lined or unlined

[unclejane]

Speaking of unlined, here's my new bunny. I ordered it as plain-jane as I possibly could except for the unlined board and the 5-piece neck option. I too love the look of unlined and I actually started fretless on an unlined fingerboard. I also prefer unlined for practical reasons - no inserts to pop out over time and the board itself is slightly stronger without the cuts in it.

LS

 

[standupbassman]

personally (having started on upright) I find the lines don't help very much and they look really tacky. but that's just my opinion

 

[fish slapper]

unlined - the lines confuse me

 

[MD]

From a purely aesthetic POV, for me, it's the blank plank all the way.

 

[Kael]

I am wondering why I find intonation on the violin easier than the
double bass, even though I have played double bass many more years
than I have played violin? This is a sincere question. I do not know the answer.

I don't play violin so this is a complete guess... perhaps there is less shifting positions involved, or the position shifts are close enough together/closer to your face and this makes it feel easier? Like I said, a completely uneducated guess.

I can sympathize with this, but professionally it doesn't seem like an
acceptable situation if a performer can not hear themselves well enough
to access intonation. Furthermore, if one can't hear intonation,
then what if your instrument is out of tune or you are in the
wrong key? Lined or unlined, you are cooked.

Yep. It is completely unacceptable to not be able to hear yourself when playing. The situation does however arise from time to time. At those points I am stuck with a choice being right or being employed. Rather than being fired and risking getting the rep as a prima dona I grit my teeth and do what I can with the lines. I try and ID situations like that and avoid them in the future as much as I can. The lines aren't a guarantee in this situation, but they are certainly an assistance.

note: I am not saying anyone who insists on hearing themself is a prima dona. It is a perfectly reasonable request. Reputations, unfortunately, are not always based upon reasonable criteria. I seek to just avoid the possiblity.

 

[katibass]

i am looking to buy a fretless and wondering if i should by lined or unlined

is lined significantly easier than unlined?

also i want a fiver as well should i get a fretless fiver or save for a fiver later

i personally find lines slightly confusing, because the fingering is often not right on the line but just behind it (at least the one i've played on). if you can get used to that, it might be easier, but i would personally play fretless. intonation can be tough, you have to really listen, but you get used to it (i did, i play upright mostly). plus, (if this matters to you) it looks much cooler to play fretless, and because it's harder, it's more of an accomplishment.

 

[unclejane]

i personally find lines slightly confusing, because the fingering is often not right on the line but just behind it (at least the one i've played on). if you can get used to that, it might be easier, but i would personally play fretless. intonation can be tough, you have to really listen, but you get used to it (i did, i play upright mostly). plus, (if this matters to you) it looks much cooler to play fretless, and because it's harder, it's more of an accomplishment.

Actually I've noticed this varies between rounds and flats. This was the first time I noticed the lines on my L2500 were screwing me up.
It had rounds on it when I bought it, I played it for quite a while with those on it but switched out to a set of Chrome flats to keep from tearing up the fingerboard as well as to deaden up the tone.

Suddenly everything was sharp with the flats and I found I had to intonate further behind the lines than before. I'd gotten used to looking at the lines and it was messing with me pretty bad.

I did the same switch on my L2000 which is unlined and I got used to it pretty much in a couple of days. I could tell I was intonating a little behind where I had been but I was less apt to look and more apt to listen instead, so it was a lot easier....

But rounds do seem to intonate a little closer to the lines than flats, at least on my basses.....
LS

 

[Billnc]

Speaking of unlined, here's my new bunny. I ordered it as plain-jane as I possibly could except for the unlined board and the 5-piece neck option. I too love the look of unlined and I actually started fretless on an unlined fingerboard. I also prefer unlined for practical reasons - no inserts to pop out over time and the board itself is slightly stronger without the cuts in it.

LS

Similar to mine! I love playing it.

 

[ivyman]

hey guys, i got the lined squier, im finding i dont really need the lines any more. i also broke my neck and am in a brace which makes it so i cant look down and see the lines anyway.