Why are lined Fretless even a thing?

[MonetBass]

My favorite (living) fretless player, Mark Egan, plays only lined fretless, and notice how he looks at the board ALL THE TIME, and consequently, plays in tune.

I would argue he is looking at the side of the fingerboard, where there are markers. This is what I do as well. Coming from the DB side where I started, any visual cues I used were variations in the wood grain on the side/back of the neck; what I called my "cheat marks".

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I would argue he is looking at the side of the fingerboard, where there are markers. This is what I do as well. Coming from the DB side where I started, any visual cues I used were variations in the wood grain on the side/back of the neck; what I called my "cheat marks".

If so, why don't all his basses just have fretboard edge markers? He's a sponsored Artist, I imagine he could have had Pedulla build anything he wanted. Personally, I don't have any trouble seeing the lines, and I'm not craning my neck to see them. I don't get why people say they can't see them, unless maybe you sling the bass really low? You can see Jaco looking at his quite clearly on most of the videos on YT.

 

[bucephylus]

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