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Fretless - Lined or Unlined?

#21
I don't think it much matters. What does matter is that you practice with your ears and you practice a lot. Play along with something that allows you to identify when your intonation is off. For example, iRealB is an iPad app that allows you to play along with a library of chord progressions or you can program your own. Also, technique is probably even more important on fretless because muscle memory is what is going to ensure good intonation on fast parts. Finally, when you develop enough confidence to play your fretless at rehearsal or a performance, record the results. I use a Zoom H4N to record rehearsals and performances. I listen to the playback, identify problem parts, and then focus on those. Sometimes changing the fingering fixes an intonation problem, but the main things are using your ears and practice, practice, practice. Those seem to be the themes in the responses above. BTW, I have an unlined four string ebony fingerboard from Warmoth and use roundwounds.
 
#22
To humouresly quote Steve Lawson...."unlined fret boards are for perverts...."
I'm mostly a fretted player...because I'm more familiar with it. I play fretless about 30% of the time, and the lines really help me transition onto the fretless quicker. But I find if I play a lot on the fretless, I need the lines less. If you are going full time fretless player, then it's just a matter of time until your intonation is a no brainer. But for me, lined fretless is the way to go.
Consider this, if you have fret lines, they are always there if you need them and are easily ignored. If you don't have fret lines, you can't ever use them or depend on them.
 
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#23
I personally need the lines... I prefer the look of unlined fretlesses, but when I'm on stage and all that I like to have all the help I can get. I have a lot fo respect for people who play unlined fretlesses... it's just something I don;t think I could ever do proficiently.... for a first fretless, I'd probably go lined just until you get the hang of it.
 
#25
I have been playing lined for a few years and just got my first unlined. On low "frets" I can manage fine but on the higher frets (9 and above) I am having a bit of trouble with intonation - you have to be so precise up there and lines help.

I'd say lines.
 
#26
I started playing fretless about 30 years ago, bought myself a lined Aria SB 1000 which was all the rage at the time (early/mid eighties)... usual sound then was through a chorus pedal... kept the same bass in a jazz group for the rest of that decade... thoroughly enjoyed it, although I did play fretted too.
Got myself in a bit of a rut in the early 2000's and stoned the frets down on my Jazz which wasn't getting any gig time, so then I had two lined fretlesses.

Had to sell the Aria because I was in the brown stuff money wise, along with my beloved 78 Ray...

Anys... sorry about the ramble... just got my first unlined. No probs at all.

What am I getting at?

Dunno really. Just go for it... if you get on with unlined then fine, lines are no big deal and I've never been poopoo'd about using them, hell... most peeps don't care.
 
#27
As an aside, I've been playing fretless electric for 20 years and upright acoustic for only 2 years. My intonation is better on upright than on unlined fretless. There is something physically different about the instruments that makes upright easier, IMHO.
 
#30
There is no right answer for everyone. For me, it's unlined. Lines don't help me. They imply that you are always intonated the same when your finger's the same relative to the line for each note; that's not actually true, and you can read about that in some fretless instruction books. Plus, I just can't look at my left hand that much when I play due to singing. After a few weeks' practice your ear does all the heavy lifting, not your eyes.

Some people are completely, madly in love with lines on a fingerboard and I even had one luthier insist he would only install lined fretless necks on Fender basses. Fine by me, just let me keep my unlined fingerboards.

People who say unlined is too hard probably, I'm guessing, haven't spent a lot of focused time with it (instead of going from lined, to unlined, to lined again etc.). I basically had no choice, so I was "lucky" in a way. Once you get to a certain point it truly is as simple as bike riding.
 
#32
"I will disagree a hair with a couple of the above posts about "playing on the line". Keep in mind that the pad of your finger flattens out as you apply pressure to the string. This results in a sharp note if you center your finger on the line. Instead, use your ears to find the right spot slightly behind the line to get in tune! (Keep in mind that those lines are not going to be 100% accurate across the length of the neck too!)"

This is a great point and pretty much what I meant to say. Yes, a hair behind the line but sort of up against it. Use your ears. I have used a tuner to check my intonation also.

Bob

__________________
 
#37
bh2 said:
Of course the lines on my Jazz are in the wrong place!
Click to expand...
I've heard of the side markers being out of place, such as when a neck dotted for fretted application actually winds up on a fretless instrument.

But if the lines aren't where you want 'em - _all_ of them - an intonation adjustment should help a lot. Get the 12th "fret" where it ought to be and the rest should be along for the ride.
 
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#39
I tried lined and unlined and eventually ene up happily wih unlined. Yes, the lines can act as a guide. But inherently. like on a fretted bass, not all the lines are intonated/in tune. I found the lines ended up confusing me, as some were on and some were off. But for unlined, IMHO you MUST have a neck wih the side dots in the proper fretless position (where the fret would usually be) as opposed to in-between frets. Plus, I prefer the clean look of an unlined board. It really has helped me dial in better positioning and muscle memory. Plus, it freaks out the guitarists, and that is always a good thing.

Yes, Jaco had lines (he also wore a silly hat a lot of the time, so don't forget to wear that, too.) :rollno: :D But I'm guessing fret lines were not the reason for his success...
 

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