fretless with lines face dots or clean??

[jaywa]

I personally have more trouble playing a lined fretless in tune than an unlined one.

Plus I think an unlined neck is just about the coolest looking thing ever.

JMO, but I say if you're gonna go fretless, then go all-in.

 

[trowaclown]

Do it whatever way you want, please. We seem to have forgotten the point of the thread.

To the OP: I do like face dots on mine. I use an Ibanez Gary Willis Bass by the way, the old GWB1.

 

[bucephylus]

Lots of strong and differing opinions as always on this question.

For the OP: you really have to try both to figure out what works for you. OTOH, don't be afraid to get it wrong the first time. Any of these schemes can be made to work.

I personally find that some kind of marks on the board face help me in the upper register, side dots are all I use in the lower register. Most bass work is in the lower register, but you really need the intonation on the upper register fills. Few things sound worse than the bass hitting an upper register fill out of tune; and they can come at you pretty quickly on the gig.

Good luck with your build!

 

[WILL WAHL]

This is entertaining!!!!!! Hey just do what ever floats your boat!!!! Fret Lines....No fret lines....dots..no dots..look at the neck....don't look at the neck!!!!!What ever works!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mattpnolan]

With BMC, nothing looks sweeter than an unlined, undotted fretless, but just for safety, get the side dots as lines for where the fret would be. Have the dots put in at 3,5,7 etc on the side if you need, noone will notice! Do it!

Yep.

 

[bucephylus]

OT BTW (humor intended): I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how lines on the board are "training wheels," whereas side dots are not. Hey any "real" fretless player would have no markings on the neck at all - including side dots! Take that axe to the gig.

Seriously, just play well and have fun! GL

 

[rodneyat]

OT BTW (humor intended): I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how lines on the board are "training wheels," whereas side dots are not. Hey any "real" fretless player would have no markings on the neck at all - including side dots! Take that axe to the gig.

Seriously, just play well and have fun! GL

1000% agree. Just play how it is the most comfortable for you. That said, I have owned and played lined and unlined fretless basses. All of them still had side dots. As long as the side dots are there. The unlined fretless was not as hard as I thought it would be. But, if someone likes a lined board..then so be it!

I will say..going back to the OPs questions. NO DOTS ON THE FACE OF THE FRETBOARD. That would really just look wrong.

 

[duckbutter]

My personal pref is no lines on the board, no dots on the board, and dots where the frets would be, 3/5/7/9/12 only.
You shouldn't be looking at the board while playing, you should be listening, and gathering muscle memory of where you need to be.

Anything else is a crutch you'll carry with you forever.

IMO, IME; having been a fretless pleyer since 1974 or so.

Very nice basses, what year is the Fender?
I have 77 just like it (sort of)

 

[bassbenj]

OT BTW (humor intended): I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how lines on the board are "training wheels," whereas side dots are not. Hey any "real" fretless player would have no markings on the neck at all - including side dots! Take that axe to the gig.

Seriously, just play well and have fun! GL

Ok, we'll s'plain it to ya! Lines on the fretboard are "training wheels" because it gives you a reference point for each note on every string. When I was a fretless noob, I started on a lined fretless. It helped quite a bit for a while. Mostly because there is a reference for EVERY note (side dots are only every so many notes and you have to estimate in between) and especially because as you play up the neck you'll find that you have this tendency to estimate positions at an angle to perpendicular across the neck which throws your intonation off on high strings. The lines says Hey, THIS is perpendicular, learn it! And you do.

But the idea that side dots are "training wheels" is a bit off. The reference to "unmarked" instruments (I presume you mean like cello and upright bass) being "real" does not mean that side markers are "training wheels". If you've ever studied upright bass you'll know that reference points on that instrument have been developed through the years as a series of "hand positions". These work quite well to get your bearings on the neck. A bass guitar on the other hand is not only a much newer instrument with less refined techinques being developed, but also has a (relatively) longer neck with few landmarks on it to get your bearings. Hence the side dots (which is really all you see when you are standing up anyway) serve the same purpose as the "positions" on an upright giving you bearings on notes BEFORE you play them and your ears kick in.

Of course, I was sorry later I got a lined bass because I discovered that people in the audience (and even many fellow musicians) don't notice it's a fretless. Which is why I love the LOOK of a blank neck (except for side dots etc.). It just screams 'fretless'! But then a number of my basses are lined fretless because I bought them used and they came that way. And my G&L L-2500 lined fretless is just TOO COOL not to play because it has a few lines!

