Questions about fretless

[tmoney61092]

hello everyone, i am considering investing in a fretless bass soon, only problem is that it has no kind of indication of where you are playing at(no inlays anywhere). i have a fretless acoustic which has markers on it so i know how it suppose to sound but when you're jumping around a lot you don't usually have time to waste finding where you're at. so what i'm thinking of doing when i get it is take some kind of dry erase marker or something that can be wiped off, and spend a day marking where each fret would be at on the side, anyone think this could be practical? what else could i do to help know where i'm at(besides practice of course :-p)? also, i hate the nylon fretless strings, they tear right through my fingers rendering me not able to play fretless anymore until they stop being sore, my acoustic is setup with some bronze strings to get that more acoustic sound, so my question is what kind of strings should i get that won't tear up the fretboard for this new bass? thanks guys
 
~Taylor

[briant]

Most unlined fretless basses I've seen still have side dots.  So there you go.  Built in guide to where you are on the neck.
 
You could also have fret slots cut/filled to convert it to a lined fretless.
 
I like Elixer polyweb strings on fretless.

[tmoney61092]

Brian, problem is, there are no side dots, seller said this, First of all, in case anyone asks, there are NO markings on the neck - either on the fretboard or the sides of the neck - to indicate notes.  So if you're a beginning fretless player, while the price is right, it might be difficult to learn on unless you take it in and have someone add dots for you.... so no markings at all
 
~Taylor

[FC Bass]

I use masking tape to mark some positions on my basses, they will wear down but are very inexpensively replaced.

[slawie]

In the past I have used luminescent stars that stick that you can get from the Discovery store.
These are the kind of stickers that you can put on a ceiling that luminate when you turn the lights off it helps a lot on dimly lit stages.
If you get your tuner and mark the intonation along the neck for each fret stop practice and repetition does the rest.
 
slawie

[mike13]

My SGC Nanyo with PJ activators and side dots is for sale $1100AUD

[sonicus]

Taylor,  
 I think you are on the right track. But , consider this ; their are no markers on a Double Bass , a Violin or a Cello. The way that classical players find the correct pitch is by learning the positions. One of my fretless Bass's does not have lines so I can understand your concern . The fact that you seem dedicated shows that you are going some where with all of this .I played Double Bass for a while  but I currently do not own one . Perhaps one of our current  Double Bass players will chime in with their opinion .
         In the early 90's  I attended some clinics taught by  Mark Egan and I asked him the same question that you are posing . I told him that I was trying to use double bass positions for fretless electric playing ; he answered me by stating that if that works for me , Why not .  
 
      I think that as part of your practice  schedule it might be prudent to really get in to scales and ear training on your fretless playing. Really get into being able to hear  and identify intervals to help you get your intonation right.  
 
 
          I think that what slawie and fc spoiler have written is also very helpful.  Playing fretless can really be fun but consider that the more energy that you put into it the better the result_ just like anything else_____  Don't Stop ;   Keep Doing It !
 
      Have fun doing it ____

[tmoney61092]

thanks Flip and Slawie, masking tape would certainly be the easiest route to go which is what i'll probably end up doing, but i still like the star stickers as well(use to have them as little one :-), and i will definitely do the intonation suggestion to help mark the spots. Mike, the bass that i'm looking at is at a more affordable price as of now, it's a Westone Thunder III so hoping it will stay low so i can get myself a little Christmas present :-). still loking for string suggestions and reviews about them, thanks
 
sorry i missed your post Wolf! thanks for the kind words. i had totally forgotten about double bass and all the other orchestral instrument because i've never actually played one, i did screw around with a double bass for about 5 minutes until the music store owner started giving me funny looks. i've really been wanting to get a good fretless that i can play during a gig because let's face it, an acoustic fretless just isn't useful for playing rock gigs :-). as i said, hopefully i'll be able to snag this bass and really get into playing more fretless.
 
~Taylor
 
(Message edited by tmoney61092 on November 30, 2010)

[tmoney61092]

Mike, also wanted to say i didn't mean to offend you when i said more affordable, i meant more affordable for me since i'm working on a very tight budget and don't have that much money to spend
 
~Taylor

[afrobeat_fool]

Hey, Taylor. When I started playing upright I placed little bit's of tape on the side of the neck at the 1st 3rd and 5th position. That is the 2nd fret, the 5th fret and the 9th fret. It really helped. Then when I went to music school I was tought the Vomit exercises. I was also tortured into having correct hand position. This is created by training your hand to have the spacing of an octave from your index finger to your pinky. In my case the Doctor who ran the school put wine corks between my fingers till my hand was wide enough to make the octave. The fretless guitars are not nearly the length and width of the string basses so it is not as difficult to have good hand spacing. But just as important. I guess what I'm trying to say is the only way to get good tone is to have good intonation, which means good hand position. If you can find a good example of the Vomit's then they are invaluable. The worksheet I have includes about a dozen exercises. The easy ones can be found online. Good luck!
 
Nick

[afrobeat_fool]

oh, yeah. My choice for string for all fretless instruments are Tomastic spiracore. I prefer the Red/wine windings. The pyramid gold flats are nice too.
 
Nick

[2400wattman]

Nickel strings will be the best bet and as far as your poor little fingers go... buck up young man! You gotta play to get through the pain.
Let us know how it goes.

[sonicus]

Thanks Nick for chiming in . For an unfinished fingerboard ( raw wood) I like the the Thomastik  and Pyramid Gold Flats as well. For a fingerboard that has a coating  (Jaco style) however I like a roundwound. The round wounds that I like are Dean Markley Blue Steel. I hear Jaco liked  Roto-Sounds . One of my Fretless Jazz Bass's has a coating on the fingerboard.

[tmoney61092]

thanks for all the tips guys. i sent the seller a question asking if it had a finished or raw fretboard so hopefully will be hearing something soon. all i've used are roundwounds and highly preffer the D'Addario 170's but have been wanting to try some Elixir medium gauge strings lately for a more smooth sound
 
~Taylor

[bigredbass]

As much as I'd like the look of a completely blank fingergoard, I've played fretted forever and IF I were going to fretless, I'd get a lined one with flush light wood strips.  I had a friend in Texas who was a fabulous fretless player who recommended this as I'd never played upright and did not know the positions.  In this case, you simply play ON the fret-strip on the 'sharp' side of the note, and there you are.  The few times I tried it, I went right to it as it fooled my brain into thinking I was still playing a fretted bass !
 
J o e y