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Post subject: Fretless ?good or bad?
Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 2:20 pm
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First off,I've been playing electric guitar for about 22 years(hence the user name);but I'm considering buying a Fender Jazz Fretless.I like that Jaco sound.I played one in the store and liked it right off,but I've heard being fretless the strings can eat up the neck.For anyone who plays fretless,can you give me inside information.Or should I just go with the fretted?Thanx in advance.


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 5:56 pm
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IMHO there really is no problem with fretless fingerboard and strings. I have been playing fretless for 10+ years. I prefer rosewood or ebony. And to me - there is no comparison fretted to fretless; because they are sonically very different and different to play. Each requires different techniques. A true recommendation to you really can not be made without knowing in what genre you play and where and with whom. Fretless can be so much more expressive but can be very daunting to master. You are the ultimate one to make the decision, to make the commitment. You might consider one of each. They don't have to be expensive to be good to start out with. I would even say get good used MIM's and go from there.
Above all' enjoy the journey.


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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:29 pm
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yeah i would have to agree with the guy above my comment which i was too lazy to go back and find out his name.Anyways fretless basses offer a way different way to play i mean not in the technique like finger pick or slap but just in a different style. A fretless bass offers the notes kinda more smoothed together and a very warm and rich sound. The fretless are actually very fun to play in my opinion even though that i play fretted always. I do really like the way they sound and they are very interesting. I would say based on genre a fretless bass would be more jazzy and a fretted more rock but then again a jazz bass is obviously a way to get a very smooth sound out of a bass with frets and a precision is more twangy, sharp and punchy but if you play with your fingers it also sounds good. The precision is definately a rock bass or even funk as well with the jazz bass as funk because of the great tone that it offers with the slap technique. If you like really warm and twangy and punchy and you want a one package deal go for a active bass which squeezes both of the different tones into one bass; a great bass by the way. Going on the made in mexico basses MIM i got mine last year in good shape with a hard case at a pawn shop and i love it over a lot of basses that i have played also they are great because you can make some pretty killer addtions to them as you go. Good luck on choosing.



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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:54 am
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I bought the new Squire VM fretless Jazz Bass to try out playing fretless. It's fun, but I still play my fretted basses more.


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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:04 pm
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I have never played a fretless bass and only own a fretted, and i don't really know what the sound difference is between the two. i also am considering the purchase of a fretless, but what is the sound difference? :?:


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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 8:14 am
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Well Dimebag Darrell,I'm no bass expert and have only played fretless basses in stores(hope to soon own one) .The sound ,I'd say,is more smooth almost like a stand-up bass.Listen to Jaco Pastorius.I like the puchy sound a fretted bass has(a la Geddy Lee) and I dig that sound too,but I just like the fretless better.
Hope I could help a little.


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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:39 pm
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yo dude im a professiona bassist i'm just ganna let u no that it will damage the bridge a little but a fretless is about 5x better tyhen a fretted bass because of the $@!& that happens when u fuckin hit the wrong spot on the note so ya an you can also do so much more so dude buy it and enjoy


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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 1:08 pm
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The fettless has a more warm sound. I like fretted more bright on my part.
fettless ware out my fingers a lot faster than a fretted. slapping is easer on a fretted i think. i have played a ton of frettless basses but they just cant get the sound of Rush and RATM. If i were you i"ld try some fretless at a music store. and try to play it for 30min.

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Post subject: fret or fretless?
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 4:50 pm
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It is always a matter of taste or need (as with studio or Broadway work).

For personal use...whatever voice you want.


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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:09 am
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Jaco never practiced with the fretless because he said it "chewed up the neck," but I think that's because he was talking about "the bass of doom" which was not originally fretless to begin with. My advice would be to use both, and practicing with a fretted bass can help you memorize the position you were at.


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