basstech Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 How do u get a fret less sound from a fretted bass??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantherairsoft Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 You don't. Not truly anyway. I get close but using neck pup, slight boost of mids, finger the string over the 12-15th fret gently (so there is no attack over the pickups). This works great for me. Hopefully my description makes sense. Not sure any effects will do it. I'll move this to Theory & Technique unless someone things of a pedal solution. Shep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 pair of pliers and marine epoxy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwells Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Yep removing the frets is the only proper answer! But you can get the swell from a Slow Gear or clone other than that think the only option would be a midi setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Darkglass B7K for some of that fretless growl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 My fretted custom does a fair impression as Nick Smith will testify - it does have a chambered Cherry body though which may make a difference.. where abouts in Herts are you?? If it's not too much bother you could pop round and see for yourself at the weekend..PM me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) [quote name='pantherairsoft' timestamp='1328046220' post='1521006'] You don't. Not truly anyway. I get close but using neck pup, slight boost of mids, finger the string over the 12-15th fret gently (so there is no attack over the pickups). This works great for me. Hopefully my description makes sense. Not sure any effects will do it. I'll move this to Theory & Technique unless someone things of a pedal solution. Shep [/quote] bit of subtle chorus too maybe,.. for that slightly detuned feel Edited January 31, 2012 by phil.i.stein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 Get one of these: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaypup Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 The Boss ME-50B has a fretless emulator which sounds pretty good. Even better when I use my fretless with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1328118895' post='1522166'] Get one of these: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks[/media] [/quote] impressed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beneath It All Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='janmaat' timestamp='1328194303' post='1523407'] impressed! [/quote].........................+1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Zoom B2 also has a 'fretless' emulator... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am not excane Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 As already said, you don't. All the fretless simulator garbage, pedals, etc, etc will not cut it. If you're serious about a fretless tone, you need to buy a fretless. Period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1328046522' post='1521014'] pair of pliers and marine epoxy? [/quote] yep, can't get away from the 'stepped' sound as you slide. Pedals are not going to give you a true fretless slide. i did the plyers thing too. yanked out the frets having been inspired by the playing of the great, late, Mick Karn. 2 days later I gigged the bass. Never even filled in the holes left by the frets. Young and full of beans grab a Warwick rockbass fretless. one of the older ones are dirt cheap. not pretty, but a decent fretless sound and play nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 [quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1328118895' post='1522166'] Get one of these: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2WOOIZXNks[/media] [/quote] That's pretty cool, Although he could do with another flip switch for intonation. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcapener Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) +1 to those saying to buy a fretless. You wouldn't regret it! Edited February 4, 2012 by craigcapener Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 More to the point, how do I get a saxophone sound out of my fretless bass... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1328376658' post='1526221'] More to the point, how do I get a saxophone sound out of my fretless bass... [/quote] midi...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 talk to gary willis. He did exactly that at a masterclass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I thought I might get one of these...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 [quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1328320873' post='1525632'] yep, can't get away from the 'stepped' sound as you slide. Pedals are not going to give you a true fretless slide. i did the plyers thing too. yanked out the frets having been inspired by the playing of the great, late, Mick Karn. 2 days later I gigged the bass. Never even filled in the holes left by the frets. Young and full of beans grab a Warwick rockbass fretless. one of the older ones are dirt cheap. not pretty, but a decent fretless sound and play nice. [/quote] Ha, ha, I did the same inspired by Pino Pallidino playing on 'wherever I lay my hat'. Woke up, put radio on, heard Pino do his thing, reached for set of pliers, started yanking at my frets. A few chunks of wood came away with the frets but nothing a well placed bit of sellotape couldn't fix. But seriously folks...............rotosound tru bass nylon wound strings works for me. Very DB sounding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am not excane Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1328376658' post='1526221'] More to the point, how do I get a saxophone sound out of my fretless bass... [/quote] Interesting.... sax was my first instrument (20 years playing) and often thought about the same thing. Running sax through my pedalboard has gotten me some of the strangest and coolest sounds I've ever heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFitzgerald Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 As all of the others have said, you'll never truly emulate a fretless sound on a fretted instrument. However ! If you use a light plucking hand technique, you can remove a fair bit of the attack from the note. Creep up on the notes rather than attack them. Couple that with a slow and wide fingering hand vibrato style and you can derive a sound which whilst not quite fretless is at least beginning to use that slightly softer and, dare I say it, more lyrical approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.jpg.7e18f76540598a8efc0e6ca9be453059.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.