman]

you are your own compensating nut.

True.

 

[AnthonyD]

I am my own compensating nut...

 

[MingusBASS]

'cause that's how I roll.

 

[Melissa]

+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!

+1

I played an unlined fretless for the first time yesterday. It looked a lot more intimidating that it was and I'm glad I didn't pass up the opportunity. My biggest draw to it was the sound.

 

[lamerjay]

OK, howabout slap & pop. I am certain I am getting a Ray 4 H, I love the funk tone I get. How is a fretless as far as slap & pop go. I will definitely be playing with hybrid slinky roundwounds. Now the decision is just to fret or not to fret...

 

[lonote049]

Slapping and popping won't work well on a fretless because the "slap" is the hitting of the string against the last fret. There were / are basses made that are fretless up to the 12th fret then fretted the rest of the way to accomodate slapping Otherwise, though, I'd have no qualms about using a fretless in ANY genre. When I got my first fretless, it was on a Tuesday and I used it for the whole gig on Friday. I regard the fretless as another tool in the tool box. I run hot and cold with mine and currently, I'm using it a lot. I am also a fan of unlined boards.

 

[0557]

Slapping and popping won't work well on a fretless because the "slap" is the hitting of the string against the last fret. There were / are basses made that are fretless up to the 12th fret then fretted the rest of the way to accomodate slapping Otherwise, though, I'd have no qualms about using a fretless in ANY genre. When I got my first fretless, it was on a Tuesday and I used it for the whole gig on Friday. I regard the fretless as another tool in the tool box. I run hot and cold with mine and currently, I'm using it a lot. I am also a fan of unlined boards.

Pino Palladino did it on a stringray. I saw him with Gary Numan, the stingray has the treble and mids to cut through unlike other fretless basses.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Slapping and popping won't work well on a fretless because the "slap" is the hitting of the string against the last fret. There were / are basses made that are fretless up to the 12th fret then fretted the rest of the way to accomodate slapping Otherwise, though, I'd have no qualms about using a fretless in ANY genre. When I got my first fretless, it was on a Tuesday and I used it for the whole gig on Friday. I regard the fretless as another tool in the tool box. I run hot and cold with mine and currently, I'm using it a lot. I am also a fan of unlined boards.

Who says you can't slap/pop on a fretless? I can certainly do it on any mine without a bit of problem.

 

[midopa]

I guess what lonote is saying that it won't sound the same as if it were done on a fretted fongerboad?

 

[bassmonkeee]

I guess what lonote is saying that it won't sound the same as if it were done on a fretted fongerboad?

What's a fongerboard? Does my fretless have one of those?



Just kidding.


Well, of course it'll sound different. But, there is a long way between "different sound" and "can't be done."

 

[smallequestrian]

Who says you can't slap/pop on a fretless? I can certainly do it on any mine without a bit of problem.

Well of course you can, but many people won't be happy with the sound if they are wanting the traditional slap/pop sound.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Well of course you can, but many people won't be happy with the sound if they are wanting the traditional slap/pop sound.

I think I'm going to have to record something when I get home. With the Bongo EQ, and the piezos, I can get a very usable slap tone--even with flats.

 

[midopa]

oooooo that'd be sweet!

<-- ready for, as travis has said, a biiiig slice of humble pie

 

[lonote049]

I said it "wouldn't work well" on a fretless, not that it couldn't be done. My point, of course, is that you aren't going the get the "classic" metallic slap tone that a fretted bass delivers. The slapped note just isn't going to be as crisp on a fretless as it is on a fretted. There's a reason Larry Graham, Louis Johnson, etc. didn't use fretless instruments to create their legendary slap tones.