Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: FC Bass on July 06, 2006, 09:05:00 AM

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 06, 2006, 09:05:00 AM

Check this out! Why choose between fretted or fretless if you can have both?
Retractable frets!
 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6610558556587749772&q=fretless+bass (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6610558556587749772&q=fretless+bass)

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: richbass939 on July 06, 2006, 09:34:59 AM

I'm usually not big on novelty type stuff but that does seem to be a pretty cool idea.  On the demo it seemed to work well.
Rich

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: olieoliver on July 06, 2006, 09:53:01 AM

I wonder how it plays in the fretless mode once the frets wear down some? Titanium frets would probably stop the wear.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 06, 2006, 09:54:59 AM

I doubt if it will ever be a feature on Alembics though.... They like their fretless fret..ehh..fingerboards to be just plain wood  
(I agree on that one)
But the idea is wicked and yes, it seems to work well!
 
Cheers!
F.C.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 06, 2006, 10:24:16 AM

I bet refretting will cost a fortune!

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: bsee on July 06, 2006, 10:59:53 AM

Olie, I don't think that's an issue.  The frets don't drop into the neck, they rotate.  As such, the surface that's there in fretless mode is more like the bottom of the fret when in fretted mode.
 
I do have doubts, though.  One is whether the edges of the board where they meet the frets will wear or chip.  You've got a very tiny gap on either side of every fret where roundwounds can chew away at the wood.  Another question is what sustain is like in fretted mode.  What are those rotating frets anchored into?  Since they aren't solidly embedded in the fretboard, what is providing the mass at that end of the string?  In fact, I have to wonder what the inside of the neck looks like to operate this mechanism.  Is it hollowed out in there?
 
It is an interesting concept, though.  I am not interested in owning one, but it would be nice to check out in person.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: olieoliver on July 06, 2006, 11:07:25 AM

I saw a bass eBay once a bass with 2 fret boards. One fretted and one fretless. I believe they were held on magnetically. I also believe it was an Alembic.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: bsee on July 06, 2006, 11:45:09 AM

It was a three-boarded Spoiler.  Fretted, fretless, and steel fretless.  They wanted about $2K and I don't think it ever sold.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: mica on July 06, 2006, 12:10:52 PM

If it was something we were asked to design, I would think the issue of action height would be a big hurdle. How can you get expected very low action when the frets are not a constant? Would be a fun project - people have always been dreaming about convertable basses.  
 
Once you solve the mechanical issues, my concern would be that you could hear the surface changes when playing glissando, at least I would expect it with Alembic pickups/electronics.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: blazer on July 06, 2006, 12:30:11 PM

Vester once brought out an Half fretless Bass in their mid nineties Clipper series basses. The E and A strings had frets and the D and G strings had not.
 
They never caught on.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: dadabass2001 on July 06, 2006, 12:42:45 PM

Kramer also did a bass in the 70s that was fretless above the 12th fret.
 
Mike

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: olieoliver on July 06, 2006, 12:52:02 PM

If you listen closely Mica when he does the octive slide you can here the surface changes. I believe this would be more prominate with Alembic electonics.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 06, 2006, 02:48:14 PM

A long shot.... if you can make a frame that's strong enough to support the bridge, frets, nut and strings...  
so when the frets go down or flip over(btw Flip is my real name => no joke) , the whole string section goes down with it maintainig the same action. Note: it's gonna be heavy
Any ideas for the fret...aarghh, again! FINGER board issue?
 
 
Cheers!  
F.C.
Would be very difficult to develop, but a great challence I think!

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: chuckc on July 06, 2006, 06:54:12 PM

I have a hard time accepting that there is a happy medium in having one instrument achieves the desired effect of two separate and distinct methodologies.  Kinda like the current state of hybrid cars.  There is something lost in the translation.  While it's certainly a unique instrument it seems to lack the character of each individually IMHO.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 13, 2006, 03:22:23 PM

Click here (http://mikeyguitar.com/index.asp target=_blank)for more info on the instrument

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: rob_steen on July 14, 2006, 04:23:31 AM

This isn't a new idea.
 
I remember an old UK TV show called Tomorrow's World that demo'd something like this as a new invention and that was before I even knew what a basss guitar was - so well over 20 years ago!
 
I can't remember any more details like who built it or anything.
 
My worry with something like this would be the frets rattleing and affecting sustain. Still it would be fun to have one.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 14, 2006, 05:22:50 AM

Welcome to the club!
I'd rather go for a double neck, I think this is fun to look at though.
btw, Rob Steen, sounds Dutch any connection?

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 14, 2006, 05:25:51 AM

oh, I see you're a member since August 08, 2002 Sorry for my late welcome

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: rob_steen on July 14, 2006, 06:19:48 AM

Thanks for the welcome anyway - I'm just quiet here.
 
Actually I'm Irish (one of the few Alembic owner's here) but I think there's a Dutch connection somewhere in the past.
 
Doublenecks would work too for this but to me are way too heavy. I just take two basses.

Title: Fretted...fretless....fretted.....fretless....WICKED!
Post by: FC Bass on July 14, 2006, 07:33:55 AM

Well since I only registerd in may this year so I guess I'm kinda LOUD!  
I've been watching the club for a few years but waited to sign up untill I had realy something to contribute. The turn came when I got an internet connection @ home and with my mom's digi cam, now I can take pictures of my Alembics, a valid contribution I think.
 
I'm fine with the two basses option too, works for me.
I did a gig 2 weeks ago playing only fretless, just to see if it would work. We played a couple of U2 songs (where are they from?-LOL-) Worked fine, but I missed the Alembic tone!
 
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on July 14, 2006)