No sure it's a necro when it got posted yesterday ,
But yeah I think you're onto something there. The mini ghost lines seem like the perfect solution. A lot of high end luthiers doing them too; Roscoe, Skjold etc.
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Alternating Between Lined & Unlined Fretless Basses
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No sure it's a necro when it got posted yesterday ,
But yeah I think you're onto something there. The mini ghost lines seem like the perfect solution. A lot of high end luthiers doing them too; Roscoe, Skjold etc.
I try not to look regardless of what bass I’m on but I have found that I can go for longer & longer stretches without looking. That probably has more to do with confidence…
My bad; I misread the original date. I do love the thin side lines, though. Reference without distraction, is how I view them, personally.
If mini lines are good enough for the F Bass AC (aka the King of Fretless), they're good enough for anyone!
That’s a bold statement (king of all Fretless)…If mini lines are good enough for the F Bass AC (aka the King of Fretless), they're good enough for anyone!
Cant say I agree or disagree since I’ve never played one.
Indiana Jones warned you not to look. 
I never got screwed up with lines or dots because I ignore them. I played an unlined fretless exclusively for the first few years and memorized the relative position of notes. Now when I play a lined and/or dotted fretless, I ignore the dots and go into robot mode. That only works on a 34" scale bass, though. When I first got the Ric (avatar pic) it was really tough to play because it has side dots for every fret and the fingerboard dots are where they'd be on a fretted bass. It's like looking at a game of dominos! Took some time to overcome that.
I never got screwed up with lines or dots because I ignore them. I played an unlined fretless exclusively for the first few years and memorized the relative position of notes. Now when I play a lined and/or dotted fretless, I ignore the dots and go into robot mode. That only works on a 34" scale bass, though. When I first got the Ric (avatar pic) it was really tough to play because it has side dots for every fret and the fingerboard dots are where they'd be on a fretted bass. It's like looking at a game of dominos! Took some time to overcome that.
Well you bring up yet another good point…Indiana Jones warned you not to look.
I never got screwed up with lines or dots because I ignore them. I played an unlined fretless exclusively for the first few years and memorized the relative position of notes. Now when I play a lined and/or dotted fretless, I ignore the dots and go into robot mode. That only works on a 34" scale bass, though. When I first got the Ric (avatar pic) it was really tough to play because it has side dots for every fret and the fingerboard dots are where they'd be on a fretted bass. It's like looking at a game of dominos! Took some time to overcome that.
The Modulus is 35 & the Pedulla is 34 but I have a fretted Roscoe and when I switch between it and any of my fretted 34s it’s not an issue.
If you have multiple basses, getting to know each one is key. Scale length doesn't matter if you think of it in terms of the particular instrument you're playing rather than it being different form the others. The familiarity with an instrument can overcome any deficiencies they have, too. If you know one has a weak sounding E string, you automatically play that string louder whenever you use that bass. Same with markers. Signs only work when you bother to read them, so ignoring the markers doesn't inhibit your playing.
.So unlined is my vote
I'm getting ghost lines on my F Bass AC5. Should be ready around Christmas. Can! Not!! WAIT!!!
I'm not someone who is well-versed in tech stuff (I just know what I like) but here are the specs:
AC5 Signature series bass
- Semi chambered Maple Body, Maple Neck, Ebony fingerboard, Antique Brown Burst Spruce Top, with a matte finish and matching Ramp
- 34.5 inch scale
- Metal Bridge and Neck Pick-ups with brass saddles, and piezo pick-up
- built in pre-amp
- ghost lines
- Blue Luminlay side dots right on the fret line positions (1,3,5,7,9,12,15,17,19...etc.)
Some day I want a fretless with piezos and a fingerboard all the way to the bridge. Not cause I love piezos or want it to sound like an URB, or play up there, but just because I think it'd look so danged cool. But I think we're heading into a time where eating is pretty danged cool too .
I had some unlined fun at church today.
I've had both lined and unlined fretless, that doesn't throw me off.
However playing a 35" scale fretless after a decade plus building muscle memory on 32" and 34" fretless BGs and 42" uprights was a big adjustment to where I had to use "Simandl" (1-2-4) fingering on the 35-er in the lower registers.
The nut was just a little further out, and all the notes up the neck were in slightly displaced locations from where I'd been playing for years, I was relieved to sell that otherwise wonderful bass (Peavey Cirrus 5).
However playing a 35" scale fretless after a decade plus building muscle memory on 32" and 34" fretless BGs and 42" uprights was a big adjustment to where I had to use "Simandl" (1-2-4) fingering on the 35-er in the lower registers.
The nut was just a little further out, and all the notes up the neck were in slightly displaced locations from where I'd been playing for years, I was relieved to sell that otherwise wonderful bass (Peavey Cirrus 5).
