Myself I like playing slide best on fretless. The slide clicking on the frets is distracting to me. If this is your first build I would suggest fretless - it is much easier. Maybe don't even mark the frets, just mark the 3rd, 5th 7th & 12th fret placement on the side.
About half my builds have been fretted. Some potential players don't get their arms around slide at all.
Whichever you decide, you will likely build another the other way soon.
I maintain a "reasonable" 3:3 fretless-to-fretted ratio. Both have their advantages and drawbacks.
Fretless is easier to build, a bit harder to play without slide (you'll need to build up your finger muscles for "fretting" the strings, but it's still doable. And quite rewarding). Chords are possible on a 3 or 4 fretless _guitar_. It doesn't matter when playing fretless bass - you seldom play chords on thick strings. You can play a bit more on the "legato" side. Vibrato along the string.
Fretted (especially with lower string action) could be a PITA when playing with a slide. On the plus side: chords, even with 6 fretted strings are easier. Artificial harmonics are possible/easier. You can play faster solos. Vibrato along the fret.
I come from a standard guitar background. So fretted four string is what I understand and what I tend to build. My son plays slide fairly well. If he were building he would probably have a different take.
The direction I am going this year is to try for a decent 6 and 12 string. Just one of those things that has to be done. I still want to do a Sherwin Williams dobro.
So one is not better than the other. I think it is building more in synch with your tendancies as a player makes you comfortable. In building for selling, I think this in part also holds true. You have to build for what your market understands. If you sell locally, this could really impact what you build. Selling world wide would let one harvest a thinner market. I find here, that people have no history with anything less than six strings. There is no history of either CBG's or ukes. The closest would be a mandolin in the bluegrass set. My buyers have been mixed between early adopters looking for something different and mothers/girlfirends/boyfriends looking for a quirky gift.
I started with fretless then got adventurous and started fretting - I probably go a little high on my action just to make sliding more forgiving. I'm not much of a player yet so I hardly ever finger (fret)?? above the 5 but I like the versatility it affords. I like the fretless to use a stubby slide for the sounds you can get that way as well - I have lost count of how many of each I've built so what the heck! Try everything!!!
it can ad to cool neck designs / options / material without hurting performance (if used for slide only ).
most fretless can be fingered also , if action is low enough , and surface is flat .
and in my opinion .. it's just plain cooler .. like the chopper of motorcycles .
some will say that a player is limited by them ,, but as another discussion on here points out ,, it is usually the player that is limited , or stuck in a pattern of using frets .
some will say people that can't build properly will make fretless or slider guits . ( this is usually coming from builders that only make, and are selling , fretted models . ) go figure . ;-) its more of a pissing contest statement in my opinion .
much to my surprise ,, i added fretted swamp witches to my line , thinking they would sell better due to the option of slide and fingering .
the fretless still sell way better .
so much so , i don't offer fretted ones anymore .
bottom line , the choice is yours .
fretted has its benefits also .. so if you find a target audience or a personal preference .. act on it . it should bloom either way .
Uncle John > the anonymous pickApril 23, 2014 at 11:42am
Sachi Weaver > the anonymous pickApril 23, 2014 at 1:15am
This was a great response, btw. As a newbie here these questions are really important to me. and you answered it with intelligence and thoughtfulness that really helps folks like me.
I just wanted to say thank you for that.
Also, as a newbie builder AND player, do you suggest that i put frets on my build even though it is added steps and more work because it will be easier to learn on? Or do you think fretless can be self-taught just as well? Just curious what you suggest and think.
different people , learn different stuff , differently ;-)
.. you might try slide guitar or fretless and find you are a natural .
in my opinion , i would build both , and see which one fits you best in playing and building abilities . availability of proper tools may be an issue also.( fretting involves measurments and cutting , leveling etc.. that can cause issues down the road if off a bit) .
keep in mind if you get good at slide ,, you can slide on any regular guit with low action also .
but it may be hard to finger frets on a high action slider ,, and your intonation would be off .
you can build a fretted slider with action in about the mid range and adjust intonation with a floating bridge etc . but that takes some skill and luck in building also.
in my opinion . slide is easier to learn . you may think different .. i'd try both .
make a slider first ,, play with it and have some fun .. then make a fretter .. and see if the same happens .. or if its more fun .. or less . then maybe if you like both .. make a fretted slider . lots of folks here will be happy to help you along the way with questions concerning string height and intonation etc .. no matter what you decide . ;-)
ps.... as per fretless ( played by fingering notes on the plain fretboard and not sliding much or at all) you may find it has a duller sound . material choice will makes some difference .. harder woods etc.. but in general .. fretless usually has a duller lightly muted sound that you may or may not like .
