Unlined fretless?

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I've never seen any in any store.
I see!CUSTOM SHOP.
Not available in any store.Common "Joe" off the street cannot try one out.

Well, not unless he gets lucky and finds one used, or strikes it rich (or saves his pennies) to order one.

 

[neckdive]

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.

Fender still sells the unlined Tony Franklin.

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[Nephilymbass]

I've played lined and unlined fretlesses. Lined fender And ibanez, unlined warwick and roscoe. I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Fender still sells the unlined Tony Franklin.

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But you may or may not prefer it's styling.

 

[neckdive]

But you may or may not prefer it's styling.

Indeed, but that's a separate issue. I was responding to your false assertion that Fender didn't make unlined fretless basses.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Indeed, but that's a separate issue. I was responding to your false assertion that Fender didn't make unlined fretless basses.

But you see,it's not a common feature to any other fretless Fenders basses sold in the stores.
You'd have to special order it.IF they'd allow that at all.

 

[neckdive]

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

Both of the statements are factually incorrect.

But you see,it's not a common feature to any other fretless Fenders basses sold in the stores.
You'd have to special order it.IF they'd allow that at all.

Just because you have never seen one of these in a store, it doesn't follow that Fender doesn't make them which was my original point.

 

[CGremlin]

My first fretless was lined, and my current one is unlined. I prefer the look of an unlined fretboard, but to me it's really six of one, half dozen of the other - your ears should be doing the work in either case. With practice, eventually it will get to be second nature, kinda like typing on the computer without looking at the keyboard.

 

[tfer]

I prefer the clean look of an unlined fretless, but I've owned both in the past, and found that I never even looked at at the lines on the fingerboard. Side marker dots are the only guide that I ever found useful.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...it will get to be second nature, kinda like typing on the computer without looking at the keyboard.

You can do that?

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

My problem with lined fretless basses is that when I am singing I look at the side dots for reference. If I have to look at the dot and then go up to the fret line above it.....that takes too much time and is confusing. If they would put the dots ON the notes it wouldn't be that way. so, I only play unlined fretless basses.

 

[Marcury]

I've played both, currently own both. You eventually need to learn to play with your ears and not your eyes either way.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I'm sure this has come up before but it's a new issue for me.

Over the last few weeks, I've decided to get a fretless bass to add to my collection. I don't think I'll ever become a full time fretless man but I thin the sound of a fretless is amazing and I really think it would be cool to own one. By chance, there is a second hand warwick corv standard fretless for sale in my area at a great price so naturally, I'm thinking of making an offer.

The only thing that has me thinking is that the said bass in an unlined fretless and I was probably going to buy a lined bass. I don't espouse the belief that lined fretless basses are like training basses because after all, Jaco himself used a lined fretless. However, I'm wondering if a lined fretless would be better for someone with limited knowledge of the fretless bass.

On one hand, I'm tempted just to buy the warwick and learn to play it because it looks amazing and I think the unlined look is a little cooler.

I have always preferred unlined. I always found it is easier to play at the dots as opposed to playing at the lines. Something about them just seems too busy to me.

 

[bassbenj]

I prefer the clean look of an unlined fretless, but I've owned both in the past, and found that I never even looked at at the lines on the fingerboard. Side marker dots are the only guide that I ever found useful.

I bought my first fretless (Carvin AC50) with lines with the idea it would help get me started. And it did. In particular the lines are a help in training your muscle memory to play note in a true perpendicular string to string across the neck. This is something that with a fretted bass you can be sloppy about (even though you aren't supposed to be).

However, once you stop practicing seated and start playing standing with a strap all you see is the ends of the lines and dots anyway. Hence basically just the dots are useful. I do prefer the look of unlined fretless and have a few, but my main G&L axe was bought used and the previous owner wanted lines so I play lines. It's not a big deal.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I bought my first fretless (Carvin AC50) with lines with the idea it would help get me started. And it did. In particular the lines are a help in training your muscle memory to play note in a true perpendicular string to string across the neck. This is something that with a fretted bass you can be sloppy about (even though you aren't supposed to be).

However, once you stop practicing seated and start playing standing with a strap all you see is the ends of the lines and dots anyway. Hence basically just the dots are useful. I do prefer the look of unlined fretless and have a few, but my main G&L axe was bought used and the previous owner wanted lines so I play lines. It's not a big deal.

Really good points...