knirirr Posted Monday at 10:43 Posted Monday at 10:43 I saw this anon opinion earlier today: Quote The fretless bass is long overdue a cultural reappraisal. For too long it's been ridiculed as something played by ponytailed session musos in suede waistcoats and double denim. Snooty music snobs, enough. Is that an accurate representation of how they are viewed? BTW, I got one out at a rehearsal a few months ago, prompting the saxophonist to comment that fretless bass guitars appeared to be prevalent in Oxfordshire. Perhaps they are popular everywhere. Quote
oldslapper Posted Monday at 10:56 Posted Monday at 10:56 No he’s right, they’re only permitted in Oxfordshire. I tried to play one in Sussex but was arrested for wearing a suede waistcoat in a built up area. Shame really. 1 21 Quote
Hellzero Posted Monday at 11:04 Posted Monday at 11:04 It's now harder for me to have a ponytail, but I've been obliged to burn my suede waistcoat alongside my double denim and to repent on my knees once. 8 Quote
Happy Jack Posted Monday at 11:08 Posted Monday at 11:08 There's no clickbait like fretless clickbait ... Quote
knirirr Posted Monday at 11:41 Author Posted Monday at 11:41 31 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: There's no clickbait like fretless clickbait ... Indeed, though I think that fretted bass clickbait is long overdue a cultural reappraisal. 1 7 Quote
uk_lefty Posted Monday at 11:56 Posted Monday at 11:56 I wish I could grow a pony tail without having to buy a pony. Most people don't even know what a fretless bass is, even muso types. I'd just ignore anyone with that kind of opinion. I don't tell the drummer what type of snare to use/ share my opinion on metal Vs wooden snares... I do have an opinion on bagpipes though. 2 2 Quote
fretmeister Posted Monday at 12:02 Posted Monday at 12:02 I've had 3. Status Energy Defretted Fender mex Jazz Zon Hyperbass. I liked the sound but I never got comfortable enough to play them live. Possibly because I was singing as well and I want to concentrate that much! I'd have another J type or PJ though. 3 Quote
knirirr Posted Monday at 12:14 Author Posted Monday at 12:14 15 minutes ago, uk_lefty said: I don't tell the drummer what type of snare to use/ share my opinion on metal Vs wooden snares... Quite! Quote I do have an opinion on bagpipes though. Unfortunately playing those one tends to meet extreme fans or haters (I have given them up for the moment). Quote
TimR Posted Monday at 12:25 Posted Monday at 12:25 My fretless is in my loft, along with a photo of me when I had hair. 2 2 Quote
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted Monday at 13:31 Posted Monday at 13:31 " Not suitable for metal" "Don't use a pick " "Most fretless players don't use lined fretless " These comments were in bass guitar mags back in the day . How times change .. 3 Quote
Norris Posted Monday at 13:56 Posted Monday at 13:56 (edited) Still being folically well endowed I tend to flaunt it. Tie it up in a ponytail? Never! * * Unless I'm spannering or something, but then I'll probably wear a cap Edited Monday at 13:58 by Norris 1 Quote
Grooverjr Posted Monday at 15:17 Posted Monday at 15:17 Suede waistcoat and double denim? That's rodeo wear isn't it? Is rodeo popular in Oxfordshire? Does a fretless tend to buck uncontrollably on a strap so you have to hold on for dear life? Those videos of Japan on Old Grey Whistle Test where Mick Karn is moving and playing with such grace in a well cut suit seem to suggest otherwise, but I'm not a clickbait writer 4 Quote
fleabag Posted Monday at 15:32 Posted Monday at 15:32 How very dare you. Rodeo is banned here in Oxfordshire, and for good reason. People kept getting bucked off. Fretless, on the other foot, is encouraged in this county. I have one that i play live, but keeping within the law, i'm obliged to play it while wearing clown shoes, a pink sports bra, and a welder's mask. No suede and dub den here, i'll have you know 6 Quote
