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Fretless players; lined or unlined? and why?

Lined or unlined?

  • Lined

    Votes: 108 31.5%

  • unlined

    Votes: 182 53.1%

  • carrots

    Votes: 53 15.5%
  • Total voters
    343
#81
B82AC9E2-34B5-4E37-87F4-4AD8EEFFA089.jpeg

;)
 
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#83
Unlined. The lines are distracting, and often "off." Playing without lines is not only "better," IMO, but it's also easier. If you need an easy visual reference, then get one that has side dots (as most of them do).

The only reason lined fretlesses came to exist was because of conversions from fretted basses. The lines are non-traditional, unnecessary, and, again, not helpful IMO/IME. But they are pretty much unavoidable on a board that was converted.
 
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#84
dkelley said:
You're fortunate that you have lines on the two instruments that you can't feel for position, where as on the kay you don't really need that since ( a ) the kay is a far longer scale length, which means it's way less picky about finger placement to be very very close to in tune, and ( b ) it has a neck that you can feel changing shape and a neck join and body edge that let you feel exactly where you are as you go up in positions.

ok, I'll stop making my point now LoL
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Thanks for that!
I think I've heard that before...

:)
 
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#87
Unlined for me. I just like the aesthetic of mastery that you get when you see a skilled player on an unlined fretlss and I love the look of a clean board. Shallow, perhaps.

Undoubtedly, lines do make it easier, at least for fast lines at the top of the range. My Sandberg has side dots at the 3rd, 5th, 7th etc fret position, so even without lines I can still get a decent visual reference for note positions. Perhaps not so easy on a dark stage, but that isn't a problem for me at the moment.
 
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#89
Unlined. Side dots can get you started but my suggestion is stop looking. Hear the note, play the note. The minute I start relooking I start messing up. I've added a step that fear says is necessary. The visual check. Might work for croquet but we are playing music. Experience has you adjust flat or sharp with your ear.

Trust that this is not the first rodeo. You know where the bass is in space. You walk up and down stairs in your house without looking. Actually you aren't looking with frets. Of course you can be sloppy and still make the note but after a while of playing bass your finger is landing right in front of the fret. The frets are like training wheels your dad hasn't taken off. Yet you ride with perfect balance.

Be with your mates enjoying and communicating making music. I mean. How do you sing?

Hear the note, play the note.
 
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#90
dkelley said:
You're fortunate that you have lines on the two instruments that you can't feel for position, where as on the kay you don't really need that since ( a ) the kay is a far longer scale length, which means it's way less picky about finger placement to be very very close to in tune, and ( b ) it has a neck that you can feel changing shape and a neck join and body edge that let you feel exactly where you are as you go up in positions.
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It's true that on db you have the heel as a reference point and db players tend to play positions more than bg players so visual aids aren't necessary. Same on cello. Of course if you are playing from sheet music you can't look at the fingerboard anyway. Fretless bg is imho harder to play than a classical fretless instrument in respect of intonation due to the long neck and lack of physical reference points. But I play unlined anyway :)
 
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#94
I play a 5 string fretless which has lines because it was converted. It's fun and easy to play like a fretted instrument, then sounds cool when you start sliding about the place. I also have an EUB, which has dots, and requires more care. Both fun in their own way. Whatever helps people play the music they like to play.
 
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#96
Hummergeist said:
I play a 5 string fretless which has lines because it was converted. It's fun and easy to play like a fretted instrument, then sounds cool when you start sliding about the place. I also have an EUB, which has dots, and requires more care. Both fun in their own way. Whatever helps people play the music they like to play.
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giphy (11).gif

200 (2).gif
 
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