The 17 GREATEST Fretless Bassists of ALL Time?

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As the name implies, a fretless bass has no frets, giving you a completely different sound to that of a regular bass guitar. Jaco Pastorius was a pioneer, but you don’t develop a tone like that without practice. In today’s video we’re going to dive into some of the most sublime examples of fretless playing in bass guitar history. And they may not all be just Jazz…

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Video Breakdown:

00:00 - Introduction - Ian’s 1980s Ibanez Musician
00:35 - Scott’s Ibanez Gary Willis Signature 5
01:22 - Last Chance to enter the Giveaway!
02:10 - #1 - Jaco Pastorius
04:14 - #2 - Percy Jones (Brand X)
06:25 - #3 - Mick Karn (Japan)
08:42 - #4 - Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones)
09:26 - #5 - Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon)
11:10 - Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (THAT Lick!)
11:55 - #6 - Pino Palladino
13:29 - Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)
13:49 - #7 - Tony Levin
14:04 - Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
14:33 - #8 - Tony Franklin
15:45 - #9 - Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
16:46 - #10 - Michael Manring
17:55 - #11 - Gary Willis
18:52 - #12 - Alain Caron
19:24 - #13 - Mark Egan (Pat Metheny)
20:25 - #14 - Steve Bailey
21:16 - #15 - Les Claypool
22:44 - #16 - Jack Bruce
23:29 - #17 - Richard Bona

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I presume that 17 was chosen to keep the video under 5 hours long but the Metal scene was missed entirely.

Steve DiGiorgio.
Sean Malone (RIP).
Dominic Lapointe.
Joe Lester.
Robin Zielhorst.

All incredible players.

Away from the metal scene, the late great Brad Houser played stuff with Critters Buggin' and some superb pop with Paul Simon's wife Edie Brickell (that family knows some amazing players), Esperanza Spalding is known more for upright but plays almost exclusively fretless when on an electric bass.

He's not that well known but Damian Coccio is one of the most amazing and beautiful players I've ever heard. His solo compositions are stunning.

Yves Carbonne too.

joninawhitecoat

I sorely missed Steve DiGiorgio in this video. He's THE example of an amazing fretless bassist that is not known for jazz, at least not most known for it. He's a metal legend, one of the first and few players to play metal on a fretless bass. He's got some chops, too. He definitely deserves more coverage from you guys.
Evertything else on this video, I loved. Keep spreading love for the low frequencies!

LustiZRKZ

I saw Mick Karn a couple of times (with Japan) live in the 80s. Wonderful player and sound. His "shuffle" was achieved by swivelling one foot to the left (say) but keeping his heal on the floor and the other foot also swivelling to the left but with his toes on the floor. So his feet formed a V shape. He then swapped which part of his feet stayed on the floor to form an upside down V. He obviously did it very quickly so that he moved smoothly like a sideways moonwalk. I also remember reading a scathing review in one of the "music" papers of the time saying he was like a little gnome playing at the bottom of Pastorius' garden. I didn't even know who or what Pastorius was at the time 😆

paulprescott

Mick Karn was the guy who got me into bass--my first bass was a fretless. Another thing that was bonkers about him was that he hardly ever looked at the neck. Amazing.

vinvanveen

Mick Karn was the reason I took the frets out of my Pre. Thundergirl Mutation still blows me away even though I can play it!

farrellvaughan

I decided I had to play the bass in my teens and when I heard Japan's Tin Drum in 1989 at age 16 I decided I had to be a fretless bass player. Thanks Mick Karn, you'll never be forgotten!

And, no John Giblin? He played great fretless lines with Kate Bush!

nunofernandes

Death - Human and Steve DiGiorgio's bass playing is the reason to this day fretless pops up frequently in death metal genre. wouldn't it be nice to include this?

klegdixal

There are so many favorites on this list but I have to admit, Michael Manring is the one who posesses the most sensitive and emotional vocabulary of them all. Listen e.g. to "On a day of many angels" or "When we last spoke", the latter allways brings me to tears.

MrAKbass

So happy to see Tony Franklin on this list! I've loved his stuff since The Firm and I got to meet him during his Blue murder stint. He pulled me aside and we just talked shop & all things fretless for 30 mins! Just the nicest, down to earth guy😊🤘🏼

craighill

If i hear someone say fretless bass i automatically think Mick Karn.

duncandistortion

Finally, a mention of Percy Jones. Such a unique voice on the fretless. Thank you it's about time 🙂

Don.G.Prince

Pedro Aznar, prior to his Pat Metheny stage was another of fretless pioneers. Check his work with Seru Giran between 77 and 82

sebastiangarcia

Love to see the Mick Karn love. He's absolutely incredible!

atquinn

While the dance moves were illuminating and entertaining.(He seems to have abandoned them post Japan) There were alot of things you could have said about Mr Karn, the blend of melody and funk in his ostinato lines, his unique complex articulations(I find it useful to think of them multisylabic words in a sentence) and his intentional use of 3rds and 7ths between major and minor and how this probably relates to the middle eastern music he heard growing up. His most "Mick" holding it down occurs on the Polytown album where he plays his powerful intricate ostinatos while Terry Bozzio plays "lead" drums..
Also, I realise in making a video like this you must balance quality of playing with popularity and cultural impact. But, especially by that yardstick David Gilmores playing on the intro of "Hey You" and Pink Floyd in general could be mentioned.
So good to see Mr. Manring. I think it's nearly impossible to give him the credit he deserves.

scottkunghadrengsen

I'm missing Pedro Aznar, Argentinian legend who also nailed it on the fretless during his Seru Girán era, and who also played with Pat Metheny. You guys need to listen to him

callmegucio