Author Topic: General Question on Fretless basses (Read 420 times)

jacko · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2006, 01:06:35 AM »

Raymond's right, I take both Alembics to gigs to give me options for harder and softer rock. However, the choice isn't always obvious. For instance, I use the fretless on the Hives 'Hate to say I told you so - probably our heaviest song!!. The other thing i'd point out is that Fretless can sound superb when slapped - it's a totally different feel to fretted slap - Listen to Bhagiti Khumalo playing on Paul Simons Graceland - especially the slapped solo in 'you can call me Al' to see what I mean.

Graeme

88persuader · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2006, 01:32:33 AM »

Jacko has a good point. I actually use my Fretless 5 string playing covers by Lincoln Park and GodSmack and HAVE popped it however it's not it's strong point. When you slap and pop a fretless it's a much more wooden sound. With Frets you get a SHARP attack. My current fretless is a Modulus Quantum 5 string with Bartolini pick-ups so the neck is total graphite ... even the fingerboard. So it has a very unique sound when slapped ... not really wooden at all. VERY VERY big and warm but the high end if I pop or slap is a waste. I've had other fretless basses (Fender, Warwick & Carvin) that were better for popping and slapping but the Modulus just doesn't make it using that technique. (Has to be the graphite neck) I tend to run the highs and mids neutral and the lows jacked up a touch for a warm but distinct tone. Each note has presence and punch, not muddy ... however slapping and popping the bass is a waste, just doesn't make it. I'm an Alembic lover but I also love my Modulus. However they are totally different animals. The Modulus is warm and rich and that's it's strength. And when I slap and pop my Stanley Clark Standard ... watch out! Now THAT bass has an attitude!!!:-)

chuckc · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2006, 07:26:03 AM »

Well, there certainly are a myriad of opinions on this subject. My current repertoire consists of mostly classic/current rock, blues and some original songs. I was thinking of using the fretless for the ballads and to a larger degree, for better dynamics, on the moderate to slow country tunes. I have the luxury of both of my current gigging basses being long scale so I won't have to adjust my hand positions to accommodate different scales. I don't think I will be doing much thumb slapping on the fretless so that?s pretty much a non-issue at this stage. I am hoping that the fretless will give me a little more tonality and feel for developing my jazz chops, which I have wanted to do but have never really seriously pursued. I'll probably spend a bit of time and try to digest all this great feedback before I decide one way or the other but everyone's first hand experiences have been most helpful. Peace, Chuck

57basstra · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2006, 07:39:26 AM »

My eight years in elementary school and high school playing the trombone and bass trombone seemed to give me a good feel for the fretless bass guitar. (The trumpet, clarinet and sax players were always asking me how I knew where to play the notes)

rami · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2006, 04:29:36 PM »

Jack Bruce plays a mean fretless on the latest DVD with Cream - I HIGHLY recommend it.

keurosix · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2006, 05:41:32 PM »

Chuck,
If you can, try to pick up a used Alembic fretless bass rather than convert your Fender. You will get the benefit of the best electronics in the business - not to mention the best guitar construction too. It makes a big difference. I learned fretless on a Series 1 Alembic, and when I sold it I didn't play fretless for a while.(didn't want to!)I have a Dean fretless now, but long for the Alembic. The Series 1 neck had red LEDs right where the fret would be. You simply fretted at the light and you were in-tune once your ear corrected for any small deviation in pitch. The other instruments in the band can play the tonality for you to lock onto with you ear. A cool technique is to rock your finger from the wrist (parallel to the neck) which creates a traditional vibrato effect. This can't be done with a fretted bass where you bend the string along the fret (perpendicular to the neck) - unless you have a tremolo bar. This is the classic singing effect. Using this technique you can fine-tune your pitch on the fly and bring your playing into tune with the rest of the band. I find that playing in position is really important with fretless, and comparing open strings with fretted will keep you in tune as you play. Any upright bass technique you know or can learn will help you play fretless, but the fretless is much easier on the fingers / hands / body to master. The Alembic electronics will also help you nail that desirable mwah tonality.
Best of luck.
Kris

richbass939 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2006, 06:58:18 PM »

Chuck, this was recently posted on the club.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/395/29312.html?1151198338
fretless Essence.
Rich

jbybj · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2006, 08:39:39 PM »

Hello Chuck,
After playing fretted bass for about 30 years, my midlife crises manifested itself in the decision to take on the fretless challenge. I am not a giggin musician and do not have much disposable income. Fortunately I happened upon Wishbass. I have two now, $300 and $400 respectively. They have these amazing necks, with side dots only, and after I properly sanded and finished them, they play wonderfully, and have a suberb, organic sound. I say, go to wishbass.com, or search ebay, he often has a bass or two online. Best of luck, James

chuckc · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2006, 06:58:44 AM »

Thanks for the info James. Their line up looks pretty interesting. I may have to check one of these out