Which bass should I buy?

[mauerkraut]

Dark Star in the neck is very nice. I fear the hollow body though they look awesome.

[SPACERITUAL]

I want dark stars in everything.

[Achtane]

mmmmm...

dope.

DO WANT

[one bad monkey]

Fretless basses are not inherently boomy.

Comparing a fretted version to its fretless counterpart lends way to a lot of boominess on the part of the fretless. I've yet to find a "bright" fretless; even my $$ is kind of boomy and dark when compared to a fretted $$. The amount is going to depend on a lot of factors, but it's there.

[Mudfuzz]

The amount is going to depend on a lot of factors, but it's there.

True my fretless is brighter then my other vintage P bass [74] and it has a all maple neck. They both have the same P pickup in them.

[mauerkraut]

Yeah, I wouldn't see how the lack of frets would add boominess. Maybe the switch of rounds to flats, or any other adjustment would lend to that, but I don't see frets being a factor.

[Gone Fission]

I'd figure flats on short scale as a natural thing. No? Maybe needs thicker flats?

[Mudfuzz]

I'd figure flats on short scale as a natural thing. No? Maybe needs thicker flats?

Actually the prob with ALL SS bass string sets are they are too light for the tuning and the shorter scale, you put a 110 E on a short scale and see how much better a sound you get. I use fats on most of my basses including my two ss basses

[one bad monkey]

Yeah, I wouldn't see how the lack of frets would add boominess. Maybe the switch of rounds to flats, or any other adjustment would lend to that, but I don't see frets being a factor.

The note on a fretted is held by the metal of the fret, whereas the fretless is holding the note by the pad of the finger, resulting in a bigger, boomier sound when A/Bed between them.

[mauerkraut]

Ahhh, interesting.

[Mudfuzz]

Yeah, I wouldn't see how the lack of frets would add boominess. Maybe the switch of rounds to flats, or any other adjustment would lend to that, but I don't see frets being a factor.

The note on a fretted is held by the metal of the fret, whereas the fretless is holding the note by the pad of the finger, resulting in a bigger, boomier sound when A/Bed between them.

That is one way to look at is yes... I look at it as mushier and less punch in the note attack maybe muffled a little then boomy as to me boomy would mean more bass and I never hear more bassyness on a fretless.

[colin]

Why not cover both bases (pun intended, thank you) and get a fretless shortscale? A store near me has a '71 Musicmaster that's been converted to fretless. I've only played it unplugged, but it's pretty sweet. Sadly, it's also overpriced, in my opinion ($850).

[cheesecats]

That is one way to look at is yes... I look at it as mushier and less punch in the note attack maybe muffled a little then boomy as to me boomy would mean more bass and I never hear more bassyness on a fretless.

I agree with this--I don't consider the fretless as boomier. It should give you a nice round swell. Jaco Pastorius and Mick Karn, 2 awesome fretless players, had both attack and definition, but then the note would blossom. I think too much attention is paid to gear and not enough to hands.

[SmallEQ]

Fretless basses are not inherently boomy.

Comparing a fretted version to its fretless counterpart lends way to a lot of boominess on the part of the fretless. I've yet to find a "bright" fretless; even my $$ is kind of boomy and dark when compared to a fretted $$. The amount is going to depend on a lot of factors, but it's there.

I might agree with you that fretless basses are darker than a fretted equal, but they are only boomy if they are an inherently boomy bass. I don't think anybody would call a Jaco's tone (bridge pickup on a Jazz bass) boomy, nor would I have ever considered my old Bongo Single H boomy.

Maybe the Rob Allen Mouse, but that was a Hollowbody that could be controlled depending on how it was played.

[Bassus Sanguinis]

...to me it sounds like it's the famous J-bass fretless signature sound You're after Yourself and You really, really should not compromise Yourself there, if that really is what You're after - Your own style will develop further and it WILL make You happier and playing just what You're supposed to be playing, plus the whole band will benefit from Your playing more that way

IF you want to make compromises, I think You can do it by trying out different strings: reg.flatwounds, the rubber coated, the semi-flat steels perhaps - though I'd say they are half way lame from the great sounding extremes.

Also, changing /adding pickups make a lot deal, responce and sounds wise. Musicman stingray pup with flats might be an interesting option. In my opinion, it's hard to go wrong with them anyway!