A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

What the . . .

UrenragK wrote: ↑Tue Dec 15, 2020 12:56 pm What the . . .

That just ain't right!

I don't get it. I can see the point in a fretless bass, but not a fretless guitar. With all that gain, it doesn't sound much different than the fretted portion of the neck. It's just harder to play in tune past the 12th fret.

It's a clear "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" situation

I think when he's doing some of the sliding leads, it comes across as something pretty cool. I definitely wouldn't throw any PRS-level cash at it, though.

That hybrid slide thing at 6 min was very cool and I could see being useful and not easy to replicate otherwise

The sliding leads are pretty cool - and this guy is a very good player - but it seems a little gimmicky. If you particularly want that slide-type sound, great, but otherwise...? Also I don't understand why you would make it half-fretless.

No fret removal required:

glasshand wrote: ↑Wed Dec 16, 2020 2:54 pm Also I don't understand why you would make it half-fretless.

That's so you can still play chords above the 12th fret. Playing chords in tune is pretty much impossible on a fretless guitar. I have to be really careful just playing double-stops on my fretless bass (which means I tend to avoid playing double stops. ).

Mossman wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:01 am That's so you can still play chords above the 12th fret. Playing chords in tune is pretty much impossible on a fretless guitar. I have to be really careful just playing double-stops on my fretless bass (which means I tend to avoid playing double stops. ).

OK, that does make a lot of sense. Thanks!

I have never understood WHY any guitar player would want a fretless guitar.

mickey wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:41 am I have never understood WHY any guitar player would want a fretless guitar.

Yeah, me neither. Fretless guitars have been around at least since the '60s (I heard an interview once with John Lennon at Abbey Road where John was noodling on a fretless guitar during the interview). If a fretless guitar was such a great idea, then I think we would see more (or at least ONE) guitarist of note using one.

If fretless was thaT good a thing wouldn't guys like Vai and Malmsteen be using them?