Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Outside of not having frets, what are the differences, pros, cons, and reasons for fretless vs fretted?


Jack

I'm not sure I can help a whole lot since I've just recently begun to play fretless...

Anyway, fretless allows you to do nice smooth slides from note to note, and also has a slightly different sound due to the fact that the string is held with just your finger instead of finger and fret. You can also do cool things like harmonic slides, touch the string to get a harmonic and then press down and slide - really cool sound.

The main "con" is probably that you don't get an automatic correct, in tune note by just pressing the string down near the fret. In other words, you have to get your finger in the right place to be in tune. This takes some practice to hit near the right spot and the ability to hear the note and adjust on the fly until you get it right...

cjj wrote:I'm not sure I can help a whole lot since I've just recently begun to play fretless...

Anyway, fretless allows you to do nice smooth slides from note to note, and also has a slightly different sound due to the fact that the string is held with just your finger instead of finger and fret. You can also do cool things like harmonic slides, touch the string to get a harmonic and then press down and slide - really cool sound.

The main "con" is probably that you don't get an automatic correct, in tune note by just pressing the string down near the fret. In other words, you have to get your finger in the right place to be in tune. This takes some practice to hit near the right spot and the ability to hear the note and adjust on the fly until you get it right...

I've seen some with lines. Wouldn't that make it easier and still get the sound difference?

The sound difference is wood contact vs. metal contact. The only cons I see regarding FLs vs. fretted are these:

1. Round wound strings aren't good for Rick FLs - they'll chew up the varnish. I do use rounds on some other FLs.
2. As a result of lack of rounds and no frets, slap doesn't come across very well on a FL; but I don't play slap style, so no big one there.

As for Pros:

1. No annoying frets in the way;
2. The bass has the ability to speak rather than to produce pre-specified tones;
3. Wood is better than metal;
4. If you of the ilk, a FL can have action so low you just have to look at it to play it;
5. You'll never pay for a re-fret or fret-dress again;
6. Clank is reduced; fret-buzz does not exist;
7. If you ever pick up a double bass, you're ready to dig right in;
8. A blank ebony strip of wood is amongst the most beautiful of all creations;
9. Semi-tones exist!
10. Frets are for guitarists.

As to your last question - fretlines are a major hindrance to me. When playing fretted, you don't play on the frets, you butt up into them from below. Now you've got to unlearn that and play on the lines, and the side dots are usually where they are on a fretted bass. Absolute nightmare!

jack1953 wrote: I've seen some with lines. Wouldn't that make it easier and still get the sound difference?

Yup!

jack1953 wrote: I've seen some with lines. Wouldn't that make it easier and still get the sound difference?

Well, there was a big discussion on that a while back, in this forum I think. It seems that people have their opinions, like always (read Joey's (rickenbrother) signature line... ). I suppose it might help some people, but realistically, if you have to spend a lot of time looking at the fretboard, whether or not there are frets there, you need more practice. Lots more practice.

For me, I haven't really found it too difficult. When I play fretted, I put my finger just behind the fret, not just somewhere behind the fret, right there, up against it. So, my first impression with fretless was that I had to think of placing my finger just a bit forward of what felt right to be in tune. Of course, I've been playing Rick basses for 30 some years, so the finger placement really doesn't require a lot of thought for me, my fingers just know where to go...

Fretlines on fretless basses make people who have not spent much time playing fretless or have not trained their ear to only PRESUME that they are always playing in tune.
Fretless basses are fun to play. They let your express notes in ways that a fretted bass cannot do. It's a bit challenging to play very well, but it's worth the effort in my opinion.

cjj wrote:if you have to spend a lot of time looking at the fretboard, whether or not there are frets there, you need more practice. Lots more practice.

My main point of contention is that lines actually make it harder to play because looking at the neck the whole time is just a confusing strain. I've done it before so this is not just idle chatter from a know-it-all jerk--I've played "lined" fretlesses many times, mostly Fenders (owned and borrowed) and a Steinberger once (borrowed). Side dots are a nice in-between "quick glance" tool, so visual aids are no crime in my book. The idea is to get all the information you need and no more so as not to be confusing (this was the problem with "side-dot-for-every-note" binding on 4001FLs of yore, although like lines it's also a player preference issue). But I really can't agree that lines make anything about fretless easier in the real world of gigging because a bassist staring at his fingers will not do as good of a job at grooving, not to mention the fact that a lot of gigs require you to look like you know a bit of what you are doing to give you that "cool" factor. I'm already dork enough as it is, so why make that any worse...

cassius987 wrote:

cjj wrote:if you have to spend a lot of time looking at the fretboard, whether or not there are frets there, you need more practice. Lots more practice.

My main point of contention is that lines actually make it harder to play because looking at the neck the whole time is just a confusing strain...The idea is to get all the information you need and no more so as not to be confusing (this was the problem with "side-dot-for-every-note" binding on 4001FLs of yore, although like lines it's also a player preference issue). But I really can't agree that lines make anything about fretless easier in the real world of gigging because a bassist staring at his fingers will not do as good of a job at grooving...

Well, if that doesn't tie it all up in a neat little package, ain't nuthin' gonna.

Hey Jack,

Aren't you in Florida?

Come on over and play one.....THEN you will know the difference!

I had a fellow here last night who wanted to try all my RICS...he's not a fretless player, but he said my FL was has FAVORITE out of all of my RICS.

I LOVE my RIC FL. I've played a number of different fretless basses, and I keep coming back to my RIC.

They are on "hiatus" over at RIC. I patiently wait for them to come back into production. I REALLY want a new one and since I've hear the new two piece necks are nice and thin. I'm DYING to get another.