Nuts about fretless

[Steve_M]

Ken, are the nuts on new fretless Smith basses the same height as on fretted basses? Or are they slightly lower to allow for the same consistency in string height with fretted basses.

[Ken Smith]

Ken, are the nuts on new fretless Smith basses the same height as on fretted basses? Or are they slightly lower to allow for the same consistency in string height with fretted basses.

They are consistent in regards to height as if the Fret is touching the Fingerboard but each Bass is made individually and the Nut will be cut by hand to match the feel of the Bass. All Smith Fretless Basses are made with slightly thicker Fingerboards to mimic the exact same string height of the Fretted model. It comes to about the height of the Fret added to the thickness of the Fingerboard. Since we start out with a fairly thick Blank of Ebony (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/ft/lumbersection/fingerbds.html), we just leave more meat on the wood. This also aids in the strength of the Neck not having the Frets inserted to pull the Neck back to fight string tension pulling it. We do it the olde fashioned way, More Ebony!

[Tim Bishop]

Ken, Yes! and that is the key to a great sounding fretless.

[Dennis Michaels]

They are consistent in regards to height as if the Fret is touching the Fingerboard but each Bass is made individually and the Nut will be cut by hand to match the feel of the Bass. All Smith Fretless Basses are made with slightly thicker Fingerboards to mimic the exact same string height of the Fretted model. It comes to about the height of the Fret added to the thickness of the Fingerboard. Since we start out with a fairly thick Blank of Ebony (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/ft/lumbersection/fingerbds.html), we just leave more meat on the wood. This also aids in the strength of the Neck not having the Frets inserted to pull the Neck back to fight string tension pulling it. We do it the olde fashioned way, More Ebony!


And that really adds to them being scarey good.

[Steve_M]

Dennis, your fretless sounds a bit brighter than mine and you're getting some fine tone out of the WT400.

[Dennis Michaels]

Dennis, your fretless sounds a bit brighter than mine and you're getting some fine tone out of the WT400.


That may be because of the "quality" recording of my Kodak camera. It is however being played pasive as well as the eq on the amp being flat as a board. But it cries so well.:)