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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:54 am
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oxfan wrote:
Hi James, as far as tuning and intonation, it's fine. Matter of fact, intonation may be the best of any of my basses. I've found that to hit the right note, I have to hit right on the fret lines.

I'll check out your suggestion. thanks!


Yeah playing the note on the fret line is the way to go ......I usually do this too but oddly enough ....I guess due to weather changes the right spot to play notes on my Jaco Fretless has shifted a bit so now I'm playing notes a smidge behind the fret line,.....I've read that this is some what common with fretless basses & changes in the weather.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:30 am
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This fretless thing is so intriguing. It is a strange animal. I still think your Jaco is a whole lot better than my MIM.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:12 pm
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I might buy a Peavey Foundation fretless 4 string someday soon. Hopefully, I'll see one of the "S" models that come with the P and J pickup configuration. I'll have to shell out another $100. or so for a BADAZZ II bridge. Maybe get some info on tone caps from BrotherDave to go along with the new Fender pickups I'll also have to install. Flatwound strings don't do it for me...so it's gotta be a cheap fretless that I can grind away on. The cheaper poplar and basswood bodies sound better for that anyhow.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:23 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
oxfan wrote:
Hi James, as far as tuning and intonation, it's fine. Matter of fact, intonation may be the best of any of my basses. I've found that to hit the right note, I have to hit right on the fret lines.

I'll check out your suggestion. thanks!


Yeah playing the note on the fret line is the way to go ......I usually do this too but oddly enough ....I guess due to weather changes the right spot to play notes on my Jaco Fretless has shifted a bit so now I'm playing notes a smidge behind the fret line,.....I've read that this is some what common with fretless basses & changes in the weather.


The way I learned fretless was to place your finger directly over the line, with the position mark in the middle of the fingertip(fingers placed straight across the fingerboard). You accuracy will dramatically improve doing so. These positions will not move if you intonate your bridge correctly when needed. Use harmonics for this.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:31 pm
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I am going to look up that book. Always looking to learn.

My fretless J is a Jaco and is perhaps the smoothest playing bass I have, but having the side dots between frets causes me to struggle a bit, have to think too much. I am sure that will go away with practice. My wife says I barely think at all, so this has to be unique.

My fretless P is a very cool bass. Two owners before me. Stored by both for years. It looks like it just rolled out of Fullerton last week. I like having the side dots on the fret, it makes corrections much easier for me because I have been watching those pesky dots all my life.

I play fretless about 25% of the time now, but not in public. Still have too many quacks.

Here are my two.... (please ignore the fingerprints, and my foot, in the Jaco pic)

Image

Image

That 74P is in mint condition. I really got lucky finding that one.

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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 8:02 pm
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WOW - thanks for those pictures! :mrgreen: That '74 is amazing! An unlined maple-board fretless P is what I would get next if I was in the market - and if I could find one - and I would probably never find one in that condition! You are psyched!

I wonder if I could ever play fretless out live. I would have to practice A LOT and I would be worried about lighting - to me playing fretless is about using your EARS as much if not more than your EYES - but I definitely look at the neck a lot when playing fretless! Not sure I could do it if I couldn't see my dots... 8)

Anyway, that is a sweet bass - not that the Jaco isn't amazing as well, but there's something about those unlined Ps...

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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:28 pm
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oxfan wrote:
stroker vance wrote:
Jaco was the man! I saw him play at a club in Ft. Laud. He was just incredible.
He used to walk home from the strip carrying his bass with no case. It was hard to miss him. Well for me it was cause I was a bass player too. Here comes this guy trucking along with a SB Jazz in one hand. How cool that was I can't describe.

I guess I need a fretless. It's about time I
break the seal.


You know Fenton Farnjsworth and Jaco were great pals. Actually, Jaco quit using a case because Fenton never did. That was a bad thing because Fenton would go into a bar, or restaurant, and lean his bass against a chair and hang his coat on it. Then he'd forget he wore a coat and would walk out without either.

