setup on fretless

[ivyman]

this might be a stupid quiestion but if you get a lined fretless bass setup will the set up change the accuracy of the fret lines

[bassteban]

I'd have to guess that if the bridge were mounted as accurately as possible in relation to the neck, nut, etc. that a proper setup would inherently make the lines give you the right tone/pitch at any given position. If I'm interpreting your question correctly, (part of)the purpose of a setup is to make the bass play in tune.

[brivello]

on the contrary, if you have someone who knows what they are doing set it up they will make sure the intonation is consistent with the fret lines.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by brivello

on the contrary, if you have someone who knows what they are doing set it up they will make sure the intonation is consistent with the fret lines.

You said it better than me.

[ivyman]

if the lines were already in tune but the bass had bad action so you got it set up would the fret lines still be just as accurate

edit: sorry borello i didnt read your post and you already answered my question

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by ivyman

if the lines were already in tune but the bass had bad action so you got it set up would the fret lines still be just as accurate

None of the adjustments necessary to lower the action will affect the 'fretline accuracy' to a point where it can't be corrected by adjusting the intonation.

However, there is no such thing as 'fretline accuracy' on a fretless, the fretlines should only be used as a guide and you should use your ears to tell you whether you are in tune or not.

The reason is that on a fretted bass you set the intonation by playing the harmonic at the 12th fret and comparing it's tuning to the fretted note. If the fretted note is sharp compared to the harmonic you wind the bridge saddle back away from the 12th fret a bit, if flat wind it towards the 12th fret.

You adjust the intonation just the same on a fretless, in fact some people use a credit card to 'fret' the note directly on the 12th fretline to make sure that the width of their finger doesn't introduce any innacuracy. BUT, even if you get the intonation exactly right at the 12th 'fret' you will find that it is not totally accurate all over the neck. In the lower positions you will find that you have to finger the note slightly on the sharp side of the fretline. This innacuracy will get progressively smaller until you reach the 12th 'fret', where of course it will be spot on. As you go higher, you will find that you have to finger the note very slightly flat of the fretline. Of course the higher up the neck you go the increments between the notes becomes much smaller and consequently the amount of compensation you have to make for corect intonation from the fretline position becomes very small indeed.

So it depends on your playing style what you prefer, if you spend all your time in the lower positions and want the fretlines to be 'accurate' down there, it is possible to intonate slightly flat at the 12th so that the lower positions line up better.

Whatever and however you set your intonation though, the fretlines will never be completely accurate for the whole length of the neck, so use them as a guide, not an absolute

[vinny]

Originally Posted by Jools4001

None of the adjustments necessary to lower the action will affect the 'fretline accuracy' to a point where it can't be corrected by adjusting the intonation.

However, there is no such thing as 'fretline accuracy' on a fretless, the fretlines should only be used as a guide and you should use your ears to tell you whether you are in tune or not.

The reason is that on a fretted bass you set the intonation by playing the harmonic at the 12th fret and comparing it's tuning to the fretted note. If the fretted note is sharp compared to the harmonic you wind the bridge saddle back away from the 12th fret a bit, if flat wind it towards the 12th fret.

You adjust the intonation just the same on a fretless, in fact some people use a credit card to 'fret' the note directly on the 12th fretline to make sure that the width of their finger doesn't introduce any innacuracy. BUT, even if you get the intonation exactly right at the 12th 'fret' you will find that it is not totally accurate all over the neck. In the lower positions you will find that you have to finger the note slightly on the sharp side of the fretline. This innacuracy will get progressively smaller until you reach the 12th 'fret', where of course it will be spot on. As you go higher, you will find that you have to finger the note very slightly flat of the fretline. Of course the higher up the neck you go the increments between the notes becomes much smaller and consequently the amount of compensation you have to make for corect intonation from the fretline position becomes very small indeed.

So it depends on your playing style what you prefer, if you spend all your time in the lower positions and want the fretlines to be 'accurate' down there, it is possible to intonate slightly flat at the 12th so that the lower positions line up better.

Whatever and however you set your intonation though, the fretlines will never be completely accurate for the whole length of the neck, so use them as a guide, not an absolute

Well said. A guitarist & I were having a discussion on this once & he just couldn't get his head around the fact that the intonation won't be exact all the way up & down the neck.

FWIW, I tried experimenting with settings tailored to specific locations, ie: adjusting them to be more 3rd & 5th fret "friendly" but it got too wonky further up the neck. I ultimately redid it at the 12th & I leave it there now. I also did one set-up wherein I did the E & A strings at the 3rd fret & the D & G at the 12th thinking I was more likely to play each of those strings in those locations but I could hear even the slightest "cheat" attempt at averaging them. I never really thought my ear was that discriminating until I started playing with minor adjustments in intonation. All my basses are now set-up with 12th fret intonation.