Where can I buy a fretless classical guitar?

I have partnered with the guitar manufacturer Altamira Guitars, through my company G&G Guitars, to produce and make available to the public fretless versions of their standard classical guitar models, based on my recommendations. G&G Guitars (a business partnership of myself and guitarist Mak Grgic) are official and exclusive resellers of Altamira fretless classical guitars. I stand behind these guitars 100%. I play Altamira fretless guitars exclusively and am impressed not only by the quality of their guitars but by the willingness of the company to work with myself in bringing these guitars to market and realizing there is an unmet need for fretless guitars. Please visit the G&G Guitars website where you can pre-order an Altamira fretless classical guitar.
Should I learn to play standard fretted guitar first?
In short, yes. You should have a fair amount of experience playing standard guitar before moving to fretless. The better guitar player and musician you are the better fretless guitar player you will be. Playing fretless does require a few skills that are often underdeveloped in beginning guitar players. The fretless guitar requires the player to play every note in tune and know by memory the names and location of the notes of the fingerboard. Basic ear training and music theory covering intervals and scales is helpful in that regard. On the other hand, learning fretless is a great vehicle to work on your ear-training.
What strings should I use?
Another question I get asked is whether one should use flat wound strings or round wounds. This is a personal preference but I haven't found that it is necessary to use flat wound strings for a fretless nylon string guitar to protect the fingerboard. I have been using round wounds for over 14 years on my fretless guitar (on a ebony fingerboard) without any fingerboard damage issues.
I use and endorse Pitbull strings. They are a new company (founded in 2017) out of Turkey. They make a variety of types of classical guitar strings including nylon, carbon, and coated nylon. I like the coated nylon (the bass strings are coated with a polymer) because the basses are bright and punchy but the coating reduces string squeak, which can be annoying on a fretless guitar. They are keep their brightness for a long time.
I use and endorse Pitbull strings. They are a new company (founded in 2017) out of Turkey. They make a variety of types of classical guitar strings including nylon, carbon, and coated nylon. I like the coated nylon (the bass strings are coated with a polymer) because the basses are bright and punchy but the coating reduces string squeak, which can be annoying on a fretless guitar. They are keep their brightness for a long time.
What brand of fretless guitar do you play?
I play Altamira fretless guitars. My instrument and set up is as follows:
guitars: Altamira N600+ fretless with Fishman Clasica blend pickup and Altamira N500+ fretless cutaway with Fishman Clasica blend pickup.
amplifier: Polytone minibrute IV. This is just an old amp that jazz players and bass players use. Nothing fancy, but I like it. When playing live I often go through the house p.a.
effects: MXR 10-band equalizer to a Strymon Blue Sky reverb pedal to a Line 6 DL4 delay. I sometimes use a Boss RC-30 looper pedal and, for live situations, a Peterson Strobostomp tuner pedal or a Peterson Stroboclip tuner. I use the e.q. subtly, boosting the basses and high frequencies a bit while scooping the mids a touch.
guitars: Altamira N600+ fretless with Fishman Clasica blend pickup and Altamira N500+ fretless cutaway with Fishman Clasica blend pickup.
amplifier: Polytone minibrute IV. This is just an old amp that jazz players and bass players use. Nothing fancy, but I like it. When playing live I often go through the house p.a.
effects: MXR 10-band equalizer to a Strymon Blue Sky reverb pedal to a Line 6 DL4 delay. I sometimes use a Boss RC-30 looper pedal and, for live situations, a Peterson Strobostomp tuner pedal or a Peterson Stroboclip tuner. I use the e.q. subtly, boosting the basses and high frequencies a bit while scooping the mids a touch.
How do you know the orientation of the notes on the fingerboard without frets?
This is easier than it may seem. Remember, the correct note is located exactly where the fret would have been. I highly recommend learning all the notes of your fretboard if you have not already. This makes playing fretless guitar much easier. An A 440 note, for example, would simply be located on string 1 where the 5th fret wire would be, and so on. With practice you also develop muscle memory for exactly where the notes are.
Should I use fret markers to help with my orientation ?
I recommend that you do so, but it is a matter of personal preference. It is common, when converting a fretted guitar to a fretless guitar, to fill the fret slots with a white or colored wood dust and epoxy so that the location of where the fret wires are still visible. Another option is to use a white-out pen and notch marks on the top of the neck where the frets were. This is visually easier to see for the player. You can notch every fret or simply frets 3, 5, 7, etc. Similarly, you can drill fret dots on the top of the neck exactly where the frets were. My Altamira fretless guitars have fret markers on the top of the neck at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th positions.
These visual references act as great as aids, especially when leaping around the neck with the left hand. Do not consider them "cheating". However, you must still use your ear to intonate each note correctly. This takes a developed ear and concentration.
These visual references act as great as aids, especially when leaping around the neck with the left hand. Do not consider them "cheating". However, you must still use your ear to intonate each note correctly. This takes a developed ear and concentration.
How can I improve my intonation?
Sharpening your intervallic hearing is important. There are many ways to do it, from apps for transcribing music. Regarding the fretless guitar here are a few exercises:
Practice melodies or scales slowly against a drone.
Practice with your eyes closed. This focuses the ear.
Imagine the note in your inner ear before playing it.
Practice melodies or scales slowly against a drone.
Practice with your eyes closed. This focuses the ear.
Imagine the note in your inner ear before playing it.
How should I tune the fretless guitar?
The fretless can be tuned in standard tuning EADGBE. However, many guitars respond well when tuned to a lower pitch. Try a half-step down at Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb or even a whole step lower at DGCFAD.
I love to experiment with altered tuning. I have used over 30 different tunings for my fretless pieces. I especially like dropping the basses low as it creates a beautiful warm fretless bass like tone. However, experiment with common ones like DADGAD or DGDGBD first.
I love to experiment with altered tuning. I have used over 30 different tunings for my fretless pieces. I especially like dropping the basses low as it creates a beautiful warm fretless bass like tone. However, experiment with common ones like DADGAD or DGDGBD first.
How do you read music for fretless guitar?
You can read standard notation, of course. You can also read tablature (no it would not read 0000). The fingerboard does not contain frets, but each note is where the fret wire would be if it were fretted.
What tuning is Proof of Existence in?
I get asked this a lot. It is: C# G# E G# B D#
Without frets what do you call the fretboard?
You call it a fingerboard, as you would a violin or cello fingerboard.