Grangur Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I've got a fretless. It's got an unlined neck. The side markers are on the fret-lines. I'm happy with this. Then I saw Scott Device and his "3 Killer points for playing fretless". "Always start using a lined neck" says Scott. Well, Scott learned with Gary Willis. Both of them always play lined necks. So, never mind learning, neither of these guys favour a naked neck. On the other hand, I like Tony Franklin's playing. He talks about the freedom of fretless. He favours the clear line-free neck. I'm thinking of getting a 5 string fretless. I like the Marcus Miller (I think). It has a lined neck. What do you guys here like? Why? If you start with lines do you transition to a clean neck? Thoughts... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Naked. Just because Scott can't play without lines doesn't mean you can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Personally I prefer the look of an unlined fretless. Not spent too much time on a fretless to say which type I prefer to play on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I play both but given the choice I would go with lines. "[i]If lines were OK for Jaco then...[/i]" Just had to get that one in to annoy everyone. I get on OK without lines and you learn where your fingers go eventually but I do like the security of lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 There's a lot of snobbish crap talked about lined fretless basses. I've heard good & terrible players on both. The last fretless bass I owned had lines, but ultimately I relied on my ears, same as I would on an unlined one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I prefer the look of the unlined board but when I play it has to be lined. I never played enough to have a muscle memory on a level that allowed me to play clean on an unlined fretless. (when I was a kid I played chello. Due to the taper of the neck and the hand positions it seemed a lot easier to get to the right place than on the long neck of the bass. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I have owned a lined fretless and still own a unlined fretless. I am equally bad on both so in the end it comes down to the aesthetics and I prefer the look of an unlined board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1492446104' post='3280298'] I have owned a lined fretless and still own a unlined fretless. I am equally bad on both so in the end it comes down to the aesthetics and I prefer the look of an unlined board. [/quote] I luuurve the look of an unlined board...that minimalist look...been trying to find somebody who makes black frets (for my fretted basses) to no avail. I'm relatively new to fretless but found that it forces me to listen more carefully to what I'm playing so unlined is becoming easier - like most things the more you do it, the easier it gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Ibanez had this cracked over 40 years ago: [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20SOLD/Ibanez%202366%20FLB%201972%20SOLD/CIMG0142.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20SOLD/Ibanez%202366%20FLB%201972%20SOLD/CIMG0142.jpg[/IMG][/URL] This is the perfect way to make the transition, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Unlined but with side markers for insurance....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Happy Jack appears to have read my mind. A la godin A5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mastodon2 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 [quote name='Steve Browning' timestamp='1492444240' post='3280281'] Naked. Just because Scott can't play without lines doesn't mean you can't. [/quote] He can play unlined with no issues, but says he prefers lines because he is a "visual" player in that he relies less on muscle memory and visualises a lot of patterns on the board. That's fair justification I think, it's just whatever works for the individual. He does say that he thinks new fretless players should start out with lined, just to help their eyes program their muscle memory. It's just a suggestion though, we're all free to make our own choices. Personally I prefer unlined but have not yet owned a fretless bass, but I've played a few, never spent any real time on them yet. I will be getting one at some point and haven't decided which way I'd go. Those Ibanez lines on the side of the fretboard look great. I also like the lines where they have a tiny bit of each fret line on the board for a centimentre or so, to make it look almost unlined but still having a visual reference on board. If Alain Caron likes a little pointer here and there then I wouldn't feel to ashamed to have them either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 My rule. In the studio, lined, because it wastes everyone's time if I have to re-record poorly intoned parts. On stage, unlined because I've never been able to see the lines anyway, I'm not tempted to look down (my attention is anyway usually elsewhere trying to avoid being hit in the face by the guitarist's headstock or walking off stage etc), and it looks better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1492451781' post='3280383'] My rule. In the studio, lined, because it wastes everyone's time if I have to re-record poorly intoned parts. On stage, unlined because I've never been able to see the lines anyway, I'm not tempted to look down (my attention is anyway usually elsewhere trying to avoid being hit in the face by the guitarist's headstock or walking off stage etc), and it looks better [/quote] This for me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Unlined yes, side markers yes......practise lots :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 You say you're happy with your current unlined fretless? Some find it challenging to change between lined and unlined. It's down to your preference and ability I guess. I also have both and am not great on either but it does boil down to practice, which I clearly don't do enough of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1492452929' post='3280393'] Unlined yes, side markers yes......practise lots :-) [/quote] Same here, I'm not that good a player but get on far better using my ears, concentrating or my positioning and avoiding the temptation at the fret board. I'm pretty certain that playing fretless makes me position my fingers more accuratly when playing fretted too. Edited April 17, 2017 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I prefer unlined like the Ibanez portamento. It looks nicer from the front, but it has the lines on the edge, which are the bits you look at when you are playing. I have (and am selling) the Squier Jazz fretless which is lined, and I have the Ibanez 705 which has the side markers, I don't find it any difference working out where the fingers need to be between them as I am just looking at the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I'd like side dots, in the correct place for fretless and short quarter lines on, the G side of, the board. The dots (in fretted position) and quarter lines on my Ibanez Portamento kinda annoy me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Unlined for me but then I am only playing fretless at home for my own enjoyment. If I was going to be gigging anytime soon on fretless, I would need lines and very obvious ones at that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) - Edited February 24, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 On double bass most people learn using a 'method' which helps create a repeatable fingering pattern and movement around the fingerboard, I doubt many fretless elec bassists start with an equivalent which leaves them wanting for the lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoot Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I play unlined and am pretty much ok in the lower register, but I sometimes struggle higher up, especially in a loud band. Can I opt for unlined up to the octave.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 [quote name='scoot' timestamp='1492457052' post='3280453'] I play unlined and am pretty much ok in the lower register, but I sometimes struggle higher up, especially in a loud band. Can I opt for unlined up to the octave.... [/quote] I have to say, my intonation does get a bit suspect above the 9th. Also, please don't mistake me for one of Scott's cheerleaders in the academy. Some of the hero worship there is enough to make you.... well, you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 I've got two fretless basses: one lined and one unlined; I prefer the unlined one, because it feels less restrictive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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