Posted by RON NORTHCUTT on November 4, 2023 at 12:53pm
Different kind of build for me. A nice budget friendly 3 string fretless with a piezo pick up. I used fat strings on this one and was amazed how it plays without a slide. Is this due to the fat strings? What do you think?
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I have learned a little since this posting. Someone sent me a link to a video made by Chicken Bone John; I am sure many of you are familiar with him. He is a wealth of knowledge on guitars. I think it was titled something like "Everything you know about fretless guitars is wrong". He pointed out about keeping the action low to reduce string tension. And if you think about a fretless design, it isn't really necessary to raise the action much as you are not in danger of banging the frets. You need just enough height to avoid contacting the neck. I am not a good player at all finger- picking or slide but I am learning playing slide or picking on a fretless requires a very gentle touch. You also have to be much more accurate about finger placement. I guess more like playing a violin if that makes sense. I think the fat strings help just by the fact that they don't cut into your fingers a much allowing better contact with the neck.
I don't know the answer to that, but it looks good and string height is a key factor. On second thought - I think it would be easier to 'fret' bigger strings with a finger barre.
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I have learned a little since this posting. Someone sent me a link to a video made by Chicken Bone John; I am sure many of you are familiar with him. He is a wealth of knowledge on guitars. I think it was titled something like "Everything you know about fretless guitars is wrong". He pointed out about keeping the action low to reduce string tension. And if you think about a fretless design, it isn't really necessary to raise the action much as you are not in danger of banging the frets. You need just enough height to avoid contacting the neck. I am not a good player at all finger- picking or slide but I am learning playing slide or picking on a fretless requires a very gentle touch. You also have to be much more accurate about finger placement. I guess more like playing a violin if that makes sense. I think the fat strings help just by the fact that they don't cut into your fingers a much allowing better contact with the neck.
I don't know the answer to that, but it looks good and string height is a key factor. On second thought - I think it would be easier to 'fret' bigger strings with a finger barre.