Vibrato on Fretless Bass

[DuxJerome]

Great lesson, very helpful. when you do this on fretted bass, is this also called vibrato, or just to sustain the note?

[stewmc5222]

@DuxJerome Well, it depends whether or not you are changing the pitch of the note. Fretted and fretless are very different instruments in some ways and so much alike in others.

[TheZombieXecutioner]

hey love your videos always wanted to play fretless but ive wondered, how long do you think with i should play a fretted bass until i move on to a fretless bass?

[stewmc5222]

@TheZombieXecutioner Thank you for the kind words! I waited a year after I started playing fretted before I moved to fretless, but if you want to start there is no time like the present. It is a serious discipline and the sooner you can get into it, start building good habits as a player, the better off you will be!

[TheZombieXecutioner]

@stewmc5222 yes that is very true, and what about moving up into extended range basses??

[stewmc5222]

@TheZombieXecutioner I really think it's the same thing. What is really important with the extended range instruments is figuring out what is a usable range for you. I am happiest on an 8 string but I sometimes use a 10 string for my solo shows.

[TheZombieXecutioner]

@stewmc5222 Holy! im fine at a 6! do you think it would effect anything if i move straight from a 4 to a 6?

[stewmc5222]

@TheZombieXecutioner That transition will not be too tough. You will have to adjust the angle at which you hold your fretting hand and also your muting technique, but everything else should stay about the same.

: )

[TheZombieXecutioner]

@stewmc5222 Awesome! Thanks for everything, you have been very helpful, have a Good Day!

[stewmc5222]

@TheZombieXecutioner I'm glad if I can help. Thank *you* and take care!

: )

[tall32guy]

Ok. THIS question I don't see having been answered yet, so I'm safe! LOL How long have you been playing the bass guitar?

[stewmc5222]

@tall32guy How long have I been playing? 30 years or so, I think. Man, I should be a *LOT* better by now!!!

[tall32guy]

@stewmc5222 Well to each their own. Everyone is at different skill levels on any given skill. :)

[stewmc5222]

@tall32guy I agree! And we are all tough when we judge ourselves.

: )

[TheZombieXecutioner]

that bass is soooo soo sexy

[stewmc5222]

@TheZombieXecutioner Thanks! I think so, too!!

[tall32guy]

@stewmc5222 What make and model is it? Cost?

[tall32guy]

@stewmc5222 Nevermind! I need to pay attention to the comments, since you already answered the question! Sorry about that. LOL

[stewmc5222]

@tall32guy No worries. You can always email me if you have questions about my equipment or anything that I am demonstrating in the videos.

: )

[tall32guy]

@stewmc5222 Thank ya sir ! :)

[stewmc5222]

@tall32guy You are welcome!

[bin52]

you just inspired me to turn my bass into a fretless.

would you recommend that i apply an epoxy finish to it?

or would i be fine with just the bare rosewood fingerboard ?

thanks : )

[stewmc5222]

@bin52 It doesn't have to be epoxy, but I would recommend a coating on a rosewood board as it is not the toughest, most resilient stuff. If you do go with epoxy realize that you may start to get some of the characteristics of the Jaco Pastorius sound. Enjoy the adventure!

[Escarraman]

You made it yourself? But you used finished parts? Would love to have more information about that. Cheers from Germany!

[stewmc5222]

@Escarraman

No, I did not used finished parts. The body was raw mahogany. The neck was raw maple and the fingerboard was raw cocobolo.

Cheers!

: )

[123andrelevy]

Are you a luthier????

[stewmc5222]

@123andrelevy

I work in a luthier's shop, but I am not a trained luthier.

[Escarraman]

what's tha bass? i love the simpleness of it!

[stewmc5222]

@Escarraman

I made it myself.

: )

[khund03]

Hey Stew, I know that you could play a broom handle attached to a shoe box, with a clothesline for a string, but how did you make the transition from fretted to fretless and what influenced you to make that jump/transition? Loved your explanation and your examples in this video. Thanks Again.

[stewmc5222]

@khund03

Ha ha ha ha!!

Thank you for the kind words but I really always think of myself as a student, so your words are really pretty mind-blowing for me!

I played violin as a boy and so I had some fretless experience when I started to play bass, but I made my bass fretless about a year after I started on bass. Then, once I could afford a second bass, I played them equally for the first several years I played bass.

Thank you for the kind words and I hope to hear from you again soon!!

[will902]

hey man, love your playing very emotive

[stewmc5222]

@will902

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you watching this and taking the time to comment!!

Hope you're doing well.

: )

[Mrsfatblackchick]

man i love watching you play this bass, it has so much warmth with just the right amount of highs and it mwahs.

[stewmc5222]

@Mrsfatblackchick

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this *AND* for your kind words!

I absolutely adore this bass and am so glad to have it!!

: )

[Orangemongoose1]

I just ordered a fretless bass :D

[stewmc5222]

@Orangemongoose1

Congratulations!!

:)

[Galdasturis]

I like your way of explaining things.

[stewmc5222]

@Galdasturis

Thank you so much!

I'm hoping to post a bit more regularly but at the present I have no video making capability of my own.

[pleximanic]

3 years old strings?

Why dont you buy new strings?

[stewmc5222]

@pleximanic

Because they still sound and feel great!

When they are new it takes a while before they feel and sound right.

I will probably change them later this year or maybe next year.

[Nosferatick]

@stewmc5222 wow man, it makes me smile)). I enjoy your thoughts about the old strings, cause I used to play one set of strings too about three years on my fretless, but this was because of the periodic lack of money). But I see you seems to find that even useful. =)

[stewmc5222]

@Nosferatick

It started that way for me. I would keep strings because I did not have money for new strings, but now I find there are sound qualities in old strings that I like!

:)

[viz76]

Well done Stew!

[stewmc5222]

@viz76

Grazie, Viz!!

:))))

[m0nNickneim]

"The music should be first" the best advice you can give to a beginner.

[stewmc5222]

@m0nNickneim

Always!!

:)

[edctgbujm123]

Thanks mate, just wondering if there is any difference between using a vibrato on a fretted bass as opposed to a fretless?

[stewmc5222]

@edctgbujm123

Definitely!

The frets respond completely differently when you try the same vibrato technique used on fretless, which is why so many fretted players use tremolo, moving the string up and down in the same position instead of moving the hand back and forth on the fingerboard. To do this on a fretless eats through the finish and the 'board more quickly.

[edctgbujm123]

@stewmc5222 Ahh I see, thanks a lot!

[stewmc5222]

@edctgbujm123

Always glad if I can help.

:)

[ghroemf]

This is great :)

[stewmc5222]

@ghroemf

Thank you so much!! I am honored you enjoy it!

:)

[frungahr]

Thanks bro.

[stewmc5222]

@frungahr

Thanks for checking out the video!