Radchenko Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Hello, Do you think is great having 24 frets or is unconfortable and so better 21 frets. I think 22 is only used by Sandberg basses. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 How about 25, 26, or 36? Have to say that my playing rarely craves for 24 frets. 10 - 15 would cover most of my work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Radchenko said: I think 22 is only used by Sandberg basses. My EBMM Sterling has 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Depends entirely on the construction of the neck joint. It's no use having frets that are uncomfortable to reach because the heel gets in the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 It really depends what sort of stuff you play. If you don’t do any sort of soloing / melody doubling / chordal playing, then it probably doesn’t matter too much. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 my custom Shukers have double octave necks, so 24 for me. And yup, I do occasionally get that high! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 2 hours ago, Twigman said: My EBMM Sterling has 22 New stringray specials have 22. The 5 strings (apart from the classics) have always been 22. TBH unless having 24 frets means the space between the end of the neck and the pickup is tight for slapping, it makes no difference. I like to have 21+ though. I like having that upper E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 My Zon Hyperbass had a 3 octave neck - fretless of course, but the equivalent of 36 frets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 2 hours ago, therealting said: It really depends what sort of stuff you play. If you don’t do any sort of soloing / melody doubling / chordal playing, then it probably doesn’t matter too much. Completely agree here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 24 as a preference, but I do like at least 21. One of the few things that annoys me about my Sire V7 is that they stuck too closely to the J-bass recipe, and gave it a 20 fret neck. I have never understood why Leo designed them like that... what the hell is the point of a range of E to Eb..?? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Rich said: 24 as a preference, but I do like at least 21. One of the few things that annoys me about my Sire V7 is that they stuck too closely to the J-bass recipe, and gave it a 20 fret neck. I have never understood why Leo designed them like that... what the hell is the point of a range of E to Eb..?? Perfect range for Sir Duke 😂 Also, don’t forget the Leo was at the start of the journey for electric bass. He probably asked double bass players what sort of range would be required, and most of them probably thought Eb would be way higher than they would use. Technique and repertoire have had a good sixty years to develop since then. Edited December 19, 2019 by therealting 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 21 for Rock. 22 for Muso's. 24 for show offs. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) Don't most basses have 20? I find I run out occasionally looking for that high E. My second bass had 24 frets, I have two more 24 fretters, I like having the extras. Now you've made me count the frets on my guitars. Two with 21, three with 22, and an acoustic with 20. Me (in my yoof) showing off at the dusty end :-) Edited December 19, 2019 by Stub Mandrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I find it's rare for nine frets not to be enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 My Sandberg has 22 but I rarely go above the 12th 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I’m very much enjoying the 24 frets on the ACG, I write a lot around and above the 12th so 24 and the single cut shape is right up my rue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 You know what, after playing for 39 years I don’t know how many frets there are on the basses I play. I do actually go above the 12th fret when playing some of Duff McKagans stuff so am not stuck purely down the low end but as to how many frets, is it 21 on a Fender? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 8 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: is it 21 on a Fender? 20 on my jazzes and my P ☝️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 (edited) 14 hours ago, Reggaebass said: 20 on my jazzes and my P ☝️ Yep, mine too. Learnt something new today then. Edited December 20, 2019 by Lozz196 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 The perfect number of frets is no frets at all 😁. Despite which, I have a dolphin pro 1 with 29 and can't frankly fit my stumpy fingers into the top few. Also a mk 2 Wal with 24 and though perfectly accessible (despite the bolt on neck ) I only use them for noodling. For most mortals an octave and an extra fifth is enough. There's also a theory that fewer frets make for a better slap tone ( if you admit to being into that ) Depends entirely on what you play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Most of mine have 24. I am happy with that, don't need any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 20 hours ago, Radchenko said: Do you think is great having 24 frets or is unconfortable and so better 21 frets. In terms of comfort, you shouldn’t feel any difference between 21 and 24 frets, the nut should still be as far away in exactly the same place, it’s the same scale after all. If you’re worried about a neck feeling long, check how far the bridge is in from the edge of the body and how long the upper horn is. That determines how the bass sits on you and, therefore, how far away the lower frets will be from your torso. The number of frets will make no difference in this regard. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 16 hours ago, therealting said: Perfect range for Sir Duke 😂 Also, don’t forget the Leo was at the start of the journey for electric bass. He probably asked double bass players what sort of range would be required, and most of them probably thought Eb would be way higher than they would use. Technique and repertoire have had a good sixty years to develop since then. Sir Duke Anyone who alters the key for Sir Duke without warning the bassist deserves flogging in the street! I'm playing it in C at the moment. Years of muscle memory gone to waste, and it just doesn't sound right! Bastards! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 10 minutes ago, fretmeister said: Sir Duke Anyone who alters the key for Sir Duke without warning the bassist deserves flogging in the street! Flogging In The a Street - is that the Martha Reeves and the Vandellas version, or the David Bowie and Mick Jagger version? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 I could play our whole set with 14 and very rarely play the tune that uses the 14th. 10 frets would suffice for the rest of the set. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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