Fretless versus Fretted

[olieoliver]

I've heard really bad players pull up to a quater tone too, of course it was always in the wrong spot! LOL
 
OO
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on April 09, 2008)

[olieoliver]

OOPs dbl post
OO
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on April 09, 2008)

[mica]

Touch?!

[lowlife]

Having just purchased Eastcoastepic's fretless Orion-5, I'm about to attempt to get recognizable musical sounds from this beauty.  But having played only on fretted basses for decades and knowing full well that I have sloppy playing habits, this should prove to be very interesting.
 
What's a quarter note, and is it important?  
 
Ellery (Lowlife)

[keith_h]

Ellery,
Those are semi-tones and it's very important that you learn how to use them. Next time the lead guitarist won't quiet down just start talking about the virtues of them and you will be able to hear the crickets chirping in the night air. :-)
 
Keith

[rami]

My first ever Alembic was a fretless Excel 4.  I was actually shopping for a fretless Jazz Bass that day.....the rest is history.
 
Just the GROWLIEST thing I ever heard. I just fell in love with it.

[jbybj]

Congrats Ellery. I too started messing with fretless only after decades of playing a fretted bass. I was convinced I wouldn't maintain proper pitch. It has been loads of fun and I offer this advice.  
 
Don't try playing fretless when your tired. I always notice I'm sounding like crap before I realize I'm just plum tuckered out.
 
Get some LED's! That helped me immensely.
 
Have fun and stick to it, muscle memory will take hold eventually.
 
Peace, JBY

[slawie]

I found that placing a chorus in circuit on the treble pickup through a dual channel amp (or if you can afford it a stereo setup) gives me a little leeway in the placement of my fingers and can offer a little wiggle room for hitting the right note. This of course is entirely dependent upon what style of music you are playing as chorus can affect the timbre of the output.
 
There is no substitute for practise!
 
There is nothing worse that sliding up or down to hit the right note. Not only does it sound bad tonally but it throws the rhythm that you are putting down right out the window.  
 
Caution! If you dont get it right you may end up the recipient of a colonic investigation by a splintered maple 5B courtesy of the drummer.
 
Kind Regards
Slawie

[mica]

My friend Trevor told me it was ok to play the wrong note as long as you play it at the right time.

[flaxattack]

there are no wrong notes
just the wrong time
been saying that for years

[jacko]

James said Get some LED's! That helped me immensely.
 
When I got my fretted MK and started using the LEDs, I found I needed them all the time. I thought this dependancy would transfer to the rogue making her unplpayable as she doesn't sport LEDs. However, I've found that I've been playing her so long that 'muscle memory' means I hardly ever miss a note, even on the darkest stages. It helps that I'm using fretless on the more mellow songs so a little slide or vibrato can hide a multitude of sins;-)
 
And Mica; Go for the 5 now. the sooner you start the sooner you'll be skipping round the fingerboard like an expert.  
 
Graeme

[funkyjazzjunky]

Does an fretless Alembic have a tonal advantage over a fretted Alembic?

[benson_murrensun]

I remember hearing an interview with Jerry Garcia, who said that if you play a bad note, the next time that part of the song comes around, play it again LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

[bkbass]

I have three fretless Alembics a custom 5 string 32 with a 7 piece solid purple heart and paduk neck. The instrument is so dense that I use light gauge strings on it 30-105(B!)The density is in the instrument so it's not needed in the strings. With signature electronics,it provides a very finger on string sound. A 6 string Orion standard Mahogany body/Zebra top with the neck pickup next to the bridge pick up like a giant music man and standard Orion 2 band EQ. Very warm and punchy sits excellent in the mix and blends so well with other acoustic instruments most of the time I leave my custom ABG'S at home. Lastly is Jelly (see Feb 2005 Custom of the month) and what can I say? Perfection... the space around each note is a distinct moment in time with a slight natural chorus and natural woody tone. I had a Pedulla Buzz which had a very cool Jaco tone and not much else. I have fretless jazz bass and a handful of others. The Alembics have it over the others in terms of playability and many useful tones. If you should have the chance to play an Alembic fretless spend some time with it the tone you seek is in there. You may be surprised as to how you set the filters and balance controls. One does not simply solo the bridge pickup as in a jazz bass. The extended range and broad frequency band has you backing off the treble quite a bit for that Jaco tone. To answer the original question,I am fortunate enough to own several fretted Alembics as well. In signature,Orion and series 2 electronics just like their fretless counter parts. To my ears the fretted offer a slight increase in clarity due to the frets while the fretless sound just slightly muted due to finger meat absorbing part of the note. Open strings are about equal. The purple heart neck wood has an increased darkness on the E and B strings which is not necessarily undesirable. Hope this helps.

[funkyjazzjunky]

Thank you Barry