Coytee Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 What's the big deal of a fretless bass? (perhaps it's nothing and I misread comments) Had a local pal who died. (10 years ago). I bought his stereo stuff and other odds/ends. One of it was a fretless bass. He played an upright bass professionally. If a bass is a bass is a bass..... then who cares if it's fretted of fretless....? What's the big deal? Why would someone care knowing the difference? Disclosure, I don't play any strings, never have so I'm 100% ignorant of these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 I recall people saying fretless sounds better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted May 7, 2020 Author Share Posted May 7, 2020 So, the frets change the sound? hmmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 5 minutes ago, Coytee said: So, the frets change the sound? hmmmm.... In a manner of speaking, yes. https://www.aimm.edu/blog/fretted-vs.-fretless-bass-guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted May 7, 2020 Author Share Posted May 7, 2020 Well, that was an interesting read! So I presume it might be fair to say that a good bass player might not be quite as skilled as a good fretless player?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanksjim1 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 sometimes the preference depends on your other "axe" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Most bowed instruments ARE I NEED fretless. The modern electric fretless bass is magical... Tony Levin, Mick Karn and many others. Fretless allows you to blends tones... and effectively turns a modern (western) scale instrument into an instrument that can be played microtonally where a fixed fretted instrument would need to be changed out for the new musical tuning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Fretless rocks with a good player, a lot of synthesized fretless bass stuff sounds great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codewritinfool Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Check out Michael Manring and his Zon Hyperbass on YouTube. He’s a great fretless player and the Hyperbass lets him change tunings with the flip of a switch near each tuning peg and also a switch at the bridge to simultaneous change overall tuning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grasshopper Posted May 9, 2020 Share Posted May 9, 2020 fretless instruments are crazy hard to learn y'all have been to grade school orchestra concerts.... in the hands of someone learned.... wow I had a Hohner Contessa fretless... gave it to a friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Watching Jack Bruce tear up the fretless on the Cream final show from Albert Hall, 2005. Man, does this bring back memories- . Nice to say I had the opportunity to see two of the greatest groups ever - Hendrix and Cream. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Leo Fender created the "PRECISON" bass, named that because of the frets, so there could, indeed be an in pitch bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grasshopper Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 A precision is a very good fretted instrument. No argument there. frets and fretless is like comparing analog to digital. There are fixed points and little in between. Yeah, you can bend a note on frets, but. they are two different instruments covering the same range. How would you compare playing slide guitar to a "regular" guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 5/7/2020 at 2:59 PM, Jeff Matthews said: I recall people saying fretless sounds better. Hmmmm........... NOPE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 5/7/2020 at 3:05 PM, Coytee said: So, the frets change the sound? hmmmm.... Hmmmmmmmm.................... YEP!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 5/7/2020 at 3:54 PM, Coytee said: Well, that was an interesting read! So I presume it might be fair to say that a good bass player might not be quite as skilled as a good fretless player?? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................... NOPE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 5/7/2020 at 7:05 PM, Schu said: Most bowed instruments ARE I NEED fretless. The modern electric fretless bass is magical... Tony Levin, Mick Karn and many others. Fretless allows you to blends tones... and effectively turns a modern (western) scale instrument into an instrument that can be played microtonally where a fixed fretted instrument would need to be changed out for the new musical tuning. Hmmmmmmmmm.............. Well, Yes. And not necessarily And, yes But that can be done in other ways on a fretted bass (or other instrument) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 5/10/2020 at 7:20 AM, Marvel said: Leo Fender created the "PRECISON" bass, named that because of the frets, so there could, indeed be an in pitch bass. Hmmmmmmmmm.................. Sort of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 Leo Fender came up with the idea for the Fender "Precision" Bass so that guitarists could more easily play the instrument (like the guitar they were already used to). And of course, that in turn would allow Fender to sell more instruments (and even more amplifiers) (and strings). That's it 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 I was at a pro jam session at Harlem Avenue Lounge. A guy I know and don't particularly like was playing "lead" guitar/singing. After a couple songs he turns to me and says "You wanna sing a couple?". I said "No". He says "What's the matter? Can't you sing and play bass at the same time?". I held my bass out forward towards him and said "Here, be my guest." He stands there looking at it and then finally says "You got me there." LMAO. The local radio DJ running the jam (who I also personally know) gets up afterwards and says "Let's hear it for Art on bass. Folks, this is one of the most difficult instruments to play." I had brought my fretless Fender Jazz Bass Special to the jam. Honestly, it's not all that difficult. Just different. Practice makes perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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