I agree as to your needing a fretless.


Aurora Illinois or Aurora Ohio? (below) ****************************** :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Is that seal the one you got when Seaworld in Aurora closed down?


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:31 pm
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affprod wrote:
I am going to look up that book. Always looking to learn.

My fretless J is a Jaco and is perhaps the smoothest playing bass I have, but having the side dots between frets causes me to struggle a bit, have to think too much. I am sure that will go away with practice. My wife says I barely think at all, so this has to be unique.

My fretless P is a very cool bass. Two owners before me. Stored by both for years. It looks like it just rolled out of Fullerton last week. I like having the side dots on the fret, it makes corrections much easier for me because I have been watching those pesky dots all my life.

I play fretless about 25% of the time now, but not in public. Still have too many quacks.

Here are my two.... (please ignore the fingerprints, and my foot, in the Jaco pic)

Image

Image

That 74P is in mint condition. I really got lucky finding that one.



I am unable to ignore the fingerprints . They are driving me crazy. Your foot doesn't bother me though.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:31 pm
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Anybody else ever notice that a fretless Precision bass is an oxymoron?

Doesn't mean it's a bad idea--it isn't, but name-wise it's an oxymoron.
Leo called it the Precision bass because it had frets.

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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:50 am
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zontar wrote:
Anybody else ever notice that a fretless Precision bass is an oxymoron?

Doesn't mean it's a bad idea--it isn't, but name-wise it's an oxymoron.
Leo called it the Precision bass because it had frets.

Good point zontar..


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:34 am
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stroker vance wrote:
oxfan wrote:
stroker vance wrote:
Jaco was the man! I saw him play at a club in Ft. Laud. He was just incredible.
He used to walk home from the strip carrying his bass with no case. It was hard to miss him. Well for me it was cause I was a bass player too. Here comes this guy trucking along with a SB Jazz in one hand. How cool that was I can't describe.

I guess I need a fretless. It's about time I
break the seal.


You know Fenton Farnjsworth and Jaco were great pals. Actually, Jaco quit using a case because Fenton never did. That was a bad thing because Fenton would go into a bar, or restaurant, and lean his bass against a chair and hang his coat on it. Then he'd forget he wore a coat and would walk out without either.

I agree as to your needing a fretless.


Aurora Illinois or Aurora Ohio? (below) ****************************** :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Is that seal the one you got when Seaworld in Aurora closed down?


Ohio! We went there every year until it finally closed. Geauga Lake took it over but it wasn't the same.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:26 pm
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I used to drive by it all the time in my big truck. Never went there though. Cedar Point is good. I bet you've been there.


And Zontar from Zarnak is right. It's a Non Precision bass if it has no frets. I still want a fretless Yazz.


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:18 am
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The thing I notice about playing fretless, and you all may or may not feel this way one day is: The more I play my fretless, the less I ever want to go back to fretted.

Make it a point to pick up and play your fretlesses at least once a day and you will find how quickly you improve your skills. Helps your fretted skills to boot.

That is a bummer because I have a nice collection of basses that tend to get neglected. Frets are speedbumps IMO. Nothing more expressive than a fretless instrument. Tones and sounds you will never get out of a fretted, IMHO.

Right now I own a Jaco Artist series and Squier VM fretless. I just sold a MIM fretless J. As far as playability, that Jaco is the nicest to play for sure. But that MIM J-bass was a very sweet player. I kept rounds on the Jaco and flats on the MIM Jazz and I always loved the sound of those flats on that MIM. Surely no slouch and it could keep up with that Jaco.

I regret selling that baby sometimes


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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 5:14 pm
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I have to agree with jazzbassjo, I much prefer playing fretless. Unfortunately, the people listening would much rather I play fretted. Baby steps.

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Post subject: Re: Going Fretless
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:27 pm
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I always think of frets just getting in the way.

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