Friggin virus...place is flooded with newbs with nothing to do
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Why are lined Fretless even a thing?
- Thread starter citizenchris099
- Start date
You’d think people like ourselves would be off this thing and practice am I right? We’re no different
Get off my lawnYou’d think people like ourselves would be off this thing and practice am I right? We’re no different
I guess it's because some people do it differently... "Viva La Diffreance".....
This one is unlined... LOL
This one is unlined... LOL
Chef
In Memoriam
Lined fretless: I blame Jaco, for ripping his frets out and filling them with lighter material... ;--)
I have a Jaco tribute, it's a fine bass.
All my other fretli have been no lines, 3/5/7/9/12 etc dots where the frets would be.
Frankly I find the dots an easier "at a glance visual reference."
I have a Jaco tribute, it's a fine bass.
All my other fretli have been no lines, 3/5/7/9/12 etc dots where the frets would be.
Frankly I find the dots an easier "at a glance visual reference."
When practicing it can be beneficial to see where your hand is on the fretboard and sync that with your ear to learn where to “fret” the notes and stay in tune, after a while you get good enough not to need it, but it can be a very good practice tool. I think it looks pretty good too!
Their purpose is to fool the band leader into thinking you are playing fretted.
I split the difference. My fretless has side dots and lines that creep a bit over the edge of the fingerboard. They extend down from the B string side in the lower register and up from under the G string in the upper register
To me it's good to have a visual reference when you want or need it.
But what I've found over the years is a lot of players that are learning fretless that don't have their bass set up/intonated properly. If that's the case the lines are doing you a disservice by telling you the correct pitch is in a place that it isn't.
It's an issue for unlined fretless as well but I've found that with unlined there's more focus on identifying the correct note using your ears because you have less of a reference.
In general I think a well intonated, lined fretless is best for building muscle memory and getting your intonation together quickly.
To me it's good to have a visual reference when you want or need it.
But what I've found over the years is a lot of players that are learning fretless that don't have their bass set up/intonated properly. If that's the case the lines are doing you a disservice by telling you the correct pitch is in a place that it isn't.
It's an issue for unlined fretless as well but I've found that with unlined there's more focus on identifying the correct note using your ears because you have less of a reference.
In general I think a well intonated, lined fretless is best for building muscle memory and getting your intonation together quickly.
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LED's in the fret board ( or even on the side ) are something I don't get. Who wants a flashback while trying to play? Lines? I stay away or ignore them. On the fretboard.
Had a no line fretless. Had to put a dot of red nail polish for the flat key spots. No one ever mentioned it. IMO what you and your bass do stays between the two of you.
Look close and you'll see lines on Jaco's fretboard where he removed the frets and filled in the gap. And yes, he's looking at his fingering. If it's good enough for him it's more than good enough for me.
You somehow are under the impression that most lined fretlesses are bought from a store.
A great deal of lined fretlesses are defretted.
Which mean the one removing the frets put in contrasting wood inlays.
There aren't too many regular "Joe's" putting lines on unlined fingerboards.
Many DO look at the fingerboard.
Not just the side dots.
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Thank you!
It’s an ‘04 Rickenbacker 4004, Cheyenne ii model.
I’ve owned it since about 2008,and have made a lot of modifications to it.
Short enough that I can glance down every so often and see the score but not long enough to upset anyone, the best of both worlds.
For that one day when the Band Leader goes off about how much he hates fretless bass and you grin at them then let them feel your board.
"Yup, been playing this bass every day since I joined your band."
FRETLESS IN DISGUISE!
"Yup, been playing this bass every day since I joined your band."
FRETLESS IN DISGUISE!
Position markers on the side of the neck make sense - they help you find where you’re going, especially with big jumps. Lines on the front of your fingerboard are really only visible if you’re hunched over - those make absolutely no sense to me.
It is routine for children to have tape marking the positions on orchestral strings. I forbid that to my son the cello player, but I am one of the few.
My fretless is lined; I would have preferred unlined, but that’s what was available at a reasonable price. I have found it handy when I’m off and need to correct it quickly. My new build will have shell decoration on the fingerboard Positionen to serve as markers but less obvious than lines.
