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Fretless Questions: Yves Carbonne

FB: How long have you been playing fretless bass?
Yves Carbonne: I’ve started to play fretless bass when I was 15 years old; I’m 39 now, so I have played fretless bass for 24 years.

FB: What influenced you to play fretless?
Yves Carbonne: Listening to Jaco Pastorius, and later Alain Caron.

FB: Are you self-taught or did you take lessons?
Yves Carbonne: I’m self-taught. In 1989, I took one lesson with Alain Caron in Montreal.

FB: Who are your main fretless bass influences or favorite players?
Yves Carbonne: My life! Today I try to have my own sound and style, and what influence me a lot is all the events of my life, happyness or sadness… Today, I don’t have favorite fretless bass player – When I’m listening some music, I try to catch the feeling and I’m not listening only bass…
But I can say that I learn a lot listening to Jaco Pastorius and Alain Caron.

FB: Do you play upright, electric, or both? Which do you prefer?
Yves Carbonne: I play Extended Range Basses: 6 string fretless, 8 string fretless sub-bass, 10 string fretless sub-bass, and soon 12 string fretless sub-bass. You can read about my “sub-bass concept” here:
http://www.yvescarbonne.com/project.php
A sub-bass is mainly a bass one octave lower than standard.

FB: What was your very first fretless bass? Do you still own it? Have you had or played others?
Yves Carbonne: It was a Leduc (a French luthier) 5 string fretless (with high C) in 1982. I don’t have it today – I don’t keep an instrument when I stop to play it. I love my Jerzy Drozd Legend X (10 string fretless) and also my Noguera Yves Carbonne Signature (8 string fretless).

I have use in the past (i don’t have these instruments today):
-1982: Leduc 5 string fretless (with high C)
-1984: Vigier 5 string fretless (with high C)
-1985: Jaccobacci 5 string fretless (with hig C)
-1987: “F” bass 6 string fretless
-1988: “F” bass 6 string piccolo fretless
-1990: “F” bass 6 string fretless (an other one)
-1993: “F” bass 6 string fretless (Alain Caron Model)
-1998: Noguera YC 6 string fretless
-1999: Noguera YC 6 string fretless (an other one)
-2000: Noguera YC 6 string semi-acoustic fretless
-2004: Noguera Yves Carbonne 8 string semi-acoustic fretless
-2005:Jerzy Drozd Legend X 10 string fretless
-2006: Noguera Yves Carbonne 8 string semi-acoustic fretless (an other one)
-very soon: Jerzy Drozd Legend XII 12 string fretless

I endorse Jerzy Drozd basses and Noguera basses.

FB: What types of strings and fingerboards do you prefer?
Yves Carbonne: I use and endorse LaBella Super Steps and Hard Rockin’ Steel strings. I prefer ebony unfinished fingerboards.

FB: What playing styles do you use?
Yves Carbonne: I use 3 fingers technique, thumb technique and muting on fretless.

FB: What bands or projects feature you playing fretless bass?
Yves Carbonne: Well, I’ve played fretless in all my personal projects and with all the bands I’ve played!

FB: Do you have a favorite song you played fretless bass on or some notable songs or experiences?
Yves Carbonne: My song “Holy Spirit” in the album “Carbonne Di Piazza Manring”. You can hear it on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/yvescarbonne, and “Para un favor” – this tune will be in my next recording, my solo album; It’s a duet with Alain Caron.

FB: What would you say is unique about your fretless style?
Yves Carbonne: The fact that I use fretless basses with more than 6 strings, and with my sub-bass tuning.

FB: Are you still actively playing fretless bass?
Yves Carbonne: Yes.

FB: Do you have any basic advice for bass players looking to take up fretless or those who are currently playing?
Yves Carbonne: To practise scales and arpeggios in all the positions; to practise a lot intonation.

FB: Do you have websites or social media sites you would like to share?
Yves Carbonne: Yes!
http://www.myspace.com/yvescarbonne
http://www.yvescarbonne.com
http://www.low-range.org
http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/yvescarbonne.htm
http://www.jerzydrozdbasses.com/legendX.htm
http://www.noguera-basses.com/basses_serie.php?serie_b=YC

From Wikipedia.com (full Wiki link):