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Post subject: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:22 pm
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What's the best advice you would give someone who knows how to play but has a fretless now and is attempting it for the first time?

Also - any tips on set up or the mechanics of fretless like the nut, set up, intonation, neck relief etc...????? :D Thanks :)


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:45 am
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While I'm a newbie as a fretless player, I'll comment. You know how to set up a bass, make it what you want to and what sounds best to you. Any questions, ask Hadley. Mine is pretty much conventional with the strings very low. If you had the chance to play it you would be jealous, the neck is the slimmest I have ever played, absolutely amazing.

Anyway, you'll see how much different it is, no room for error. I've found that playing through my Bassdriver takes all the wah out, running straight through the amp, conventional sound,

She came with GHS flats, Mr. Nylon sent me a set of his famous Nylons, and now there are round Roto's on her. I like the Roto's best, I'm really not a flatwound kind of player. Hey, if they were good enough for Jaco, who am I to argue?

I probably didn't answer correctly, I just didn't want you to have an empty post! :D


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:44 am
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Go Roundwound. Flats don't growl. Don't argue. Only rounds growl in the low mids and snarl in the hi-mids. If you want the additional tube grind & growl, use an actual tube amp. There really is no substitute for that tone combo with a fretless. If you're worried about your fingerboard, just use a coated round.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:58 am
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I've played fretless on and off over the years, flats were the name of the game, until I went Nylons. Nylons are very friendly with fretless. The End. 8)

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Last edited by Mr. Nylon on Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:05 pm, edited 5 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:14 am
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Wasn't it Brotherdave who once said that a fretless bass is a 'tonal approximator' ? :)


http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=61505


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:44 am
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I use Rotos and love the growl.
My neck is flat and lined
I think playing on the lines is hard. My fingers aren't real long. It sounds the best as far as being in tune-- on the lines.
I used Birchwood Gasey gun stock wax on the nonfret board. Excellent stuff for bare wood.
I had to modify and shim the nut
I set the intonation at the 12th line
The bass has a P/J set up= 50's classic P and an Ibanez 95 TRB J
I put tuners from a Fender MB5 on it (Gotoh)
500k pts and 473 cap
new saddles
shim in neck pocket

And that is all I know about fretless bass- I need more knowledge.


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:49 am
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PaducahLuke wrote:
Wasn't it Brotherdave who once said that a fretless bass is a 'tonal approximator' ? :)


http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=61505



Thanks for that thread-- I'm reading it today


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:14 am
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I have two fretless basses, a 74P and a 2012 Jaco J. They are two completely different basses, but both have flats, even the Jaco came stock with flats. Play the strings you like. I know guys that play fretless that say damage from rounds is overstated.

Since you have the bass already, my advice is just to enjoy it. It's like sending the fingers on your left hand on vacation. I think playing fretless has improved my accuracy on my fretted basses as well, but I still have a long way to go to be proficient.

If I were to buy another fretless bass, that is where I would have opinions. I would want it to have a narrow neck, a Performer would be perfect. No lines - I just like the look better. Most importantly, side marks on the frets. I find it easier to be acurate with my P because of that, especially when making big moves.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:14 pm
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While I don't use fretless basses, there seems to be a benefit from using flats... If you have to slightly correct the note by sliding a little on the string, there won't be any round wound 'squeek' as you do so... ;)

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:00 pm
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The string spacing is something I thought about when I was working on the guitar. Now that I have played it for a few days I'm thinking about going with another bridge I have that is a little narrower on the spacing. I think it would help when I'm going from the E to the G string, The G feels close to the edge but I don't pull it off the neck it needs to be a little closer to the D.
I'm not too worried about where the string falls over the pickup magnets. I'm a learner and it will be a while before I play fretless at a gig !!!


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:39 pm
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I find that my ear has improved from playing fretless because I'm listening more to what I'm playing,.... I'm also glad I took the leap & put nickel plated round on my Jaco Fretless ..... I've yet to have any issues & I agree that there's been some what of a culture of fear created around using rounds on a fretless .... in my opinion other than using flats or Nylons if you use nickel plated or Dr coated or Elixir's you shouldn't really have a problem for a while ( a few years that is,...depending on how you play) :)
Affprod gave the best advise,..... play it & enjoy it. :)


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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:16 pm
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I put this pic on to show the neck, lines with side markers. You have to nail the note right on the line, it takes some getting used to.

Affprod, you'd drool if you had the opportunity to feel the neck on this. It's the thinnest, fastest neck I've ever played.

As far as preference, as mentioned earlier, I like rounds, I feel safe in saying that the neck wont be damaged.

Playing a fretless will make you a better bass guitarist.

All you need now is a Black Glass Sparkle Pickguard.

Oh yeah! Bebe now has covers on.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:38 pm
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Ooooohh BeBe' :D

I have to agree with regard to the lines on the fret board & I have to say I feel lucky to have one of the Jaco Basses with the side dot markers placed on the fret line,( Fender centered the side dot markers in 2008)..... I found that having the side dot marker placed on the fret line was also a big helpwhen I started playing the fretless ,..... I've mentioned this before but at some point I'd like to get a Tony Franklin fretless with unlined fretboard,....that would be a good challenge... :D


Last edited by James Coderre on Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:52 pm
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OX, BeBe' is a sharp looking fretless.

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Post subject: Re: Do you play fretless ?
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:31 am
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Thanks for the compliments, I kind of like her too.

James, I never played a Jaco, so never saw the neck layout, sounds like a winner as it actually is. I can imagine the sound. The Tony Franklin intimidates me.

Mr. N, thank you. You're gonna give her a big head.


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