Unlined or Lined: Irrelevant?

[Stewie]

And you never tried lines? You can lead a horse to water...

Yup, I'll go spend money on another bass so I can have lines. I don't spend time at gigs leaning forward to see the fingerboard on any of my basses, fretted or fretless. Why don't you play what you like and not judge others because they like different things. That is why they make vanilla AND chocolate ice cream.

If someone asks why I like unlined I answer. Since I haven't played a lined one, I don't comment on them, only what I know works for me.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Isnt it analogous to training wheels or not?
Training wheels that you never take off

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I am a grumpy old upright player from wayback. I don't need lines. But they sure are nice.

Couple years ago, I had Alembic do me a Custom build with what they call "Sidelines". When viewed from the front, the bass appears to be an unlined fretless, but from the players perspective, it has a bright white (white holly, if you're wood-curious) line at all 24 non-frets. It also has a bronze marker at the usual intervals. Had I wanted them, LEDs were an option.

 

[Lagado]

Isnt it analogous to training wheels or not?
Training wheels that you never take off

Only a child would think like that though.

 

[lfmn16]

Isnt it analogous to training wheels or not?
Training wheels that you never take off

No, it’s not.

 

[Lagado]

Yup, I'll go spend money on another bass so I can have lines. I don't spend time at gigs leaning forward to see the fingerboard on any of my basses, fretted or fretless. Why don't you play what you like and not judge others because they like different things. That is why they make vanilla AND chocolate ice cream.

If someone asks why I like unlined I answer. Since I haven't played a lined one, I don't comment on them, only what I know works for me.

If you haven't played a lined fretless, what have you compared against? How do you know it doesn't work for you if you haven't tried it? How would you?

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Only a child would think like that though.

nice.
but your signature is on point.

 

[Lagado]

nice.
but your signature is on point.

Yes, it hurts doesn't it.

 

[mmon77]

Personally, I've played both. I can tell you that I don't need lines. They make no difference whatsoever. None at all. If that makes me an "unlined snob", or a purist, then so be it.

I'm not telling you what you need in order to play in tune. You can figure that out on your own. Or just believe that you need lines because Jaco had them.

 

[Medicine Man]

Ever play fretless on a dark stage? Or with huge spotlights blasting in your face? Lines or not really doesn't matter.

 

[IamGroot]

Edgar Meyer, one of the worlds top concert double bass players, has fret markers on the high end of his double bass. If you are familiar with his work, he makes huge fast position shifts.

Just Saying....

 

[Neil Folkard]

Ever play fretless on a dark stage? Or with huge spotlights blasting in your face? Lines or not really doesn't matter.

Thankfully, this has not happened to me yet. At best, it would be an inconvenience. At worst...train wreck.

 

[Lagado]

I'm not telling you what you need in order to play in tune. You can figure that out on your own. Or just believe that you need lines because Jaco had them.

Plus the countless others that do. Usually the ones with better intonation. I wonder why that is?

 

[ad9000]

I really only play fretless when asked to on recording sessions. In those situations I can't get away with fudging intonation, and lines are essential for me since I generally don't practice fretless. The bass I have currently is a Fender/Warmoth parts Jazz Bass (with fretless conversion by Mo's Shop) that really sings. Every time I do pick it up I think that I should play it more, but unfortunately there are only so many hours in the day.

 

[Medicine Man]

Thankfully, this has not happened to me yet. At best, it would be an inconvenience. At worst...train wreck.

The first time it happened was a humbling experience. My intonation was not as perfect as I would have liked, and I realized I needed less dependance on side lines.

 

[Turnaround]

If you don’t have lines you won’t be able to ignore them.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a grumpy old upright player from wayback. I don't need lines. But they sure are nice.

Couple years ago, I had Alembic do me a Custom build with what they call "Sidelines". When viewed from the front, the bass appears to be an unlined fretless, but from the players perspective, it has a bright white (white holly, if you're wood-curious) line at all 24 non-frets. It also has a bronze marker at the usual intervals. Had I wanted them, LEDs were an option.

View attachment 3739877

View attachment 3739878

I played a Godin with that set up. I like it a lot.

 

[JRA]

If you don’t have lines you won’t be able to ignore them.

touché!

 

[mmon77]

Plus the countless others that do. Usually the ones with better intonation. I wonder why that is?

Probably because that's what they like, or they need.

Steve DiGiorgio plays some unlined, and so does Pino. Do they have poor intonation?

Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal plays an unlined fretless guitar, and shreds the crap out of it. At almost 10" shorter scale than a 34" scale bass, intonation has to be even that much more precise. He does fine.

It's fine if you need lines. Just stop telling everyone else that they do.

 

[IamGroot]

[/Quote] There is a reason most upright players always sound just slightly out of tune, all the time: Because they are. which is why Leo Fender invented the “Precision” bass. It’s an aesthetic choice with consequences for playing in tune..[/QUOTE]

The top upright players I know play in tune ALL the time. The secret is good technique which includes learning to to drop in and micropolish every note. Same thing goes for top electric fretless players - they record all day on a fretless, but dont let it show until its called for.