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Unlined fretless?

#61
bholder said:
If one wants "features" to locate positions, that's easy enough to do as well. Again, tape works for me...
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MD said:
I did this with elec tape at one time; what a PITA. Found my tuner and a sharpie was a no muss/fuss process and done in a fraction of the time.
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True - I did that on my white SX unlined fretless (which came with no side markings of any kind), very quick and easy. Unfortunately, sharpies aren't anywhere near permanent on a gloss poly finish - guess I should sand or scotchbrite it a bit first before trying again. Or just leave the masking tape on... :D
 
#62
Every fretless I've owned has had no lines, but has side dot markers which is where your fingers go. Like others have said, it's about your ears with fretless, so lines don't really make any difference to me. Plus, the audience knows you're playing a fretless when there are no lines. I like that part! :D
 
#65
spade2you said:
Are you putting tape on the back of the neck? If you're playing a wide 5 or 6 string bass, your thumb will be behind the neck in the classical position since thumb over technique doesn't work.
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No, on the top side for visual refs, bottom side for feel, both near (or on) the side of the fingerboard. I'm generally not a classical or any other specific position kind of guy, my thumb position moves all over depending on what feels good (or bad) at the moment. I can't really use a single position continually, or I get the carpal tunnel cramp and numbness issues. Even on a 6, I'll go "thumb over" sometimes when playing on the high strings, but yeah, I don't have particularly long fingers by any means.
 
#69
I went to buy a beautiful, barely used Carvin 5 string and the guy also had a lined Fretless 5 string (with chambering and a pre-amp). The tone on this Fretless was amazing through my amp, so I picked it up. I had borrowed a lined (de-fretted) 5 string, with vary narrow string spacing, and found it tough to play properly. This Fretless I bought has better string spacing and I find it much easier to play. Thankfully not much of an adjustment at all from playing fretted.
 
#70
I have 4 fretless basses and each one has a different slant to it. 1.) Unlined maple board jazz bass, no side dots. 2.) Unlined ebonal board P bass, side dots. 3.) Notched rosewood board PJ bass, side dots 4.) Ric 4001 dot neck without lines, lots of side dots (one for each fret). Easiest to play is the notched Hohner, because you can feel exactly where the fret should be, even though you have to look closely at the neck to see it. Next would be the side dot P, although there aren't lines, the side dots give a point of reference. The others have either too much information (the Ric) which is the epitome of confusion with a seemingly endless stream of dots, or not enough (the jazz) which is like playing a plain piece of wood. Their problems are actually the same because they don't fulfill the purpose they were designed for: marking the fingerboard. If you have a plain fingerboard, look for a curve in the grain pattern, a contrasting figuring or a birdseye. These can help. Lines are okay, but you may fall into the habit of playing in front of the lines like you would if they were frets and you'll always be flat. (Not to be confused with Bb.) Play right on top of the line. Then when you pick up your fretted bass, you'll sound terrible because you'll be playing it the same way. Hope this helps.
 
#71
bholder said:
Or hobby modelling pinstriping tape (like used on model cars and RC stuff). That's what use, works for me. I take a piece of masking tape, slap it on the side of a fretted bass of the same scale, mark the spots, transfer to the unlined fretless (positioning the masking tape a bit further from the top of the fingerboard) and then just put the tape on. Hardest part of it is handling the little pieces of tape and getting them cut to the same length. :)
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My fourth grade violin teacher put masking tape on the fingerboard to show where the positions were. FYI violins, double basses and cellos don't have fret lines or side dots.
 
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#73
oldfretless said:
Foderafeb14005_zpsb666ce14.jpg


A nice pair.
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Can you please enlighten us on the P bass controls?
 
#74
Other than the pure aesthetics, I see no downside, and lots of upsides to lined fretless. Plenty of great players on both sides of that fence, so it really comes down to personal preference. I find them really helpful to accurate intonation, particularly with double-stops. I actually like how they look better than an unlined board, but that's just my taste. I have a Warmouth parts Jazz with a chocolate brown ebony fingerboard and maple fretlines, love how it looks.
 
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#76
Ken J said:
Can you please enlighten us on the P bass controls?
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P bass bought new in 76. Needed more bottom, so dad helped me route the body (I was 19) for a Dimarzio EBO style pickup. Wired it stereo, so I could use the same cord switching between the P and a 4001. Still have them, and that P is a pretty good sounding bass. So is the Fodera. Controls are V & T for each pickup.
 
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#78
If you walk into a store,you'll find that you don't have much of a choice.
Bass makers don't make or sell a fretless version of every bass that they make.Much less an unlined fretless version.

Fender makes a lined fretless,but no unlined.Warwick makes unlined,but no lined fretlesses.

You can buy one of the few brands that do make an unlined fretless.But you may or may not prefer it's styling or sound. You could also have a Luthier remove the fretted fingerboard and replace it with an unlined fingerboard.But that is very expensive.

As a result,many bass players have the fretted bass of THEIR choice defretted and have the fret slots filled with whatever material they choose.Which is far less costly and it's relatively easy to do yourself.So personally, I chose to defret a fretted Tune TWB63 and fill the slots with styrene plastic.
 

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