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Why the hate towards lined fretless?

#202
Real men play without side dots too. Side dots are for wimps:spit:

I mean come on; really, what is the difference between side dots on unlined boards and fret lines? They're in the same place. Visual marks in the same place, only difference is whether your critics can see them.

Below the 12th fret, I use the side marks (line ends or dots, take your pick) and above the 12th fret, I'm looking at the lines. I must be schizo. Maybe that's my problem.:D
 
#205
My Yamaha fretless has lines, but it was an uber-awesome deal (a 270F w/Lollar pickups installed) and sounds great. I didn't really think of the lines being pro or con, I like them there but I would've bought it whether it did or didn't have lines. Didn't realize it turned into such a discussion, but use what you like ultimately!
 
#206
Lines for me, thank you! I play upright and fretted electric 99% of the time, so I just need those lines on my electric fretless.

I once heard Gary Willis say that he could play in tune with his eyes closed now - but it had taken like 10 years to get there. And he plays fretless exclusively (and is probably some kind of practicing monster as well - which I am definitely not ;-).

So, IMO, unless you are an electric fretless player only, go for the lines.

(BTW, the worst thing I have ever tried on a FL was that my current TRB5-II which I bought pre-owned had been treated with ebony lines on a rosewood board... The lines were very, very subtle, and unless you playd in broad daylight they were practically invisible. Now, the worst part is that the side dots were placed BETWEEN the lines, so you could not use them to navigate after at all. I had the ebony lines replaced with maple and also the fretboard got 10-15 layers of super hard nitro lacquer. The result? The nicest 5-string fretless I have ever playd :-)
 
#207
I'm not much of fretless player, but I can't play without lines (or dots :hiding:).

Quite simply, I have more of a photographic memory than an 'audio' one and if I have to start playing a bassline that I haven't practiced very much, I need that mental 'map' of the fretboard to get me started. If I'm left staring at a blank piece of ebony, well ... that's an accurate reflection of what's likely to be going through my mind - nothing :(!

Even on fretted basses, sometimes I can't actually remember how a bassline sounds until I actually hit the first two or three notes (from photo/muscle memory) and then I'm off and running :hyper:. Am I alone in this :hmm: ?
 
#209
Lines get me in the ballpark if I've momentarilly spaced out or am making a big position change. Dots would do the same I guess, but things happen fast and my vision bites. If a fretless player of either type isn't relying on his ears for the final say, then he must sound like cr@p. I have lines and I'm sticking with 'em.
 
#210
I play upright bass but my three fretless basses have lines. I'm also a singer and discovered on upright that sometimes my singing leads my playing so that if I sing sharp, I will begin to play sharp. I don't have that problem with lined fretless basses.

Am I cheating?

Gale

F-bass_2.jpg
 
#212
To me the problem is (based off experience teaching fretles players) is that they tend to rely on the lines more than their ear. "My finger is on the line...I must be in tune". I don't think it is "snobery" at all. I think it is preference more than anything. I do however support anyone playing fretless if they have lines or not. I play fretless on anything that does NOT requier a thumb. It's not just for jazz to me. Tony Franklin taught me that in the 80's
 
#213
I own both lined and unlined. My Rob Allen Deep 4 is lined, my 70s P is not. My new Rob Allen will be unlined. For me, looks aside, it's more about scale and feel. My '78 fretless P neck is nearly an exact clone of my fretted '78, so I really don't have to think much when I'm playing. My RA is a bit longer, so I have to think a bit more. Same could be said when I had the Takamine TB10 - the scale length had me a bit tripped up, not lined/unlined. My first fretless (a G&L L-2000) was unlined. My old (and long since gone) MusicMan StingRay was lined. My new RA will be 34" scale like my Ps ... and unlined.

Lines can be somewhat arbitrary, since your bass' setup will affect where you intonate the note. You still need to develop an ear to make sure you're playing in tune; lines won't compensate for everything.
 
#214
Gale... very sweet indeed


gbarchus said:
I play upright bass but my three fretless basses have lines. I'm also a singer and discovered on upright that sometimes my singing leads my playing so that if I sing sharp, I will begin to play sharp. I don't have that problem with lined fretless basses.

Am I cheating?

Gale

F-bass_2.jpg
Click to expand...
 
#215
line6man said:
:confused:
Click to expand...
I was being sarcastic.
Point was whether you are using the line ends or side dots, they are both essentially the same thing. You practically can not see the front of the fingerboard in the money positions down low when you are on stage anyway. So, either marking is essentially the same thing down there. Since most bass playing gets done in the lower positions, it seems really silly to me to debate the different marking systems with such vigor. Point is all fretless bass guitar players use visual references. Think not? Try putting electrical tape over your side dots before the next big gig and see how comfortable you feel. Unless you are playing for the Portsmouth Sinfonia, I suspect you'll be ripping that tape off in a hurry.
As I've said before, use the marking system that helps you play the best you can, but please be gracious in accepting the fact that other players use different marking systems. Edgar Meyer has dots on the fingerboard of his Gabrielli up in the solo positions. That's what works for him. Use what works for you.
 
#216
Who cranes their neck around to see the fretboard anyway? If your bass was converted from a fretted and they filled in the slots, fine. Learning string bass the teacher only let us get away with taped lines on the 'board for so long then we had to learn to feel it and hear it. That rite of passage probably sticks with you. I know I looked specifically for an unlined when I bought mine.
 

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