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Fretless: Lines or No Lines?? Which is Least Annoying??

Lines or No Lines, that is the question!

  • Lines

    Votes: 68 44.2%

  • No Lines

    Votes: 86 55.8%
  • Total voters
    154
#23
Originally posted by luisnovelo
There is a thing about lined fretlesses that I don't get right.

I'm not sure if in factory lined fretless you fret the notes in between the lines or over the lines. I had weakly understood that you should fret them in between, but with your question about the intonation thing, my doubt has grown a bit.


but well.. due to my ignorance, and the fact that unlined fingerboards look much better to me, I prefer unlined
..also, most times they cost less than lined. It could take a little more time and practice to get the intonation right, but in your case, If you already have an unlined fretless.. you could go with the unlined and skip the fretting problem.. and save some cash.
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There's a good solution to get best of both worlds: get an unlined fretboard (for the looks..) but with the usual dot position markers (1,3,5,7,..) PLUS fret markers on the side! My new Sonus Custom fretless due to arrive within the next weeks will come that way...just can*t wait! ;)
 
#24
Originally posted by nightshifter


There's a good solution to get best of both worlds: get an unlined fretboard (for the looks..) but with the usual dot position markers (1,3,5,7,..) PLUS fret markers on the side! My new Sonus Custom fretless due to arrive within the next weeks will come that way...just can*t wait! ;)
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thats a good idea...If I get a fretless I will probably consider that:)

This is putting me in the mood for a fretless:hmm:

-Jon:o
 
#26
Both of my fretlae have lines. I like 'em. I don't have any problem switching, and I spend less time worrying about being on pitch.
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Less time compared to what?

I've only ever had one fretless and it is unlined. I've played lined fretless basses in stores briefly, I think it's six of one half dozen of the other. Players of violin instruments and trombones haven't needed lines for centuries, there's nothing radical about not having lines. IMO it makes a fretless bass less "guitar-like" if it has a blank fingerboard.

I had played for over 20 years before I got my first fretless so I can't comment on what would be easier for someone newer to the instument. I can say I've never missed lines, but I don't know if my intonation would be better with them.

I think whether you want lines or not may have a lot to do with how keen your ear is for pitch.
 
#27
I've got both line, and unlined. I prefer the look of the unlined board.

My 6 string (lined) is a good compromise. I got the neck from Curbow after it was already done (someone had swapped it out with a fretted neck). I never would have ordered it with lines, but I like the black lines on the black board. From about 3 feet away, you can't even tell that it is lined, but they do come in handy when I'm playing chords above the 12th fret.

Here's a pic:

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For the most part, I don't really look at my hands when I play, so the lines are irrelevant, anyway.
 
#31
Originally posted by Mojo-Man
Unlined
It's a little more work, but my playing got much
better after I went to a unlined fingerboard.
Play with your ears.
And no stiff neck from looking at your fingerboard.
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You have to use your ears whether you play with lines or not. The idea that lined players by nature don't use their ears, or use them less well, is a complete misconception IMO and IME.

And just on that subject, where does the idea come from that it's somehow bad or cheating to look at your left hand while you're playing? (I'm not specifically directing this at you, Mojo--you just happened to spark the question!) Ever see a classical guitarist play? They look at their left hands all the time. DB players look at theirs from time to time as well. (Some should probably look more often than they do.;) j/k)

Now there could be a problem if you can never look away from your left hand, because that will hinder your ability to read charts (for those to whom that's an issue). But if looking at your hand from time to time helps you get your musical job done, then do it. I'm with Steve Lawson on this--whatever helps you play well, in tune, and do your job, is fine. If smelling for the notes, or tasting for them, or using ESP, would help you get the job done, then do that.

It's all about the results, and about doing what allows you to achieve the best results you can, whether that's unlined, lined, semilined, colored duct tape, embedded cubic zirconia, or whatever. Nobody gives extra credit or demerits for doing it one way or the other.
 