Replies
Myself I like playing slide best on fretless. The slide clicking on the frets is distracting to me. If this is your first build I would suggest fretless - it is much easier. Maybe don't even mark the frets, just mark the 3rd, 5th 7th & 12th fret placement on the side.
About half my builds have been fretted. Some potential players don't get their arms around slide at all.
Whichever you decide, you will likely build another the other way soon.
Just to add my .02€...
I maintain a "reasonable" 3:3 fretless-to-fretted ratio. Both have their advantages and drawbacks.
Fretless is easier to build, a bit harder to play without slide (you'll need to build up your finger muscles for "fretting" the strings, but it's still doable. And quite rewarding). Chords are possible on a 3 or 4 fretless _guitar_. It doesn't matter when playing fretless bass - you seldom play chords on thick strings. You can play a bit more on the "legato" side. Vibrato along the string.
Fretted (especially with lower string action) could be a PITA when playing with a slide. On the plus side: chords, even with 6 fretted strings are easier. Artificial harmonics are possible/easier. You can play faster solos. Vibrato along the fret.
The direction I am going this year is to try for a decent 6 and 12 string. Just one of those things that has to be done. I still want to do a Sherwin Williams dobro.
So one is not better than the other. I think it is building more in synch with your tendancies as a player makes you comfortable. In building for selling, I think this in part also holds true. You have to build for what your market understands. If you sell locally, this could really impact what you build. Selling world wide would let one harvest a thinner market. I find here, that people have no history with anything less than six strings. There is no history of either CBG's or ukes. The closest would be a mandolin in the bluegrass set. My buyers have been mixed between early adopters looking for something different and mothers/girlfirends/boyfriends looking for a quirky gift.
Why not make both?
Start with a fretless, learn to play slide-only... then build a fretted one, changing the things you didn't like about the first?
I have 2 fretless and one fretted right now... the problem is I can't seem to keep them... they keep running away with my friends!
I started with fretless then got adventurous and started fretting - I probably go a little high on my action just to make sliding more forgiving.
I'm not much of a player yet so I hardly ever finger (fret)?? above the 5 but I like the versatility it affords. I like the fretless to use a stubby slide for the sounds you can get that way as well - I have lost count of how many of each I've built so what the heck! Try everything!!!
fretless has many benefits .
in building , it is easier , plain and simple .
it can ad to cool neck designs / options / material without hurting performance (if used for slide only ).
most fretless can be fingered also , if action is low enough , and surface is flat .
and in my opinion .. it's just plain cooler .. like the chopper of motorcycles .
some will say that a player is limited by them ,, but as another discussion on here points out ,, it is usually the player that is limited , or stuck in a pattern of using frets .
some will say people that can't build properly will make fretless or slider guits . ( this is usually coming from builders that only make, and are selling , fretted models . ) go figure . ;-) its more of a pissing contest statement in my opinion .
much to my surprise ,, i added fretted swamp witches to my line , thinking they would sell better due to the option of slide and fingering .
the fretless still sell way better .
so much so , i don't offer fretted ones anymore .
bottom line , the choice is yours .
fretted has its benefits also .. so if you find a target audience or a personal preference .. act on it . it should bloom either way .
Pick, dat is are tick you lut at heck. Well sed.
tanks unk ;-)
This was a great response, btw. As a newbie here these questions are really important to me. and you answered it with intelligence and thoughtfulness that really helps folks like me.
I just wanted to say thank you for that.
Also, as a newbie builder AND player, do you suggest that i put frets on my build even though it is added steps and more work because it will be easier to learn on? Or do you think fretless can be self-taught just as well? Just curious what you suggest and think.
Thanks,
Sachi
hey , thanx for the kind words ,
different people , learn different stuff , differently ;-)
.. you might try slide guitar or fretless and find you are a natural .
in my opinion , i would build both , and see which one fits you best in playing and building abilities . availability of proper tools may be an issue also.( fretting involves measurments and cutting , leveling etc.. that can cause issues down the road if off a bit) .
keep in mind if you get good at slide ,, you can slide on any regular guit with low action also .
but it may be hard to finger frets on a high action slider ,, and your intonation would be off .
you can build a fretted slider with action in about the mid range and adjust intonation with a floating bridge etc . but that takes some skill and luck in building also.
in my opinion . slide is easier to learn . you may think different .. i'd try both .
make a slider first ,, play with it and have some fun .. then make a fretter .. and see if the same happens .. or if its more fun .. or less . then maybe if you like both .. make a fretted slider . lots of folks here will be happy to help you along the way with questions concerning string height and intonation etc .. no matter what you decide . ;-)
ps.... as per fretless ( played by fingering notes on the plain fretboard and not sliding much or at all) you may find it has a duller sound . material choice will makes some difference .. harder woods etc.. but in general .. fretless usually has a duller lightly muted sound that you may or may not like .