A non-Alembic fretless bass question...

Started by bigbadbill, December 13, 2011, 10:46:36 AM

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811952

Good lord, he's lyrical!
 

 
Thanks!  I'd never heard of him before but will try to dig more of his stuff up.
 
John

811952


eligilam

I'm no super huge upright fan by any means, but +1000 on Edgar Meyer being an absolutely unreal player.  He can play faster in the thumb position than a lot of electric guys can play in their upper register...and his bowing work is phenomenal(Circus of Regrets off of Bela Fleck's Tales from the Acoustic Planet album is my personal favorite).

benson_murrensun

Edgar is the greatest.
I prefer to have lines on my fretless fingerboard. I need all the help I can get!

keith_h

I've have side lines and dots. It helps me impress folks that only see the clear finger board. LOL  
As far as my fretless playing I tell folks that I hope they enjoy semitones.  
 
In all seriousness I have found the markers to be very helpful when I drift or make large jump. But for normal playing I find I adjust my position by ear.
 
Keith

serialnumber12

Always looking while indulging.....just like sex!
keavin barnes @ facebook.com

serialnumber12

Always looking while indulging.....just like sex!
keavin barnes @ facebook.com

David Houck

John; what kind of fretless are you playing now?

811952

An '88 Carvin LB75.  Nice bass that was mine for years, until I inadvertently traded it to one of my brothers for a power amp some years ago (don't ask).  For several years I played a fretless Jazz Bass as well, until the truss rod started coming through the fingerboard..  
 
Pitch gets a little better every time I play it, and I'm getting past a head cold which probably means the ears are opening up a bit as well.  Lines will be fine though.  I had similar misgivings when I had to finally get bifocals, but I can see stuff so it's all good..
 
When I dropped-in on The Mothership in September, Mica threw that Rogue fretless at me and it absolutely rekindled a passion.
 
In addition to getting a fretless neck for the Lakland, I've looked into just buying a kit from Carvin for not much more $$, but the 35-inch scale on the Lakland sure makes that B-string speak..
 
John

pauldo

Keavin -
I know that bass - and the guy playing it!! :-D

malthumb

My preference would be sidelines on an Alembic bass.  Like to have as much ebony board showing as possible.
 
My second order preference would be no lines, but with side dots (that's what I have now).  My first fretless was a Lakland 55-02 fretless.  As you have found out, Lakland only makes with lines.
 
Being the masochist that I am, I now play an unlined fretless with black strings on an ebony board.  Play in tune or else! (it has side dots)
 
1987 Series I
2000 Mark King Deluxe / Series II 5-string

rami

Lines are cool, as long as the side dots are set BETWEEN the lines rather than on the lines.  When they're set on the lines, it always throws me off. Otherwise I'd just rather do without any lines.
 

hb3

Right -- you mean the line is the actual note. Same here.

keith_h


rami

That's fine, but I'd prefer them more centered.