whats the difference between fretless and normal bass guitars?
teninchrod asked:
I was looking into buying a Fender Jazz bass, and I could get one normal or fretless, so what’s the difference?
I know one doesn’t have frets and one does, but what’s the actual difference as far as tone or note range or whatever.
I was looking into buying a Fender Jazz bass, and I could get one normal or fretless, so what’s the difference?
I know one doesn’t have frets and one does, but what’s the actual difference as far as tone or note range or whatever.
One has no frets. THus the term “fretless”
They sound different and the Fretless has more. that is what my Bro said
Basically the frets on the guitar are the dots on the fretboard that indicate which number fret you are playing on. Some even go as far as removing the metal raised portion, so you have NO indication of what note you are playing or what number fret you are on, VERY tricky. (pics below).
So a fretted bass, will have those indicating dots making it a bit easier for you to know where you are playing on the bass. This also makes reading bass tablature a bit easier as well.
Fretless, will have no dots on the fretboard, I wouldnt recommend this for a beginner, as you will spend most of your time counting up the fretboard to see where you are when reading bass tab.
–Main
Hope this helped, good luck!
Im not sure about tone or note range, but Im sure its easier to do slides. Ive never played one, though I would like to, so if you get the fretless, let me know how it plays because I really need a new bass. I have a Dean that my boyfriend bought me, since I just started playing this summer, Im going to cover it with stickers, but the nut is messed up and he wants to buy me another one. So let me know if you get the fretless one and tell me how it plays. Hope this helps :]