Do you have to use chorus on fretless basses?

[jazzyvee]

I don't play fretless bass but have always wondered why it seems that everyone who plays one uses chorus and some also use chorus and a reverb.

I'm not saying it's a good or a bad thing, I just wondered if this type of bass doesn't sound good played clean with no effects.

[therealting]

Sound absolutely fine when played well with no effects.

[Beedster]

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1456318103' post='2987726']
...it seems that everyone who plays one uses chorus and some also use chorus and a reverb.
[/quote]

Not true, you're probably just listening to a certain type of music or group of musicians.

[iamtheelvy]

You don't [i]have[/i] to use chorus... It's just that some of us grew up in the 80's. It's hard to get that sort of thing out of your system...

[Mykesbass]

I play fretless for 90% of what I do and own neither chorus or reverb. Got a nice overdrive for a couple of songs though!

[keefbaker]

There's loads of fretless stuff without chorus out there, but I can see the appeal of putting chorus on there, Chorus by its very nature smears the exact note frequency you're playing so can make your duff fingering sound more accurate than it is.

[CamdenRob]

Never used chorus myself when playing fretless

[RhysP]

Using chorus on a fretless should be punishable by death.

[Beedster]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456319500' post='2987757']
Using chorus on a fretless should be punishable by death.
[/quote]

No, it's far more serious than that

[cybertect]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456319500' post='2987757']
Using chorus on a fretless should be punishable by death.
[/quote]

Harsh

[iamtheelvy]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456319500' post='2987757']
Using chorus on a fretless should be punishable by death.
[/quote]

But Jaco and Pino said I could!

[jazzyvee]

Well if anyone has any links to someone playing clean fretless bass playing with no effects at all I'd be interested in hearing what it sounds like.

[Beedster]

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1456319627' post='2987761']
Harsh
[/quote]

..but fair

[RhysP]

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1456319612' post='2987759']
No, it's far more serious than that
[/quote]

[jazzyvee]

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1456318788' post='2987736']
Not true, you're probably just listening to a certain type of music or group of musicians.
[/quote]

From my perspective, and I listen to a diverse range of music both on record and live, I don't recall ever hearing a fretless bass without chorus. I hope I'm proved wrong because I want to hear what it sounds like naturally. :-)

[iamtheelvy]

Jack Bruce played a lot of fretless in his later career. Don't think that he was big on effects.

[tauzero]

I use chorus on everything.

[JapanAxe]

Chorus has spoiled more music than we'll ever know.

[keefbaker]

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1456319809' post='2987767']
Well if anyone has any links to someone playing clean fretless bass playing with no effects at all I'd be interested in hearing what it sounds like.
[/quote]

I googled fretless bass... first video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdV5yrqWEDA

No chorus.

[keefbaker]

Honestly.. billions out there.

[keefbaker]

Or one of my favourite players:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPSriFxA6r0

[RhysP]

[quote name='keefbaker' timestamp='1456322936' post='2987819']
I googled fretless bass... first video:

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdV5yrqWEDA"]https://www.youtube....h?v=CdV5yrqWEDA[/url]

No chorus.
[/quote]

But his intonation is so bad it sounds like he's using chorus....

[keefbaker]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1456323116' post='2987824']
But his intonation is so bad it sounds like he's using chorus....
[/quote]

You're not wrong.

[Beedster]

It ain't all mwah and chorus, I like this posted on here a few weeks back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFmELh_Kjno

[cheddatom]

IMO if you can hear the chorus effect, then you've over done it. You can use chorus very effectively as a subtle "thickener"

Why everyone in the 80s used one on fretless bass, I have no idea!