OK?

 

[bucephylus]

(humor intended)

Sheesh (looking for that icon of the Charlie Brown with his head leaning against the wall).

 

[Chef]

duck:
1981 G&L
1972 P

 

[lowfreq33]

Just realized none of my basses have fret markers. One has a single inlay at the 12th fret.

 

[darkstorm]

If your going to have fret lines dont do dot position markers to, since they would need to be positioned at the fretlines for fretless.

 

[fretlessguy]

To the OP:
What are you comfortable with? I should say go with that. Despite what has been debated, pondered, discussed and cussed for this thread, it's your money and you get what you want and pay for.
I have fretlesses with lines and without. And, although I prefer unlined boards because of their "cool" factor, I also own two with lined fingerboards (soon to be three with my new Kala fretless U Bass that's on the way) and that's really okay with me.
I am for what ever helps you to learn. The fretless is such a neat instrument that if you need them to play, then by all means go with the lined. If not, then go unlined. Do what is best for you. Regardless which you go with, side dots are always a good reference point in case you get a little off with intonation.
There are no fretless police and it's not against the law to have lines or side marker dots either one.
Have fun with your new fretless when you get it.

 

[mcnach]

Thanks; it's a 1972.
It's a twin to my 72 fretted P, which has a black guard like yours!

Extra yum then

 

[bryan gibson]

FWIW, I bought a cheapo Kramer fretless in 2001. I was gigging pretty heavily at the time and thought that the lines would help me adjust more quickly. About ten minutes into the first gig, I noticed that I couldn't see the front of the neck anyway and that I was happily/obliviously doing fairly well with only the occasional peek at the side dots. Long story short, don't sweat it too much, and if you're payin' for the thing then get what makes you happy

 

[spade2you]

Ok, we'll s'plain it to ya! Lines on the fretboard are "training wheels" because it gives you a reference point for each note on every string. When I was a fretless noob, I started on a lined fretless. It helped quite a bit for a while. Mostly because there is a reference for EVERY note (side dots are only every so many notes and you have to estimate in between) and especially because as you play up the neck you'll find that you have this tendency to estimate positions at an angle to perpendicular across the neck which throws your intonation off on high strings. The lines says Hey, THIS is perpendicular, learn it! And you do.

But the idea that side dots are "training wheels" is a bit off. The reference to "unmarked" instruments (I presume you mean like cello and upright bass) being "real" does not mean that side markers are "training wheels". If you've ever studied upright bass you'll know that reference points on that instrument have been developed through the years as a series of "hand positions". These work quite well to get your bearings on the neck. A bass guitar on the other hand is not only a much newer instrument with less refined techinques being developed, but also has a (relatively) longer neck with few landmarks on it to get your bearings. Hence the side dots (which is really all you see when you are standing up anyway) serve the same purpose as the "positions" on an upright giving you bearings on notes BEFORE you play them and your ears kick in.

Of course, I was sorry later I got a lined bass because I discovered that people in the audience (and even many fellow musicians) don't notice it's a fretless. Which is why I love the LOOK of a blank neck (except for side dots etc.). It just screams 'fretless'! But then a number of my basses are lined fretless because I bought them used and they came that way. And my G&L L-2500 lined fretless is just TOO COOL not to play because it has a few lines!

OK?

I'm glad someone else agrees that side dots aren't necessary due to a lack of practicing.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I only play fretless basses w/out lines & with side dots on the note. Frankly ,I don't use the dots very much & if there were dots on the fingerboard I wouldn't ever see them. Some folks say they need the lines, but in my mind those people aren't really listening the way they should. Since I often sing lead, playing the bass in tune seems almost impossible not to do. Realistically it took me about 2-3 weeks to get where I could play my gig on fretless. Looking is not near as important as listening.

 

[atom1962]

i have a real nice Fender Jazz fretlees maple, and i put lines in it, i regret it now, should have just put dots instead of fretlines....it was done real well, but ....i wish just did the dots..

 

[trkelley]

i just defretted an old Harmony bass & filled the lines with putty, stained the whole thing black. drilled some tiny side dots where i wanted them (I prefer 2-5-7-9-12), a tiny dab of gold paint in each drill mark and there ya go. Nice for reference, but the ear is the main thing.