One distinct distinction between electric bass guitars and their standard brethren is the choice to have the guitar fretted or fretless. Some electric bass guitars have frets in significantly the exact same way as a standard guitar, with each fret a semitone apart from its neighbors. Nonetheless, there's such a thing as a fretless bass guitar, and trying to work out how such an instrument may possibly work presents an fascinating exercise in creative thinking.
The answer is in fact fairly uncomplicated - instead of pushing the string down against the raised fret, the string is pushed a bit further and appropriate up against the wood of the fret board itself. In many methods it's uncomplicated to imagine an electric bass guitar working in a lot the same way as a double bass - which of course has no frets, and is played by pressing the strings down against the fret board, or neck. In fact, in significantly the exact same way as an electric bass guitar may be compared to a double bass in playing style, the exact same can be said for the sound top quality. A double bass produces a type of 'mwaah' sound as the string buzzes against the wood of the neck. This exact same effect might be heard on an electric bass guitar, and the sound of the two instruments is very similarly in tone and voice.
Some of the early fretless bass guitars were created by performers just purchasing inexpensive guitars and prising off the frets, but today fretless bass guitars are obtainable fairly very easily, and they've been manufactured in number since the early 1960s.
The reality that a fretless bass guitar has no defined note points means that players can contain a wide range of effects and sounds, including glissando - the gliding of notes, vibrato and also include notes between notes. Usually the finest change in note is from one semitone to the next - one fret to the next, but without these frets performers can play the notes in between - micro notes or quarter notes, creating any number of effects and sounds that add an unusual quality to music.
Normally to support performers fret lines are drawn on the neck so that it's a minimum of achievable to see where the notes are, as opposed to having to rely entirely on habit and judgment. Alternative strategies contain notches on the neck that will be felt, markings on the neck and other such techniques to aid the performer.
Also as aiding the performer it's necessary to aid the instrument, as the pressure of the metal strings against the wooden neck can trigger harm and damage. For this reason either or both of two alternatives are utilized. One approach is to use flat wound strings, so that the string lies flat as opposed to curved and abrasive, plus the other technique would be to use an epoxy resin on the neck to increase its durability and strength.
Most fretless bass guitars have the regular four strings, although you'll find five and even six string fretless guitars available. For the demanding player it's feasible to buy boutique, or custom made fretless guitars which have an even higher number of strings.