fretless guitars?

straymond · #1 01-19-2003, 12:04 PM

Got any experience with'em?

Can you do anything cool with them?

How should I set them up?

Got one standard tuning (E-E),
And one baritone (H-H).

Ray

jemke · #2 01-19-2003, 03:56 PM

It is the same as a violin and a vriend of me has removed the frets from an old electric guitar. It is hard to play in tune and you lose a lot of sustain but it works

Two hands31 · #3 01-19-2003, 06:13 PM

Heh, "(H-H)" eh? Wow, and you thought Meshuggah was nuts.

I know what you mean tho, it's like the translation or something difference between countries. I'd like to know what notes you have it tuned to by our methods tho (and to learn more about your system).

pawel · #4 01-19-2003, 10:05 PM

H is B

pawel · #5 01-19-2003, 10:10 PM

Oh and of course you can d cool things with them, try to find something by Screaming Headless Torsos, their guitarist uses a doubleneck Ibanez Artist with a fretless neck...

straymond · #6 01-20-2003, 02:41 AM

I would like to get my hands on a nylon string,
and turn that into a fretless.
I think it would be easier to play due to
the thick strings....

SalemB · #7 01-20-2003, 10:11 AM

The only fretless piece I know about is Dweezil's "Rubberband". Are there any more?

I'd love to have one just to play around with, but I'm sure it's awfully difficult.

Oh, and
H = B and B = Bb, confused yet?

wallopwallop · #8 01-20-2003, 02:00 PM

Check out some Ron Thal. I don't know his work at all really but I do know he is a major endorsee of the Vigier range of Surfretter guitars. These are fretless guitars with a brass fingerboard. They are supposed to sound amazing and certainly look crazy!!

straymond · #9 02-12-2003, 07:25 AM

they look awesome, and sound even better.
ron thal's insane, though...
I'm just a mere mortal...

jstrat57 · #10 02-14-2003, 12:11 AM

The guy satch was touring with had a fernandes fretless with a glass fretboard.. He had some switches on there that made it sound like whistling.. it was pretty cool. Tune one in open E and learn yous some allman brothers hehe

Akhenaten · #11 02-14-2003, 12:37 AM

Vai's triple-neck white Jem (not the heart-shaped one) had a fretless on it I think. The bottom neck...

He used it on the Sex and Religion album and tour, and played "An Earth Dweller's Return" on the fretless.

dex · #12 02-14-2003, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ankhnaten

Vai's triple-neck white Jem (not the heart-shaped one) had a fretless on it I think. The bottom neck...

He used it on the Sex and Religion album and tour, and played "An Earth Dweller's Return" on the fretless.

True story.
It's dificult to spot because the frets are painted on so unless you are really close to that guitar it looks like it has frets.

straymond · #13 02-19-2003, 12:10 PM

Pat metheny has been known to use
a nylon fretless... sounds awesome

vaijem777 · #14 02-21-2003, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

It's dificult to spot because the frets are painted on so unless you are really close to that guitar it looks like it has frets.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that the frets markers are inlays of maple, but it's been a few years since I got the chance to hold & play that guitar . VERY unique though...the only fretless guitar I've actually had any hands-on experience with.