ezbass

Wise words, which are applicable to pretty much any art form, but especially the electric bass, which has only been around for about 70 years really (counting from Leo’s first P), the fretless version of which is even less so (albeit not too much).

Put your fingers where you think it sounds right and check against a tuner. The lines on mine are spot on when using the edge of a pick, so I adjust for my finger width/pressure where appropriate. Some strings seem to be more forgiving too.

If it’s lined, the side dots will be like on a fretted bass, just to get you in the area of where you should be, the lines are your target points (will come to rely on them less and less as time goes on - FWIW other lined players include Gary Willis and, of course, Jaco). As has been said above, once you’ve done the initial obligatory slipping, sliding and OTT mwah (plus the Pino ‘Hat’ line), just play the songs you normally would as if you’re playing fretted. You probably already slide into a few notes and add vibrato on fretted anyway, it will now just sound more organic. Soon, you’ll just instinctively know where those little fretless touches sound best. Enjoy the ride, it’s a lot less bumpy.

Since pulling the frets out of 2nd ever bass, I never been too far away from having one in my collection and these days I have 2. I don’t normally do New Year’s resolutions, but this year I decided that unless the project or song absolutely called for frets, then it was going to be fretless all the time. I’ve loved it. Rather than having to think where I would use the ‘bump-less beast’, I just pick it up for everything and it’s rare that I have to change. In terms of ease of transition, I’ve always played close to the fret so playing fretless has never been overly difficult and it has improved my ear. I’d also love an upright, but the practicality, not to mention the cost, of owning one gives me pause. I have played one and I like it, although it is a very different animal.

I’m currently running a Sadowsky SBP2 into a VTDI. If I had to go to just one, I’d probably get the SBP1.

TBH, it was your GAS thread that started me looking at Sadowskys again and now I’ve caught it! I still have my eye on a used, 5 string Metro, which I don’t need. Oh, the horror!

Well that’s just greedy. Let me relieve you of the Sadowsky to make you feel better . Enjoy, you lucky duck.

It's Lee's birthday today, 73 years old.

Fabulous basses; enjoy.

Wishbone Ash: Argus > Wishbone 4

👏👏👏

Ah, I see now.

That Jake is getting some tasty mojo to it @wateroftyne.

Ooh, there you go; lovely!

SW does surround himself with stellar players. The drumming on the To The Bone album is stunning: Jeremy Stacey and Craig Blundell. Craig (an ex-marine) played on the TTB tour and was on the Beeb’s recent drumming series. I found this documentary very interesting...

Yep, that sounds familiar. 🤞

I ordered a recording interface that seemed to crawl across Germany according to the tracking and then suddenly it was in the UK and out for delivery. Fear not.

I thought it liked to jump and frolic, before being thrown in the air and being caught by a certain part of its anatomy.

Thanks, I guess it's kind of a cross between a 'Ray and and a Sterling p/g. It did take a lot of messing about with templates to get it right for the manufacturer and, even then, it still needed a bit of fettling. The tort celluloid, on the other hand, was a doddle as it's the kind of thing they stick on acoustic guitars and is really thin; you can cut it with a craft knife.

😱 Oh, that’s not good. Someone’s having a laugh 😡.

My guitar playing nephew was on a tour with Ms Q (one of those multiple act affairs). He said she was lovely and is a really good pianist. She had a tough time with her ex hubby back in the day apparently.

It is and I have. Tony Levin’s Beyond The Bass Clef is another good collection of bass/biz anecdotes, but it might be out of print these days.