Lined fretless: Make me feel better please!

[Fletz]

I have in my lifetime owned two tony Franklin fretlesses and loved them both ... Before GAS forced me to sell them. I got the fretless jones again and saw a bass deal here on TalkBass that I couldn't beat on a Music Man Stingray fretless. I did research and decided that the Pino fretless sound is what I want for my current situation, the color was beautiful on the one I saw here and the age/condition/price were excellent. So I bought it. I'll have it in a few days but I'm already feeling like I wimped out by getting this LINED fretless. My franklins of course we're unlined. I played them just fine.

Talk me off the ledge! Tell me it doesn't matter. Tell me I'm being too harsh on myself and that tone and playability far outweigh the ego of no lines.

Or call me out. I can take it.

 

[placedesjardins]

Just look in the mirror and repeat these lines, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

 

[Bob_Ross]

If you're already comfortable/familiar with playing an unlined fingerboard, all you have to do to get along with a lined fingerboard is DON'T LOOK AT IT!

 

[Bob_Ross]

...but perhaps this will make you feel better:

I've been a professional bassist for 40 years. I've toured all over the US, Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean, played on a number of commercially-available recordings, appeared on film soundtracks and advertising jingles, performed with enough name-drop-worthy musicians to hold my own in any bragging match, and still get called for more recording sessions than I can fit into my schedule, all with a fretless bass

...that has a lined fingerboard.

 

[esa372]

It doesn't matter - lines or not.

 

[deeptubes]

Lines? Lines?! LINES?!!!!

I guess some people just like that sort of thing.

 

[bholder]

You don't need to look at the lines, obviously. Other people should rate you on how you sound, not on the lines!

(but yeah, I prefer no lines myself)

 

[Fletz]

You're all swell!

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I like the look of the Pino Music Man fretless. I think having a bass look the way you want it to, might make you pick it up more often. A bass that looks cool to you, just begs to be played. Hence, more playing = better player. We are vain creatures, after all. Get what you want (if you can). JMHO.

 

[Fletz]

As a bar band bassist no one cares but me, probably.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Jaco Pastorious, the greatest fretless player who ever lived, had a bass with lines on it.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Unlined fretless = approximate intonation
Lined fretless = accurate intonation

Feel good

 

[BbBlues]

I've been playing fretless for 20 years now and I did not realize some people consider having lines as a stigma until about 5 years ago. Who cares jaco had then gary willis has them mark egan has them- Edgar Meyer even has dots on his upright.
They all sound pretty good

 

[RickBlair]

Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

Rick B.

 

[pnchad]

OMG this stupid question again - is it some sort of macho thing or what - who gives a poopie?

I'll tell you who - other musicians who have a prejudice against fretlesses

here's a recent story - I was asked by a very old friend to lay down the bass parts for a Country tune he's just written so I take 2 basses in the car - a 6 string Drozd Oracle fretted (because it's my only good fretted bass) and my Sadowsky NYC Modern 5 fretless (with lines).

I laid down the tracks and we were doodling afterwards when I held some notes with vibrato and my buddy points out how awesome it sounds to the engineer and then goes 'is that fretless??? I didn't know that was fretless it's got painted lines' (they are maple inlays but whatever).

if I had made it obvious to them I brought a fretless they would have immediately thought it was the wrong instrument for the tune. I had played it nice and tight and it looks like a Fender so everyone was happy.

the other issue I'm tired of explaining is that, on a loud dark stage I want lines. Especially when it's hard to hear myself. You may think you have muscle memory but fretless playing (with or without lines) requires constant slight intonation changes but when it's really loud and your bass is well set up and intonated you can generally rely on a visual reference - if you were in tune on the last song you probably still are.

BTW, I have about 18 high-end fretlesses most with lines but not all. I played pro on a 1976 factory fretless P w/o lines for 20+ years avg 5 nights/week

 

[2meterbassman]

I have in my lifetime owned two tony Franklin fretlesses and loved them both ... Before GAS forced me to sell them. I got the fretless jones again and saw a bass deal here on TalkBass that I couldn't beat on a Music Man Stingray fretless. I did research and decided that the Pino fretless sound is what I want for my current situation, the color was beautiful on the one I saw here and the age/condition/price were excellent. So I bought it. I'll have it in a few days but I'm already feeling like I wimped out by getting this LINED fretless. My franklins of course we're unlined. I played them just fine.

Talk me off the ledge! Tell me it doesn't matter. Tell me I'm being too harsh on myself and that tone and playability far outweigh the ego of no lines.

Or call me out. I can take it.

Lesson 1:
If it sounds good and feels good: play it
Lesson 2:
Give a damn about what others think about your instrument.

 

[bholder]

Unlined fretless = approximate intonation
Lined fretless = accurate intonation

Feel good

Only if you look!

 

[pnchad]

gonna call me a wuss if I break this out - IT'S GOT LINES - oh the shame

sorry for the crappy pic

 

[Fletz]

Ok. You are all 100% right. I feel better already!

 

[Jefff]

My left ear is wonky. When the volume goes up and the drums kick in and the guitar player is wailing, lines are a huge help. The sound is the same and my intonation is greatly improved with lines.

While unlined does look cooler, Id rather sound good than look good.