Rosie C Posted Monday at 15:34 Posted Monday at 15:34 (edited) 3 hours ago, TimR said: My fretless is in my loft, along with a photo of me when I had hair. Surely the photo should be ageing horribly, while you retain a youthful countenance? Edited Monday at 15:34 by Rosie C 1 2 Quote
Mediocre Polymath Posted Monday at 15:55 Posted Monday at 15:55 (edited) I mostly play a fretless bass (headless even, for double points) and have very long hair, but yeah, no ponytail. In my experience the ponytail is the preserve of the heavy metal dudes and theatre technicians. I generally wind my hair up in a bun when I'm soldering or using power tools. Less flappy. Edited Monday at 15:57 by Mediocre Polymath 1 1 Quote
Hellzero Posted Monday at 17:19 Posted Monday at 17:19 (edited) And here I am in my new fretless player suit, way better, no? Edited Monday at 17:24 by Hellzero 1 1 Quote
steve-bbb Posted Monday at 18:18 Posted Monday at 18:18 7 hours ago, knirirr said: I saw this anon opinion earlier today: Is that an accurate representation of how they are viewed? BTW, I got one out at a rehearsal a few months ago, prompting the saxophonist to comment that fretless bass guitars appeared to be prevalent in Oxfordshire. Perhaps they are popular everywhere. curiously i purchased a preloved fretless from an oxford basschatter what gives with the oxford thing then Quote
tauzero Posted Monday at 19:42 Posted Monday at 19:42 I played my headless fretless bass for a year with my previous band before any of them realised it was a fretless. 1 3 Quote
Jo.gwillim Posted Monday at 20:19 Posted Monday at 20:19 I learnt bass on a fretless, i gigged fearlessly with bad intonation for a few years , but then changed bands and went fretted when my new band mates winced. I love my fretless bass but have lost my gigging nerve. Would a ponytail help? 1 Quote
StickyDBRmf Posted Monday at 21:49 Posted Monday at 21:49 Fretless 4 string, fretless 8 string, fretless Chapman Stick. Ponytail. Place of residence - Middlesex (County, New Jersey) I don't know what double denim is, but I wear a leather jacket on occasion. 1 Quote
knirirr Posted Monday at 21:51 Author Posted Monday at 21:51 3 hours ago, steve-bbb said: curiously i purchased a preloved fretless from an oxford basschatter what gives with the oxford thing then I don't know... But, at both jams I attended this month someone either brought a fretless bass guitar or promised to do so in January. Quote
knirirr Posted Monday at 21:54 Author Posted Monday at 21:54 1 hour ago, Jo.gwillim said: I learnt bass on a fretless, So did I. Recently, I played a tape of my first gig to a teacher, who thought that the intonation was good but the choice of notes ... less so ... No ponytail involved, but I'd have one if I could get the rest of my hair back to go with it. BTW I always try to drop in to Machynlleth when passing. Quote
Steve Browning Posted Monday at 22:26 Posted Monday at 22:26 Never owned a suede waistcoat and never had a ponytail either. 5 Quote
Piers_Williamson Posted Monday at 22:26 Posted Monday at 22:26 2 hours ago, Jo.gwillim said: I learnt bass on a fretless, i gigged fearlessly with bad intonation for a few years , but then changed bands and went fretted when my new band mates winced. I love my fretless bass but have lost my gigging nerve. Would a ponytail help? You didn't start out in Bauhaus did you? Quote
Jo.gwillim Posted Tuesday at 00:03 Posted Tuesday at 00:03 2 hours ago, knirirr said: So did I. Recently, I played a tape of my first gig to a teacher, who thought that the intonation was good but the choice of notes ... less so ... No ponytail involved, but I'd have one if I could get the rest of my hair back to go with it. BTW I always try to drop in to Machynlleth when passing. Always keen to natter to a bass chatter who's passin! 1 Quote
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