Frett bass vs. Fretless

[plastick]

I am going to buy a new bass sometime here...I've heard about fretless bass guitars and I was wondering whats the difference? (aside from the frets) Are they easier to play? hearder? Do they sound different? What are they ideal for?

thanks

 

[imported_Strang]

It's not something I'd fret about. OH!

I'm here all week, folks. Try the veal.

Seriously, it's supposed to help sustain + better tone (due to better strings and pickups). They're supposed to be harder to play tho, at least as far as finding exactly where you want to be on the neck (the majority have locator dots, tho).

 

[plastick]

hmm just what I thought. Thanks.

oh, and nice joke!

 

[Scootin159]

I've played both, and as long as you get one with fretlines or some kind of indicator dot, it's not really all that harder to play. I don't know that it nessesarily sounds any better though, sure you have more 'control', but for most players a fretted bass will sound just the same, and be easier to play. A fretless bass also is easier to 'slide' notes with.

Basically if you're playing mostly soft/smooth/slow music then a fretless bass will give you a smoother sound, but if you're playing in a rock band or anything with more upbeat music you'll want a fretted bass. I'd also reccomend a fretted bass as a first bass, and only go with the fretless bass as a second bass you can swap in for certain songs.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Strangone
It's not something I'd fret about. OH!

I'm here all week, folks. Try the veal.

Seriously, it's supposed to help sustain + better tone (due to better strings and pickups). They're supposed to be harder to play tho, at least as far as finding exactly where you want to be on the neck (the majority have locator dots, tho).

gah, misinformation!

a fretless bass does not use different strings or pickups than a standard bass unless you want it to. since many fretless basses are high-end models (beginners don't want them), yes, they tend to have nice pickups, but any high-end bass will have nice pickups. on both kinds you can use any strings or pickups you want.

sustain is worse because your finger does not provide a solid end for the string. the soft part of your finger will always touch the string and mute it slightly. this will also result in a "softer," less percussive tone. fretless basses are harder to play because, like a violin/viola/cello/double-bass, you must place your finger perfectly to sound the correct pitch, and you must remember the placement on your own. some fretless basses have inlaid lines to tell you where to put your finger, but many don't. you have to go by sheer feel. with a fretted instrument, you can place your finger nearly anywhere between the frets to sound the pitch you want, so there's a lot more "wiggle" room.

the advantages? some people like the muted tone, and you can slide between notes with an infinite variety of pitches, as opposed to stepped intervals like a fretted bass. you can also use vibrato in a different way by rolling your finger around as opposed to having to yank the string like on a fretted instrument. they're basically used for jazz, fusion, and pop music. they don't have much place in rock because the tone doesn't cut.

 

[imported_Strang]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: Strangone
It's not something I'd fret about. OH!

I'm here all week, folks. Try the veal.

Seriously, it's supposed to help sustain + better tone (due to better strings and pickups). They're supposed to be harder to play tho, at least as far as finding exactly where you want to be on the neck (the majority have locator dots, tho).

gah, misinformation!

a fretless bass does not use different strings or pickups than a standard bass unless you want it to. since many fretless basses are high-end models (beginners don't want them), yes, they tend to have nice pickups, but any high-end bass will have nice pickups. on both kinds you can use any strings or pickups you want.

sustain is worse because your finger does not provide a solid end for the string. the soft part of your finger will always touch the string and mute it slightly. this will also result in a "softer," less percussive tone. fretless basses are harder to play because, like a violin/viola/cello/double-bass, you must place your finger perfectly to sound the correct pitch, and you must remember the placement on your own. some fretless basses have inlaid lines to tell you where to put your finger, but many don't. you have to go by sheer feel. with a fretted instrument, you can place your finger nearly anywhere between the frets to sound the pitch you want, so there's a lot more "wiggle" room.

the advantages? some people like the muted tone, and you can slide between notes with an infinite variety of pitches, as opposed to stepped intervals like a fretted bass. you can also use vibrato in a different way by rolling your finger around as opposed to having to yank the string like on a fretted instrument. they're basically used for jazz, fusion, and pop music. they don't have much place in rock because the tone doesn't cut.

Ah, sorry, didn't realize it was wrong. I googled it and was parroting a page I found. I admit, I was just looking to make a lame joke that will reserve me a special place in hell.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: plastick
I am going to buy a new bass sometime here...I've heard about fretless bass guitars and I was wondering whats the difference? (aside from the frets) Are they easier to play? hearder? Do they sound different? What are they ideal for?

thanks

Learn the upright. It is ten times cooler than the guitar. Actually, learn the DOUBLE Bass. It is 20 times cooler than a bass guitar.

But yeah, fretless is cooler and sounds better, but its harder to play. Buy a cheap fret bass to get started and, if you want to, buy a nice fretless later.

 

[Bassyhead]

i play fretted and a fretless. Fretless has a different sound because instead of the string having ends on metal on a fretted bass (the bridge saddles and fret wire), one end is pinched between the wood of the fingerboard and your finger. The small spacing between the fingerboard and the string near the fretting position makes a "mwaaaah" sound that is characteristic of fretless basses as the string vibrates. If you really want to learn fretless, learn with your ears and get one with no lines or dots . You can always put some tape where the dots/lines normally are for beginning (and I believe a company might sell premade templates like this, not sure). Which to play, fretted or not, depends on your personal preference and music style. Playing fretless made my fretted playing improve.

 

[amcdonald]

I've owned fretted and a fretless bass.
I sold the fretless because I wasn't playing jazz anymore, and the sound is pretty much only suitable for that.
They are far more difficult to play, and have a completely different tone compared to a fretless bass.

LordMorpheus, I can play the double bass, and I don't see how an upright or a fretless is 'cooler' than a fretted bass guitar.
It's all relative to what he's going to play and his style.
But, I'd say that if you are playing a bass nowadays, and you aren't in a jazz-related band, you don't want a fretless bass, let alone an upright.
They are both far more difficult to play correctly than a fretted bass. An upright is hell to learn how to play, you need massive hand strength.

 

[plastick]

gah, misinformation!

a fretless bass does not use different strings or pickups than a standard bass unless you want it to. since many fretless basses are high-end models (beginners don't want them), yes, they tend to have nice pickups, but any high-end bass will have nice pickups. on both kinds you can use any strings or pickups you want.

sustain is worse because your finger does not provide a solid end for the string. the soft part of your finger will always touch the string and mute it slightly. this will also result in a "softer," less percussive tone. fretless basses are harder to play because, like a violin/viola/cello/double-bass, you must place your finger perfectly to sound the correct pitch, and you must remember the placement on your own. some fretless basses have inlaid lines to tell you where to put your finger, but many don't. you have to go by sheer feel. with a fretted instrument, you can place your finger nearly anywhere between the frets to sound the pitch you want, so there's a lot more "wiggle" room.

the advantages? some people like the muted tone, and you can slide between notes with an infinite variety of pitches, as opposed to stepped intervals like a fretted bass. you can also use vibrato in a different way by rolling your finger around as opposed to having to yank the string like on a fretted instrument. they're basically used for jazz, fusion, and pop music. they don't have much place in rock because the tone doesn't cut.

EXCELLENT POST!!! thanks a lot. I am giong to get a regular bass.

 

[bleeb]

My recommendation:

Stick with a fretted bass. Especially since you are a beginner. It will make your life easier.

 

[jemcam]

I filet mine then fry them up in cornmeal and flour with a little bit of fresh lemon juice and salt. Good eating stuff!