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Fretless - lined or unlined? Let's survey this question..What's your preference?

#61
1) Much less than I used to be...used to play 100% fretless

2) Lined

3) Unlined

4) Yes

5) My only fretless today is a Pedulla Buzz, which had been a dream bass for years. I would prefer that it be unlined, but it's not. Every other fretless I have ever owned was unlined and I prefer it that way (I also play upright bass). I find lines can be helpful when first starting to play without frets but soon become unneeded. Sorry to hear that Godin no longer has unlined fretless, I used to own an Acoustibass and it was a great instrument.
 
#63
bassmanford said:
1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist? - Y/N

2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined

3) all other things equal, if you bought your next fretless bass from a brand that offered the choice of either a Lined or Unlined fretless neck, which would you purchase? - Lined/Unlined

4) if you only had the one choice (as with Godin) of your less favored fingerboard preference, from your favored fretless bass brand, would you buy one? - Yes/No

5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
Click to expand...

1) No
2) Faint lines only visible to player
3) Lined
4) No
5) Prefer fretted

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#65
1. I play mine nearly everyday. Had it for 8 years, but never gigged with it.
2. Unlined, just side dots.
3. Unlined
4. Either way wouldn't be a deal-breaker, my preference is actually for the cosmetics.
5. Like I mentioned above, I prefer the look of an unlined fingerboard. Only time I ever had a problem playing an unlined fretless is when I picked up a shortscale fretless, lol! Talk about a shot to my ego.
 
#66
1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist? - Y/N

2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined

3) all other things equal, if you bought your next fretless bass from a brand that offered the choice of either a Lined or Unlined fretless neck, which would you purchase? - Lined/Unlined

4) if you only had the one choice (as with Godin) of your less favored fingerboard preference, from your favored fretless bass brand, would you buy one? - Yes/No

5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________


1) Yes

2) Lined

3) Lined

4) No

5) Some bass players get really silly over things like this. You have choices of different bass companies to buy from so the questions like what if this... are hard to answer seriously. As far a lines I do care what my basses look like but I could not care less about the lines I need them when I'm sitting but standing I can only really see the sides so I like lines on the front, side, heck if it would help me all the way around the neck. Brian Beller said in an interview one time he needs lines and Brian is a dang great player don't let looks of them bother you.
 
#68
I suppose I could get used to lines, but now when I pick up a lined Fretless I get confused while I'm playing when I glance at the neck to check position when a note doesn't sound quite right. Even the Ibanez Portomento with lines on the top of the fingerboard. Freaks me out.
 
#71
Uh, where's the survey? TB does have a survey function you can use....

Not really a fretless player but I have dabbled with it. Every one I have played has had lines and I am comfortable with that when playing. I have to say however that an unlined fingerboard LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER! If I get another one in the future I would shoot for one that has dots or short lines at every fret position but which looks unlined from a distance. I would not refuse to buy a lined bass that otherwise met my needs however.
 
#72
1. Yes
2. Unlined
3. Unlined
4. No
5. I play fretless pretty much exclusively (my only fretted bass is for sale). All my fretless basses are unlined.
 
#73
1) Only fretless and URB

2) No lines

3) Unlined

4) Can't think of a brand I'd favor that much at this time, so: no.

5) First of all: I'm happy for another argument to stick to the basses I own and limit my GAS. I can't blame builders to adapt their products to popular demand. I also can't blame popular demand for demanding something I would not want. As an explanation I could offer the idea that most fretless basses are sold to first-time-fretless players. But I don't want to suggest that lines are only for newbies and us hardcore fretlessplayers play unlined. There's no shame in playing a lined fretless, I just wish more people would try unlined.
 
#75
bassmanford said:
I'm not a regular browser of TB and may have missed discussions on this topic. If you can direct me to such please do.

I'm one of those who tossed their fretted necks for a fretless in the 70's upon the phenom of Jaco..(i didn't break my thumbs..). In those days it was the standard Fender unlined fretless neck. Mine is long gone and the many fretless basses I've owned since have all been unlined. Lined fretless basses are virtually unplayable for me, it's like looking at the LA freeway system..I suppose I could learn to get used to one.. I also play fretted basses and am quite comfortable with them.

Obviously the world has evolved to a mix of lined and unlined fingerboards and/or lines along the top edge of the neck.

The market seems to favor lined fretless necks..many brands have all but dropped unlined necks. I'm a Lakland fan and have a 4 string unlined fretless but I haven't seen a new one from them without fretlines in some years.

As example, I recently bought a Godin Ultra A5. I liked the bass so much I bought it, but only after my luthier confirmed he could remove the lines along the top edge of the neck and reposition the dots..he did a great job. During the research of this buy I queried Godin directly whether they could provide an unlined neck via a custom shop option. No Way! was their response..I wonder what/who conducts their market research to drop unlined necks..

So let's conduct our own Fretless Bass Market Survey

1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist? - Y/N

2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined

3) all other things equal, if you bought your next fretless bass from a brand that offered the choice of either a Lined or Unlined fretless neck, which would you purchase? - Lined/Unlined

4) if you only had the one choice (as with Godin) of your less favored fingerboard preference, from your favored fretless bass brand, would you buy one? - Yes/No

5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________


Thanks for taking the time to share your view..I will tabulate and probably share (no names) with a few brands and ask them to describe what their marketing strategy is in offering lined vs. unlined fretless basses..

Ted
Click to expand...
1)Not regular player, use it on about 1/3 of the songs throughout the night
2)Lines
3)Yes, but I have absolutely no GAS right now
4)Can't speculate, I'm an impulse buyer, when I have the impulse
5)This feels like a marketing tool.
 
#76
1. Yes. I do own a fretted one, but I basically never play it
2. Unlined
3. Unlined
4. Yes. If it had lines, it would not be enough of a reason to not buy an otherwise dream bass.
5. I prefer unlined. I don't see a reason to have the lines, since I'm not really looking there when playing anyways. Also unlined is way cooler.
 
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#77
1-Yes
2-Unlined
3-Unlined
4-Yes-When Fodera introduced the MSF4, they said no options. I posted I'd buy one if it was unlined, to which they replied, that will be the only option. Turned out good, it's a killer bass.
5-There was a time when there was no choice-they were all unlined.
 
#78
1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist?
Hmmn... yes... but I gig upright mostly when a fretless is needed



2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined
Dots are easier to see..

3) all other things equal, if you bought your next fretless bass from a brand that offered the choice of either a Lined or Unlined fretless neck, which would you purchase? - Lined/Unlined
Unlined... dots


4) if you only had the one choice (as with Godin) of your less favored fingerboard preference, from your favored fretless bass brand, would you buy one? - Yes/No
No.. I'd only buy a carbon fiber neck... flats on a wood neck basically sound like a Pbass


5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
Inorder to really play one, you need a good sound system and adequate setup.

I believe that upright gives fretless with better visual
 
#80
My first fretless was a lined Pedulla, which I loved, but the body shape/style didn't work for me, so I sold it and had a Roscoe SKB FL built. For some reason, I was afraid to go unlined, so I had them do black lines. I requested a two-tone neck, but for some reason, they couldn't do it, so I ended up with an ebony neck with black lines. They are completely invisible, so I essentially have an unlined fretless. If I had it to do again, I'd go unlined, no question about it. It's amazing how quickly the human brain trains itself to use the side dots to gain a point of reference on "fret" spacing, and how you really don't have to think about it.
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