I'm a fiddle player learning fretless - do I need lines?

[Maxra]

Hi: I been playing fiddle long enough that I'm very accustomed to listening to whether my neck fingers are in the correct place. However I'm not use to listening to tuning on bass frequencies. I currently have a fretted and a fretless acoustic bass with just dots, different makes but same 32" scale length. I'm considering going fretless only, 'cos I prefer the sound and feel. Is that a good idea, and if I do, would I want to replace the fretted one with an unmarked (or dots only) neck, or one with lines on? Thanks, Max

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Hi: I been playing fiddle long enough that I'm very accustomed to listening to whether my neck fingers are in the correct place. However I'm not use to listening to tuning on bass frequencies. I currently have a fretted and a fretless acoustic bass with just dots, different makes but same 32" scale length. I'm considering going fretless only, 'cos I prefer the sound and feel. Is that a good idea, and if I do, would I want to replace the fretted one with an unmarked (or dots only) neck, or one with lines on? Thanks, Max

Whether going fretless only is a good idea is something only you can answer. I say sure! But why not keep a fretted around? Re. the lines/no lines question, that's personal too. I think it really depends on which bass you sound best on. One with lines? One with side dots where the frets would be? One with small marker lines where the frets would be and dots where they'd be on a fretted bass? There might be a hundred people on every side saying this or that is best. I think what's best is the bass you think you sound best (i.e. most consistently in tune) on. Me? I love lines, but practice with eyes closed alot, and rarely look right at the fingerboard. I do like having the lines up on the edge of the board though. Really, find a bass you love and just go for it. No one else really knows what will work for you. But being a fiddle player you have a great head start.

 

[smeet]

I think a lined fretless is best. I played violin for 20 years, and it’s different. Violin is difficult to play in tune, but it’s VERY easy to hear when you are out of tune. Low frequencies are harder to distinguish, and a solid body instrument presents new problems. The sound doesn’t come from the instrument, it comes from speakers that may be far away. Often you may not be able to hear yourself well onstage.

 

[johnh89]

I vote no lines or dots . But it really doesnt matter if you dont look at them . They all sound the same .

 

[roffe]

I’d go unlined if I had the choice. I don’t think it matters that much really, you’ll get used to whatever you choose if you play it enough. I just think unlined looks better.

 

[GretschWretch]

I vote unlined with side dots, because to me lines are distracting and introduce clutter. Also there is this: most solid-body bass bridges intonate at a slant, and on a fretless it would be possible to intonate just to lines, which on some notes would make the lines inaccurate. If you can muscle memory the accurate note positions on a fiddle, you don't need lines on a fretless bass.