Fretless Intonation Setup

[Dano59]

When setting up fretless intonation do you set up for fingering directly on top of fret point or above where you would play a fretted neck.

 

[KwinS]

It depends on what you like. I like to set mine exactly between the 12th position dots. That puts the notes just a little bit toward the headstock compared to the other dots. I know some folks who never set the intonation on theirs. I can't stand that.

 

[KwinS]

If yours is lined, that would put you just a little bit north of the lines, instead of the dots.

 

[Skitch it!]

For me I've always set up so it visually pitches pretty much where I would play on a fretted, just to make the transition easier, just up to the line.

I read that Gary Willis used to set his in that way before he moved over to setting directly on the fret-line, kind of splitting the finger.

Pino used to have another person setting his intonation as he played and checked, so the pitching was 'as he saw it' on the board.

I think it's down to whatever you find pitches accurately for yourself, but I think most guys usually set up as they would play on a fretted.