[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1329741356' post='1546513']
Fret lines make a big difference to me as someone who looks at what their playing - check out Jaco on youtube and you will see he spends most of his time peering at his lined fingerboard.
If you don't look, or if you are blind it makes no difference, but if you use your eyes, why not have the lines?
I disagree with the stabiliser analogy and I don't see how fret lines can be misleading or distracting, particularly if you are used to a fretted bass.
I've never heard of anyone selling a lined fretless bass in favour of an unlined one because they found it distracting.
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Ok, then I will be the first person then that sold their lined fretless bass in favour of an unlined one because they found it distracting. Quoting Star Wars, your eyes can decieve you as I have yet to find a lined fretless bass where all the lines are in the correct place. I find using muscle memory, using my ear and learning the characteristics of the fretboard far more important than relying on the lines to tell me where to fret. Knowing your fretboard is so important, more rewarding and frankly easier than having to learn how far to the left or right or on the line on a lined neck is to be accurate.