Ric FL basses can sound like a fretted Ric?

[lumgimfong]

1. Or just mwah tones (and beeyow, beeyerrr, brrr, buwerow, etc.) all the time?

I am intrigued by them but never played one.
2. Was wondering if they sound hardcore fretless like Mike Manring, or if they sound more like a fretted bass?

3. Can you get away with using one for a fretted gig? Or is it totally niche, only for fretless music?

Thanks for any info. Just got my first Ric and already thinking about getting the next model!!! FL? 5?

[Ashgray]

Hi

Having played fretless (including Ricks) for 40 years, I'd say that your fingering technique has an even greater effect on the sound than with a fretted bass. They will sound different from one player to another. I also think that there's no such thing as "fretless music" or a "fretted gig" - your style of playing, your feel, even the bass lines you create will differ between the two instruments. I've played the same songs on either, successfully, though they will sound different musically, and there will inevitably be some songs that better suit one sound and style over the other. A fretless does invite a degree of subtlety that a fretted bass cannot quite manage in my experience.

Ash

[bassduke49]

And then there is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EySQ2ei1NTA

[woodyng]

I have a defretted Cheyenne ii,so right off the bat it's diametrically different to a fretless 4001/3.
(Humbucker pickups in the 4004 "dropped" positions,no laquer on the fretboard,body construction,etc.)
Every once in a while,i will take it alone to practice and play every song for 2-3 hours worth of music,just to see how it will fit. The mwah thing,at least with the strings I'm currently using, (Optima RB flats), is totally controllable,and doesn't even have to be there if you don't want it. I would say it sounds pretty close to a fretted bass when i de-emphasise the mwahiness. I find i have to eq that bass totally different to my other Rick basses to get the sound i want out of it. (Kind of a macca midrange thud as opposed to the full clankensturm i usually go for with my fretted,roundwound equipped basses.)

[jps]

Here is my old 2004 4003FL on a recording I made in the mid '00s. This is just the bridge toaster pickup being used for this:

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2004 All rights reserved.

Photograph Copyright © SAW 2006 All rights reserved.

[woodyng]

Here is my old 2004 4003FL on a recording I made in the mid '00s. This is just the bridge toaster pickup being used for this:

Lucite-Pickguard-b&w-02a.jpg

Jeff-1200_03.jpg

Nice! Is that a "hot" toaster,or scatterwound?

[jps]

Scatterwound. 40-55-75-95 set of Chromes.