Old topic, new thread.... FRETLESS: Lines? No Lines? Compromise? Innovate? VOTE!!

[tfer]

I prefer unlined, but lined is no big deal for me. The deal breaker is the side dots which for me HAVE to be right at the fret, not in between. I also like to have a side dot at the first fret. View attachment 886885

Wow. An unlined, left handed fretless bass!

You REALLY like making things difficult!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Wow. An unlined, left handed fretless bass!

You REALLY like making things difficult!

Probably plays it with his toes too!!!

 

[39-Bassist]

I personally would love to have a fretless neck with just a side dot for each fret. It would help me focus on better hand positioning once I get past the 9th fret. but that is just me....
I prefer no lines....and Ebony fretboard too

 

[eekamike]

I don't play fretless, but I've recently been fretless shopping, as I do plan on buying one and learning. From what I've tried, the Ibanez Portamento had the best compromise with side dots and side lines, no lines on the fretboard. Again, I don't play fretless, but as someone shopping around, that style would be my ideal. IMO this compromise is better than the partially lined route.

 

[BeardedFrog]

I like unlined for an actual practical reason. I live in a very hot dry climate, and I've found that line material on lined basses may not react the same to the lack of humidity as the other wood. I own a lined fretless right now that buzzes in several places because the lines now stick out above the fingerboard.

I have no objection to fret markers along the top of the neck, but after my current experience I don't want them on the playing surface again.

 

[Stewie]

Gotta look like this. If you are playing the bass and not a contortionist, you can't see the lines anyhoo.

 

[Gaolee]

Given the choice, it would have no lines and side dots where the frets would have been. But, it's not a perfect world, so I have a de-fretted Thunderbird with walnut strips where the frets used to be and dots where they shouldn't be on a fretless. That means the markings are where you don't want them and you can't see the lines very well at all. Why do things the easy way? I'm used to it now, but doing it over again, I would remove the dots entirely, put the walnut strips in for the frets, and then install dots at the appropriate places. As it is, it looks a little weird, but it works just fine. There's always some guy (always a guy) in the audience who figures out that a fretless Thunderbird is an oddity and wants to know about it. His girlfriend (assuming he has one) is always unimpressed.

I can't see the fretboard/fingerboard while playing anyway.

 

[pablomigraine]

I prefer unlined, but lined is no big deal for me. The deal breaker is the side dots which for me HAVE to be right at the fret, not in between. I also like to have a side dot at the first fret. View attachment 886885

Yeah I've never understood builders / brands who place side dots center of the range on a fretless vs right at the fret. Very frustrating in practical use.

I personally would love to have a fretless neck with just a side dot for each fret. It would help me focus on better hand positioning once I get past the 9th fret. but that is just me....
I prefer no lines....and Ebony fretboard too

Different varieties of Ebony produce some amazing results it's true! Lately it seems like a lot of manufacturers are offering some variety of very hard finish on their fretless basses, epoxy or some variety of poly.... which I guess might then make the choice of fretboard wood mostly aesthetic....

 

[Marial]

I like the look of unlined but prefer lined. Why would a manufacturer write off a segment of the market by 8offering only one option? Seems self-defeating to me.

Edited to add, since it's come up here and in similar threads, I must be a freak because I can see the fingerboard whether I'm standing or sitting, gigging or playing at home.

 

[Heisenbass]

I can't see the fretboard/fingerboard while playing anyway.

This 100%. In a gigging situation the only thing you see is the side markers. So no lines on my bass SVP! Apart from that, an unlined fingerboard looks way cooler. Quarter fret lines seem to me like the lamest of all possible compromises. A further level of complication with no practical use.

Don't get me wrong I'm not looking down on anyone using fret lines if it makes life easier for them, I just get along without pretty well.

 

[lfmn16]

I prefer people make their own decision based on trying both rather than relying on silly polls started for reasons that can't be given ... ooo mysterious!

I can't vote but I can't tell you why.

 

[Gaolee]

When the side markers are in the wrong place, you just get used to feeling hand position and listening carefully. It's probably good practice, but it meant a whole lot of work getting intonation nailed down.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I have one of each: unlined '79 MusicMan Sabre (epoxied rosewood) and a lined Ibanez GWB1005 (ebonol)

 

[Les Ismoor]

 

[bobyoung53]

I've always played unlined, either a P bass or a Rick FL. I myself like the dots on the binding at 3,5,7 pos like the Fenders etc. The Ricks used to have a dot at every note on the binding which is also OK except when you jump up the neck. Quarter way across wouldn't be as distracting as lines all the way across, I could live with that but the Fender style is the best to me. This is pretty obvious but the dots have to be right on the note not like the new Ricks which came out with them them between the notes which was really a bad idea except maybe they saved a few bucks using fretted binding on a fretless bass. One last thing is who wants to have to look at the fretboard all night to be able to play in tune?

 

[markoc]

I played lined basses for years until I got an unlined neck. Love the look and had no problems with the transition.

Edit: A dot at the first "fret" would be helpful on occasion.

 

[Basically Bob]

My first fretless was a Godin A4 with markers on the side (left side in photo). When I had a custom fretless made I used the same style markers & I certainly have no regrets.

 

[bezo420]

Lined. I find the idea of making my life slightly more difficult just to show off to any other bassists in the audience pretty silly.

Blank planks just look great to me. Personally, I never look at my fretboard when I play. It doesn't matter what's on the fretboard because I only use the side dots anyways.

The side markers are more important than the fretboard. The lines where the frets are supposed to be can be along the top of the neck, but not on the fretboard. I recently played an Ibanez like this. That is the only visual reference I use. I'm okay with only dots on three, five, seven, etc., as long as the dots are on the spots.

And, if you're going to play fretless, be proud. Rock the blank plank.

 

[Matthew_84]

I use to prefer unlined for the looks, but then realized for large shifts it was easier to be accurate right away with lines...

I know I could re-adjust if I heard I was off, but I hated playing like that, as I always wanted to be accurate at the beginning of the note, and then add vibrato as I felt like it, which wasn't often.

I mainly played fretless for the nice slides and vocal-like quality of the sound from a fretless with a hard, protected board with rounds.

I don't own a fretless now, because I'm broke, but my next one will be lined.

 

[Jay2U]

No lines, no nothing. Use autotune.
Just kiddin'. Markers on the side are a neat compromise.