Who plays fretless in a rock/pop band?

[chris_b]

Me - in my school band.

[Mudpup]

 

 

 

[tauzero]

59 minutes ago, EssentialTension said:

Fretless is fine. Almost everyone won't notice, including the band.

 

As long as you're roughly in tune.

 

It took a year for my previous band to notice.

[Linus27]

11 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

It took a year for my previous band to notice.

 

Interesting as I get comments at pretty much every gig about how great it is to see someone playing a fretless, I love the sound of your fretless, you sound like Pino/Mick Karn and at one venue, the bar staff have renamed our band as 'Tim Shez and the Fretless Bass Player', much to our singers annoyance 🤣 

Edited September 28, 2023 by Linus27

[Hellzero]

By the way @Linus27 it's Mick Karn. 😉

[Linus27]

39 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

By the way @Linus27 it's Mick Karn. 😉

 

Thank you, all corrected

[fleabag]

 

Yup, fretless on 2 tracks of ours

[TheGreek]

IIRC wasn't there some fella called "Pastorius" or something that used to have a go??

[grenadillabama]

On 20/09/2023 at 09:49, tauzero said:

I did for years, may well go back to it. I'll add Boz Burrell in Bad Company to the list.

When I heard Bad Company he used a fretless Ampeg bass. On the records I just assumed it was fretted. Surprise!

[AndyTravis]

This is odd - I’ve just had the same talk with @lee650 - I’ve just done a remote audition for a band I’d class as indie/pop and thought “I’ll use the fretless”.

 

After that was successful, I think I’ll use my fretless more.

[JPJ]

I use a Fender Tony Franklin fretless, doubling on NS EUB, in an Americana/Country/Rock band, and like Beedster I actually find it easier to play fretless over fretted.

[MrCrane]

You can also add Rod Clements of Lindisfarne onto the list.

 

 

[JPJ]

11 hours ago, MrCrane said:

You can also add Rod Clements of Lindisfarne onto the list.

 

 

A personal influence and a lovely guy to boot. Back in the very early 2000's I almost bought that fretless Overwater from Rod, but young children and common sense prevented me from going ahead with the purchase. 

[ead]

I use this some of the time, often alternating with  fretted bass from gig to gig.  EMGs work really well and sit well in the mix.  I has been noticed once or twice too by the crowd.

 

 

[Rayman]

Yep me too…. Thunderbird mostly, but this is on 3 songs….

 

 

[nilorius]

On 19/09/2023 at 22:38, Waddycall said:

Sounds like we might be getting the old band back together. Trouble is I’ve recently decided to focus on fretless so sold both my fretted basses. I don’t really want to get any more gear especially as they’re an unreliable bunch. 
so who plays fretless in a rock/pop band and how do you find it in the mix? 

I play - Ibanez GWB 1005. No problemo !

[Woodinblack]

I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea

 

[Linus27]

11 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea

 

 

Let us know how you get on.

[nilorius]

46 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea

 

Best regards !🤙

[ezbass]

56 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I should be getting a fretless tomorrow, and I have a gig on saturday. Seems like the ideal oportunity to find out if it is a good idea

 

Deep end experimentation - kudos.

[BassTool]

I do for three songs in our set, with my lovely Cliff Bordwell bass acquired from @Clarky of this parish 😁

[itu]

Fernando Saunders hasn't been mentioned, yet:

Lou Reed, Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer, Heart, Pat Benatar, Special EFX...

[BlueMoon]

I’ve always been impressed with Jaz Lochrie’s fretless playing. Expressive and always in the groove.

 

A different style is Johann Asmundsson, who has held the bass role in jazz/funk band Mezzoforte for decades. Also a great fretless player.

[Soledad]

Didn't Bill Wyman play the first several Stones singles etc on his defretted bass?

I personally think it's a non-thing. Is it just bc people expect you to slide around a lot? I did a rehearsal with my Jazz fretless a while back and no-one noticed at all - dunno if that's a good or bad thing🤣

But the Jazz with flats gave a really good low-mid punch sound, we were doing a mix of rock-ish and soul stuff. I think it works really well if you avoid the fretless cliches and get the intonation solid.

My current Sandberg with chrome flats at bridge under strings makes a really excellent soul/funk bass.

[NickA]

Fretless was everywhere in the 80s.  Now it's all boring fretted fenders.

 

Do it! You may start a revival.

 

Edited October 29, 2023 by NickA