Lined fretless: Make me feel better please!

[TrevorOfDoom]

I have an odd reason for preferring a lined fretless:
So when I bring it on gigs, the BL doesn't know that it's fretless.
I of course choose my fretless gigs wisely, but there's a lot of flack about fretless basses that'll get flung around by some bandleaders. So the lines make 'em think it's fretted, and they stop listening to me as soon as we start playing, so it's all good.
I still play with my ears and not my eyes, I can get all the mwah I want (or no mwah at all, if I don't want), and nobody says anything different.
YMMV

 

[Fletz]

While unlined does look cooler, Id rather sound good than look good.

I REALLY have to rely on the sounding good.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I might also like to add that you don't play fretless because of the way it looks. You play it because of how it sounds. Hence, the whole entire lined vs. unlined argument is irrelevant.

 

[jim777]

I prefer lines but can go without. My incoming STR has lines on the side, and maybe a few MM in on the face of the board. Honestly its more important to be fretless than to have a certain type of fretless, IMHO. The more fretless players we have the more fretless options we'll have

The STR:

 

[Mike Sorr]

Since the mid 80s I've always owned at least one fretless, and they have always been lined. I'd be lost without them and after all these years still can't wrap my mind around how anyone keeps good intonation on an unlined fretless.

 

[AdamRoberts]

Gary Willis
Hadrien Feraud

Alain Caron* (side position with dot markers)

Play with the best intonation you can.

I find I play with better intonation on a lined fretless. I've owned both.

 

[Shadoof]

I just got my first fretless, a lined MIM Jazz. I didn't want to go unlined because I felt that having the "training wheels" would keep me from getting frustrated when I'm really interested in exploring the tonality and capabilities of the instrument. So instead of struggling with getting my intonation perfect I'm already about 90% there with my usual playing ability and I can explore the "mwah" with a bit more abandon.

But yeah, as several have already pointed out...if anyone gives you grief about it: Jaco is the answer.

 

[morgansterne]

I just got my first fretless last week, a cheapo. Used it for two songs at the last band rehearsal and it sounded ok. I'm considering chalking in about the first three fretlines on the thing because I find it difficult to hit those notes accurately. So if anyone gives you grief about it, you can mention this random guy on the internet who has only the first three lines marked on the fretboard and joke about how uncool he is.
You're welcome.

 

[Baird6869]

I have an odd reason for preferring a lined fretless:
So when I bring it on gigs, the BL doesn't know that it's fretless.
I of course choose my fretless gigs wisely, but there's a lot of flack about fretless basses that'll get flung around by some bandleaders. So the lines make 'em think it's fretted, and they stop listening to me as soon as we start playing, so it's all good.

Bingo. I played a lined fretless at at least 3 gigs and a half dozen rehersals with my current band over a few weeks and nobody noticed. I do play a fretless like a fretted though.

I prefer lines but can go without. My incoming STR has lines on the side, and maybe a few MM in on the face of the board. Honestly its more important to be fretless than to have a certain type of fretless, IMHO. The more fretless players we have the more fretless options we'll have

The STR:

Very similar to my fretless FBass. It has very light lines in the Diamondwood, but similar side markings and dots. I absolutely love it.

I find it is hard to see lines on the fretboard most of the time on a gig anyways.

 

[john_g]

Said it before and Ill say it again...love the look of no lines, but play lined. NO ONE outside of TB cares!!!

 

[1960jbass]

Lined is the only way I can play fretless, and I don't care if someone has a problem with it. My bass, my rules.

 

[guitarflinger]

Lines??? We don't need no stinking lines!!!

Just kidding I would be playing in the key of H without lines

 

[Geri O]

I have to have lines because I don't play fretless enough to get the technique really down. Line are our friends, line are good. Unless you don't want them. Which is fine, too.

I gotta say, though, I've seen some videos of Pino playing an unlined Music Man and my gosh, his intonation sounds flawless. Anything that's a little off, well, it's so obvious that it's by design, not a fault. Absolutely brilliant playing, that man!

My piano tuner ears had to (and still have to) work hard to get over me playing fretless...

 

[vmabus]

You could always color them in with a Sharpie.

 

[Vlasco]

If Edgar Meyer is fine with dots on his upright, then it certainly isn't a cheat to put lines on a fretless.

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[lposavad]

It's all good.
Enjoy your new baby. Lines & all!

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

I am considering an unlined fretted.....

 

[Neon Blues]

I have always played and loved unlined fretlesses. No ego or macho involved, it just plain looks awesome.

 

[Mytola]

I actually prefer the look of lined fretless to unlined. My first bass was an unlined fretless, and I did play cello a few years before moving over to bass, so I don't have any problem at all playing on an unlined fretless. I just think that fretless bass guitars without lines look like they are missing something. Am I crazy?

 

[JimmyM]

Nice to see that unlined snobbery is pretty much a thing of the past here. Was not always thus. But it always seemed pretty dopey to me to argue against lines when the most popular fretless bassist in the world had lines on his fretless.