Great posts already!
My $0.02 - I used to play a lined fretless, but my comments apply to whether you have lines or not...intonation is obviously key (pun intended!), but much like playing a fretted bass, it's an acquired skill, not one that comes immediately. Lined fretless may be a bit more forgiving, in the sense there's less guesswork involved. Either way playing with bad intonation will stand out like a sore thumb (also pun intended! - whew...I'm on a roll!)
Just because it's an acquired skill doesn't mean you can't do it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it'll make you a better bass player, even if you don't stick with fretless: it forces you to use your ears more.
One thing I learned from an old friend who's actually a cellist - even after he'd been playing for literally 60 years as a paid professional, if he'd go for a while without practicing his intonation was thrown off, even after all these years. From this, I'd suggest you need to regularly practice.
Fretless is truly an expressive instrument!
My $0.02 - I used to play a lined fretless, but my comments apply to whether you have lines or not...intonation is obviously key (pun intended!), but much like playing a fretted bass, it's an acquired skill, not one that comes immediately. Lined fretless may be a bit more forgiving, in the sense there's less guesswork involved. Either way playing with bad intonation will stand out like a sore thumb (also pun intended! - whew...I'm on a roll!)
Just because it's an acquired skill doesn't mean you can't do it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it'll make you a better bass player, even if you don't stick with fretless: it forces you to use your ears more.
One thing I learned from an old friend who's actually a cellist - even after he'd been playing for literally 60 years as a paid professional, if he'd go for a while without practicing his intonation was thrown off, even after all these years. From this, I'd suggest you need to regularly practice.
Fretless is truly an expressive instrument!
