Bass Guitars

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

You said you played fretless guitars (not specifying bass) and I asked which ones, and you responded by saying you played a les paul and that you admired Zappa's fretless playing. So you can see why I misunderstood your response?

Practicing on a fretted helps get the spacing, but it is a long way from doing it competently. There is also the sound produced issue I referred to before.

I like the sound of fretted guitars and did not focus upon the bass guitar issue, for which I had very little experience. I can see your confusion.

Do you like the sound of fretless guitars?

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I like the sound of fretted guitars and did not focus upon the bass guitar issue, for which I had very little experience. I can see your confusion.

Do you like the sound of fretless guitars?

If you want to have a non-Western sound they can be good, but they sound muted (the sound is coming off of your finger instead of off the fret). For some reason the fretless bass is more popular.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

If you want to have a non-Western sound they can be good, but they sound muted (the sound is coming off of your finger instead of off the fret). For some reason the fretless base is more popular.

I think the reason fretless bass guitars are more popular is becasue many bass players start on uprights and so are comfortable with it and becasue you can slide into walking lines a little bit, cheating towards a pitch if you will, on a fretless that gives it a bit of a bite. You can also slide and noodle around coninuously, although that is sort of gimmicky.

Very few guitar players (I don't know if any) start on a fretless guitar and so are not very comfortable with the idea. I have never seen a fretless guitar (not a bass) in person. It would require very refined techinque.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by creekster

I think the reason fretless bass guitars are more popular is becasue many bass players start on uprights and so are comfortable with it and becasue you can slide into walking lines a little bit, cheating towards a pitch if you will, on a fretless that gives it a bit of a bite. You can also slide and noodle around coninuously, although that is sort of gimmicky.

Very few guitar players (I don't know if any) start on a fretless guitar and so are not very comfortable with the idea. I have never seen a fretless guitar (not a bass) in person. It would require very refined techinque.

[MikeWaters]

Go to the 2 minute mark of the 2nd youtube video to see a very unique style.