Wow, now THIS is a unique beast.... I'm guessing an Unlined Fretless NYC P5 with soaps in modern spacing, Ebony Board.?
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Winner winner chicken dinner.
Heavier unchambered ash body, 20 'frets'...and so much responsive mwah that you have to be REAL careful with the left hand. Best fretless I've played, and that includes Pentabuzz/Warwick Thumb 5/Musicman/Modulus/Rick Turner/Roscoe/etc
That's nice, congrats! I wish i was skilled enough to play an unlined fretless.. i bet you this beast can muah for days
The no lines thing really force me to play by ear and not by sight. Lots of clams and side-eye to get to that point though
That's why I never liked them. I've had a few with lines and I focus too much on them. Unlined makes more sense to me and I DO have side dots at 3/5/7/9/12th fret for quick jumps. I liken it to the physical landmarks on an upright.
D and/or Eb neck/etc.
Plus let's face it: unlined just looks freaking cool
Not really the same thing, and I dont find myself looking at the fretboard except with big shifts up the neck
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I wonder if a Satin Series can be ordered fretless? For Holdsg: the Satin Series is a NYC line that has very limited options, and satin finish instead of gloss, but lower price.
Here's mine (headstock in my avatar)...I requested solid black Ebony if possible, and they delivered!
thanks for all the fretless love!
I have the "big fretless" upright thing covered.
sometimes it's "too big" for some of the postage stamp stages in the dive bars I play, and am ever looking for a competent sounding alternative. I know of many, have tried a few. currently trying out a Turner, it's got lines, which I don't mind, but prefer the blank plank.
I gotta hide my wallet when I see those 2 awesome looking blank planks. yikes.
I have the "big fretless" upright thing covered.
sometimes it's "too big" for some of the postage stamp stages in the dive bars I play, and am ever looking for a competent sounding alternative. I know of many, have tried a few. currently trying out a Turner, it's got lines, which I don't mind, but prefer the blank plank.
I gotta hide my wallet when I see those 2 awesome looking blank planks. yikes.
Hmmmm. I am ordering a fretless soon. Was thinking lines but now you guys have me pondering.
Per the discussion above, yes you still have a visual reference there if you need it with the side dots at 3/5/7/9/12/etc, but I doubt that even guys who have fretlines obsess to much over them. You can nail the exact position of fingerpad directly over fretline and still not be in tune with the other instruments, or if you're playing a major third over a root. I personally found the fretlines distracting for that reason, and after a lot of practice and enough clams to keep a New Englander happy all season, I finally started to get it together.
Caught my attention when you said 'the other instruments.' That's an interesting point I hadn't considered.
A big reason I could see in favor of having fretlines is if you don't play fretless a whole lot. I know that when I lay off the instrument a while it's intimidating as all get out facing that wide expanse of ebony. If there were lines there I'd have some bumpers in the lane and would probably knock down more pins. I like to live on the edge though.
That guy looks NERVOUS with that unlined board
Can't even process that freak. Unlined, WITH a pick (SINGING!!!!!! ***!!!) and he's not even looking at the fretboard.
I quit.
Anyone seen these 'Luminlay' side dots in person? An unlined board with those on the side at the fret position might be cool. They seem a little larger in diameter from the one pic I saw of a WL with them.
I have them on my MTD six string. Pretty cool although you have to hit them with a flashlight periodically so that they shine.
Interesting sidenote: I ordered my MTD with face dots on the fretboard because with a fretted Bass I rely quite a bit on those landmarks.
Go figure
