Why do you play fretless?

[Father Gino]

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.

Of course it's gonna sound different just like it sounds different than a fretted bass in many other respects. If you ever get a chance, go see Tony Franklin when he's doing one of his clinics. He's a big Jaco fan to be sure, but he's also a heavyish rocker at heart. Metallic and crisp definitely come to mind. While you're at it, ask him to slap & pop for you.

There are lots of different sounds and styles can come out of a fretted bass. Two people playing the same fretted Stingray with the same amp can sound worlds apart. It's no different when you take frets out of the equation.

 

[tkarter]

Hillbillies have been slapping fretless uprights since the beginning of time.
tk

 

[Mobay45]

You're right Tom. The first slap bass was played on a fretless, wasn't it.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Fretless slapping?

Gramatically correct hillbillies?

Teenagers who spend too much damn time on the computer?

What's this world coming to?

 

[bassmonkeee]

First off--I am sorry if my posts yesterday came off as argumentative or terse. I was too busy at work to be posting at the Forum, but I was posting anyway and might not have been as careful about how I was wording things.

Second, I'll try again to post some slapped fretless mp3s online tonight. I remembered that I had a shirt that was perfect for the Dargie Delight Bongo I have on the way (pics to follow tonight, too ) and I managed to get a giant hook pierced through the top of my foot. I didn't feel much like playing after that.....