Fretless Musicman

[phatster]

Never tried one but thinking bout it.If I didn't get lost on the neck sounds like their are advantages.Help introduce me to the way of the no-fret,thanks.

[FreestyleIntruder]

Tony Levin used/uses one.

[speddling]

MusicMan Fretlesses are the 'second coming' of fretless IMO.

 

Jaco got it noticed with a Fender Jazz

 

then Pino Palladino brought it to 80s top 40... with his fretless Ray (his discography reads like an 80s Greatest Hits compalation)

http://www.pinopalladino.com/

 

Tony Levin was using fretless MusicMan's then too.

http://www.tonylevin.com/

 

Both used MM fretless w/ roundwounds thru Trace Elliot amps. That is THE fretless tone of the 80s.

 

Myself, I got the fretless bug from Tony Franklin and 'The Firm'.... He was better known for a fretless P thru Peavey rigs.

http://www.tonyfranklin.com/

 

And from Sting's early work with the Police. http://www.sting.com/home.php

[Spark]

*SPAM ON*

 

I am selling my lined fretless 'Ray. Will go pretty cheap, as it's not the prettiest thing in the world. I will give you the "special Forum rate" if you're interested. PM me for details if you want, or ignore me if you don't .

 

*SPAM OFF*

 

Speddling's post is right on. Tony Franklin's stuff with The Firm is some of my favorite fretless work too!

 

I find the fretless 'Ray sound to be more aggressive with more midrange and "mwah" than fretless jazz basses. A fretless P can sound mighty uprighty, and a fretless jazz will still sound like a jazz bass, only woodier and less, well, fretty .

 

For the "soaring mwah" sound, the 'Ray is the one. Personally, I prefer the sound of the fretless jazz--I prefer its more traditional sound, plus I like having 2 pickups.