Hi! I’m having trouble finding an answer elsewhere on the internet, so I thought I’d see if the wonderful folks at BB had anything to say on the matter.
I just picked up a fretless jazz bass, my first fretless. It seems like there’s a dullness to the D and G strings based on whether I’m using the pad of my fingers (like I would on a fretted bass) vs using my finger tips. This isn’t happening on the E or A strings. It’s almost a muted vs non-muted sound, or perhaps has less sustain when plucking the strings.
Is this normal? Have my frets been helping me cover up sloppier technique than I thought I had? I’m not used to playing with solely my fingertips, but I have heard that you want the bone of your finger on the string as much as possible when playing a double bass, for instance.
Any searches for fretless fingerings have more to do with intonation than actual finger pressure. Any advice you have would be really helpful!
For background, this is an '06 Squier VM Jazz Bass with flats, purchased used.
My first reaction to this is that those 2 strings are dying or dead. If you “fret” the note the same way they should produce similar tone. Since it’s an 18 year old used bass there’s a small chance that the strings were kinked somewhere along the way.
There are very few places I’d go have have anything done on my basses nowadays. I browsed a few shop while the “tech” are working on the customers instruments. Some it looked like no care were taken at all when removing strings the ball ends would impact the body beautiful paint job. There’s no stretching once the string is installed and tuned, it’s done. All of this of course happened while helping customers.
This particular place is family owned and been there for decades, that couldn’t navigate a simple (enough) pickup installation. I dropped off my bass to do the mix EMG and non EMG pickup both are passive a month later, I called to follow up and their “lead Tech” master luthier at Fender said it could not be done. You can’t mix EMG with anything else, I took it home and got it done in 20 minutes learning everything along the way for the first time.
I agree with Al . I would not take any of my Basses to most places that sell instruments. Very few have competent technicians
It takes some work, but if you spend the time you will find someone who can work magic. I have a guy near me who build guitars. He has set up all of my basses and i love the results.
Also, dont be afraid to customize your stuff.
I wanted a frettless, but could not find what i wanted. I purchased a Fender Amareican Ultra Jazz Bass and had the fretts removed before I ever spent any real time with it.
I love the sound and feel!
The moral to that story is you can make most instruments function well and sound good if you are willing to put in the time and money to make it yours.
P.s. replace your strings. Its cheap and eliminates a lot of trouble shooting
There are very few places I’d go have have anything done on my basses nowadays. I browsed a few shop while the “tech” are working on the customers instruments. Some it looked like no care were taken at all when removing strings the ball ends would impact the body beautiful paint job. There’s no stretching once the string is installed and tuned, it’s done. All of this of course happened while helping customers.
I took it home and got it done in 20 minutes learning everything along the way for the first time.