Gigging With A Fretless Bass

[rickenbrother]

How many of you fretless bass owners have gigged with your fretless?
How did it go? Any cool comments from someone in the audience?
Any gigging pictures to share?

[cassius987]

I have way fewer pics of this than I should. For an entire year I was gigging my 4003FL at least once a week. Gigs have really gotten cut back now that I'm working on a Ph.D., I'm afraid.

I was really surprised at how many people came up to say how good the bass sounded, almost every night (we were the house band for a couple of coffee shops and occasionally a bar so there were almost always new faces). Not everyone knew what a Rickenbacker was though. (Remember, I didn't know about RIC until just under 3 years ago. They just "don't exist" in my smaller hometown, it would seem.)

I find playing the 4003FL amplified makes earing the notes (rather than watching the fingering hand) 10,000x easier than it already is when not amplified. A sax player I played with for my first months in Denver said he was really surprised at how in tune all of my notes were on fretless--I think it's because I try to just use my ear, and with amplification I'd really encourage that. It's also, believe it or not, easier when playing with other instruments. You "tune to them", and usually they are set to a strict tempered scale based around a piano or guitar.

I'll try to dig up whatever pics I have at home.

[teb]

I did for about five years. The last year I also had a fretless Rick built on a Capri body as a backup.
The first two pix are from 1975. Notice the headstock on the "Tele" in the stand at left. Guess what happened to the Capri's neck? Unfortunately, the bass is out of the frame on the right.
The last one is from 2008 - same band, same bass, same strings!

[jps]

I don't use my fretless basses with the cover band(s) but I did use my fretless basses countless times with Rare Blend.

[ajish4]

I usually play my 92 4003FL on average about once a month, but lately about two or three.

No comments from the crowd, but the other musicians seem to really like it.

I just picked up a set of Chromes, and will be installing them on my Peavey T-40FL (only because I don't want to remove the old RIC black tapewounds off of the FL) and see how they sound. They were a bit pricey, but here's hoping they give me some more ZING than the TI's.

[cassius987]

They were a bit pricey, but here's hoping they give me some more ZING than the TI's.

Prediction: your wish shall be granted.

[ajish4]

They were a bit pricey, but here's hoping they give me some more ZING than the TI's.

Prediction: your wish shall be granted.

Cool! Thanks Joshua!

[rickenbrother]

I really think you're going to like the Chrome alot, T!

Cool pics, Todd!
I'm trying to find mine!

[jps]

I tried a fretless bass today at NAMM that I may have to bring home.

[cassius987]

I tried a fretless bass today at NAMM that I may have to bring home.

Do tell.

[jps]

A luthier named Martin Keith, who also is a collaborator with Joe Veillette, had a really nice 5 string fretless at their booth. It has two Citron (another collaborator) humbucking pickups with an interesting passive electronics setup. The controls are VPT and you can pull up on the T control to split the pickups such that you can pan between the outer to inner coils on the two pickups, a subtle but useful tonality. The bass has great mwah to it.

[cassius987]

That's cool, I've definitely seen those Citron pups but never heard them, and I was already interested in the Veillette fretless that I knew of. IIRC it was out of my league cash-wise, but looked superb.

[jps]

I was talking with Martin today about purchasing the bass. He told me Bass Player magazine wants the bass for a review so I may have to wait a bit to actually get it; I told him that is just fine with me, to have my bass reviewed by BP!

[cassius987]

I was talking with Martin today about purchasing the bass. He told me Bass Player magazine wants the bass for a review so I may have to wait a bit to actually get it; I told him that is just fine with me, to have my bass reviewed by BP!

I'm a subscriber so I'll probably get to have a look at it. Sounds good Jeff.

[Rickenhands]

I've played only a fretless bass for the last 24 years (until two weeks ago when I got my MID Ric 4003!), so pretty much all my gig pics are with fretless. I've had many a compliment on my custom Benavente. I hope to soon own a 4003 FL.

Here are some pics for ya:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47530497@N ... 464877038/

Peace.