I would prefer unlined.But my bass wasn't offered as fretless.
So I defretted it.
So I defretted it.
Last edited:
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Fretless - lined or unlined? Let's survey this question..What's your preference?
- Thread starter bassmanford
- Start date
1) Yes.
2) Unlined.
3) Unlined.
4) No.
5) Being a DB player too, Fretlines confuse me.
I only like fret markers on 1,3,5,7,9,12,15,etc. Fret dots every fret confuse me too, but a black sharpie can hide unwanted fretline dots.
1, no
2, not on top, fully lined as bass is defretted
3, probably lined because I'm used to it and am something of a p*ssy.
4, yes. I recently played an Ibanez Portamento and loved it. Face does not even have dots, but side has "hash marks" where frets would be. I found it confusing. But the bass sounded so good I might buy one anyway.
5, My ear doesn't hear bass frequencies so articulately, therefore without a visual cue like fretlines, pitch can be an issue for me. However, I've played unlined successfully in the past, I just find it more work that I like.
2, not on top, fully lined as bass is defretted
3, probably lined because I'm used to it and am something of a p*ssy.
4, yes. I recently played an Ibanez Portamento and loved it. Face does not even have dots, but side has "hash marks" where frets would be. I found it confusing. But the bass sounded so good I might buy one anyway.
5, My ear doesn't hear bass frequencies so articulately, therefore without a visual cue like fretlines, pitch can be an issue for me. However, I've played unlined successfully in the past, I just find it more work that I like.
I'm no fretless expert either but behind the line as close as you can get up to the line, so that the string's final point of contact with the fret board is at the line.Some of your finger may be over the line.
The upright bass seems natural to play without lines, part of it is continual referencing to the open strings, part of it is the larger scale which makes micro-misplacement less of an issue, part of it is just seeing and feeling where your hand is at, say, the 7th fret (pretty much at the heel). But it'll be a little while before I decide lines provide no benefit on a FBG. I just wish they blended a little better, black lines on a maple fretboard leave no question that you're wearing cheaters, lol.
On the line... behind the line... in front of the line....
(In the voice of Dennis Hopper, "The LIIIIINE is just a THIIIIING... MAN. it IS a THING and it is NOT a THING. GET IT??? MAN?")
Really you should be placing your finger wherever the note is.
The note in relation to the line on the board is totally dependent on how well the instrument is set up. (And, of course, if that string is in tune.)
You need to be able to adjust using those floppy pieces of cartilage on either side of your head.
For me at least, it is more important that the note location be the same from string to string across the whole board. I set my intonation with a capo carefully placed so that it is perpendicular to the strings and closing the note at the same spot on each. But its never really perfect all the way up and down the neck. The E at the 14th fret position on the D string might be just a little north or south of the B on the A sting just under it, even though the 5th fret positions' D and G are spot on.... Dig Man???
1) No. I do own a fretless but it does not get played as part of the band I am in. It is my favorite bass to play though in terms of feel. Great instrument and I always enjoy picking it up.
2) Unlined, dots on the side of the neck.
3) Unlined.
4) Probably not. I don't like the look of a lined fretless, so if that was the only option available I think I would pass.
5) I love playing the fretless I own. Such a fun instrument and one that I feel makes me a better player.
My fretless is a Birdsong Embrace. Maple neck through with Texas Mesquite wings and an unlined Ebony fretboard.
1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist? - Y/N
I would say No. I play them in rehearsal with my band but no live unless the song really calls for it.
2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined
Lined, definitely
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
Lined, definitely
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 would buy a suitable bass that is lined from a different brand.
5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
I like what Marcus Miller said. He played a lined fretless in the studio and said the sound engineers don't care if it's lined or unlined as long as you play in tune. So, whatever helps me make good music is best![/QUOTE]
I would say No. I play them in rehearsal with my band but no live unless the song really calls for it.
2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined
Lined, definitely
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
Lined, definitely
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 would buy a suitable bass that is lined from a different brand.
5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
I like what Marcus Miller said. He played a lined fretless in the studio and said the sound engineers don't care if it's lined or unlined as long as you play in tune. So, whatever helps me make good music is best![/QUOTE]
As I've never played a fretless, I'm not sure I would ever really want to, But if I at some point I figured that what the hell, let's go for it, I would have to start with a lined fretless, until I was sure I would stick with it, then I would try an unlined one, and see how that works.
New1) are you a regular fretless electric bassist? - Y/N
Yes. Played fretless since the early 90s, when I pulled the frets out of my first bass, a Vantage X-99. Play about 40% of our set fretless, and when I practice, it's without frets. The better my fretless chops, the better I play fretted.
2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined
An Ibanez Portamento. Unlined fingerboard with lines along the top edge.
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
I will never own a fretless with a lined board. I am not locked into a specific manufacturer, and am only loyal to what I want, not what a builder makes.
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
I am not locked into a specific manufacturer, and am only loyal to what I want, not what a builder makes.
5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
IMO, lined boards look wrong. There is something beautiful and elegant about a fretless bass that lines destroy.
It'd be like putting whitewall tires on a black Lamborghini.
Yes. Played fretless since the early 90s, when I pulled the frets out of my first bass, a Vantage X-99. Play about 40% of our set fretless, and when I practice, it's without frets. The better my fretless chops, the better I play fretted.
2) does the fingerboard or top edge of your favored fretless bass have lines, or is it fully unlined? - Lined/Unlined
An Ibanez Portamento. Unlined fingerboard with lines along the top edge.
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
I will never own a fretless with a lined board. I am not locked into a specific manufacturer, and am only loyal to what I want, not what a builder makes.
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
I am not locked into a specific manufacturer, and am only loyal to what I want, not what a builder makes.
5) Please describe your view on this subject? - ________________________
IMO, lined boards look wrong. There is something beautiful and elegant about a fretless bass that lines destroy.
It'd be like putting whitewall tires on a black Lamborghini.
I like unlined. I don't look at the fretboard but more at the side dots. What I have done is had custom dots on ONLY the edge of the binding. Bigger dots at the 3,5,7 etc positions so I can know where I am at.
Usually. Id say 99% of time. That is if they don't have something else like small lines or other markers.
Turnaround
Commercial User
What strings are you using? I have been using Thomastic Jazz Flats ever since I bought the bass.Agree. They are pretty hard to come by. And they sound amazing - which is why I keep hanging onto it.
I've been running mine through an IE Nimbus reverb which then feeds into an EXH Analogizer lately. I'll agree it gets a beautiful sound with a very delicate touch of effects added on. I've also used a combination of Catalinbread's Montevillian Echo and Pareidolia Harmonic Mesmerizer for another nice solo sound.
Haven't tried an octave pedal on it yet. Have to give it a try through my old OC-2 into the Nimbus next. Thx for the suggestion!
The same, although I've been tempted to try the Acousticores - or possibly the LaBella Copper Whites on it. I like a little bit of mids in the overall tone.
Good survey. Here you go:
1. yes, nothing but
2. unlined
3. unlined
4. no
5. shouldn't be looking at the fingerboard anyway
I'm aware. The Godin LR Baggs Acoustibass only has bridge piezos.