#32
i had a yamaha with a lined neck and for me it seemed to take all the fun out of it. felt like cheating. anytime i picked up someone's unlined bass i had a lot more fun, and got a lot more satisfaction out of getting it to sound good.

at this very moment i am waiting for delivery of my Michael Kelly fretless acoustic. it's shceduled for delivery today, the UPS guy comes btwn 8AM & 1PM, it's 11 now, and i'm going out of my freaking mind!!!!

this particular bass i think offers the best of all worlds. it has the side markers, plus tiny dots (without the half fret lines) along the neck where the frets would be. once i get it and start playing it i can comment more.
 
#33
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
i had a yamaha with a lined neck and for me it seemed to take all the fun out of it. felt like cheating. anytime i picked up someone's unlined bass i had a lot more fun, and got a lot more satisfaction out of getting it to sound good.

at this very moment i am waiting for delivery of my Michael Kelly fretless acoustic. it's shceduled for delivery today, the UPS guy comes btwn 8AM & 1PM, it's 11 now, and i'm going out of my freaking mind!!!!

this particular bass i think offers the best of all worlds. it has the side markers, plus tiny dots (without the half fret lines) along the neck where the frets would be. once i get it and start playing it i can comment more.
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Joe, do you know if they changed the way the side dots are placed on the Michael Kelly fretlesses? They apparently used to have them at the same positions as they would be on a fretted, which would not be the proper intonation point on a fretless.
 
#34
Definitely no lines for me!

I did with dots for all positions on Wush's Fretless:
06240004.jpg


But I usually put side dots for common positions until the 12th fret and front dots from 12 to 24th:

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I'll be building two new fretlesses real soon and they'll have blank stabilized ebony fretboards with oonly side dots!! Don't wanna bother the gorgeous tops with dots or lines :D


Peace, JP
 
#35
Originally posted by Bryan R. Tyler


Joe, do you know if they changed the way the side dots are placed on the Michael Kelly fretlesses? They apparently used to have them at the same positions as they would be on a fretted, which would not be the proper intonation point on a fretless.
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i read something pertaining to this in a review on harmony central. from what i understand the dots on the side of the neck are the typical 3, 5, 7, etc. the dots on the fretboard are where the actual frets would have been if it were fretted. if this is incorrect, i'm not sure i understand the meaning behind a lined neck? it wouldn't make sense to me for them to put the lines anywere other than where the frets would be?

i thought that the person who reviewed the bass at harmony central had no idea what he was talking about - and maybe thought the fret markings were supposed to be the center of the fret or something. perhaps i have no idea what i'm talking about????

please elaborate on why you believe the markings may be wrong (i don't think they've changed their way of doing it), because i'm concerned. was it because of reading the same review that i did? thanks.

11:15PM. still no delivery! :bawl:
 
#36
Joe, the reviews I read were by owners right here on TalkBass. The fingerboards are unlined, so the side dots were all that people had to judge the intonation placement by. Apparently the side dots at the standard 3,5,7 etc positions were in the same place they'd be as if it were a fretted bass. For example, look at a fretted. The dots are located inbetween the frets. This was apparently the same place the dots were on the fretless, which is bad. Most unlined fretlesses have the side dots right below where the frets would be, so when you put your finger at that point, you are properly intonating, while if you put your finger inbetween where the frets would normally be, you'd be very flat or sharp. I didn't know if they adjusted that problem yet or not. I hope that makes more sense.
 
#38
Originally posted by Andy Daventry
I solved the problem. When I defretted my rosewood fingerboarded Yamaha, I had the fret slots filled with rosewood veneer. This looks from a distance as it it is unlined, but from where I stand it is lined! So I get to look cool AND play in tune.

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Da daaaa!

BTW, I have side dots at 3,5,7,9,12 etc etc.
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thats a good idea dude...most defretted basses look like that...If I got a defretted one...I'd make it look all cool with glow in the dark side dots and what not:)

Have fun

-Nojski:o
 
#39
hot digitty dog! i've got the new bass in my hands now, and i love it. and i'm a hard guy to please.

the side markers are in the same position they'd be on a regular bass, but i don't see any problem with this - perhaps because i've never owned an unlined fretless? on the neck the dots where the frets would be. seems rather helpful actually - i have 2 different points of reference. if i ever go to play someone else's unlined fretless i guess i might have to adjust my playing.

curious: ALL unlined fretless basses have the 3-5-7-9-12 marks directly where the fret would be????
 

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