EBMM Fretless Lined

[bassman1979]

Hey Everyone,

I'm in the market for a EBMM Fretless and since i am new to the fretless world i would prefer to get one that is lined. I am open to any suggestions and configurations and would love to have some feedback on the subject from the knowledgable members of this wonderful forum!


Also I would prefer to buy used until i see if it is my thing, so if anyone has a gem that they would be willing to part with let me know.

Thanks Everyone!

 

[AnthonyD]

Lines? Really?

I took the fretless plunge last year and felt the same way about wanting lines at first...

After giving it more thought (and forum conversation) I decided to go blank - I find the side marker dots are plenty helpful to me, more so than the lines.

Besides, a naked neck is just so, you know, cool...

Assuming you meant for feedback re: pick-up configurations - I'd recommend whatever you choose include a piezo bridge to maximize the fretless effect and provide the widest tonal flexibility.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

You should buy what you want to play- meaning, if you want to play unlined in the end, you should just start out on an unlined. If you don't mind lines, and if you want the visual aid (which is quite helpful when you lose yourself in a mix), get a lined one. I started out on an unlined board, and found that I greatly prefer lines (as well as side dots located directly below the lines as they would be on an unlined neck), and now I won't own a fretless without lines. Neither is "wrong" or "cheating," so don't listen to any BS that may get said otherwise. I also find a lot of the great mwah in a fretless is emphasized in the mids, so maybe look into getting a bass with a 3-band EQ.

Stingrays can make a great fretless- Michael Manring has used his fretless Stingray on several recordings- check out his website for the specific songs he used them on (he has them pretty much all listed)

 

[oddjob]

Neither is "wrong" or "cheating," so don't listen to any BS that may get said otherwise.

+1
When I got my 1st fretless, I guess I had the best of both worlds... I toke an Aria ProII ZZB Explorer had the frets yanked and filled with a epoxy/ebony powder - which dried black. On stage I could see the "shadow" lines but from about 3 ft back they were invisible.

 

[bottle12am]

About the only person you'll impress with an unlined fretless is a nOOb bass player in the crowd. The sound is the same and all the chicks will still be going 'man I dig that guy with the four string guitar!'

My fretless weapon is lined; when I first picked it up, everything came by instinct. There was almost zero learning curve.

(Of course there are certain techniques unique to the fretless that you will learn later, but the 'plug and play' factor is there).

Hats off to the guys that can play the blank, but in the real world it all makes the same sound.

 

[maddog]

I ordered an unlined. Just thought I'd mention that. I know how much everyone wants to be just like me.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I know I do.


Wait, who are you again?

 

[maddog]

I know I do.


Wait, who are you again?

I am...






















Tom.

 

[adouglas]

Assuming you meant for feedback re: pick-up configurations - I'd recommend whatever you choose include a piezo bridge to maximize the fretless effect and provide the widest tonal flexibility.

+1. Piezos rule for fretless tone.

I'm definitely in the "lines" camp. Some very, very good bassists use lined fretlesses. Nothing to be afraid of/ashamed about....

 

[bassman1979]

Thanks Guys for all the input thus far!

I am with everyone on the whole "what you are comfortable with" statements and i think i would feel way more at home being broke in on a lined and who knows maybe i will make the switch to unlined later on.

My next question concerns whether or not to buy a 4 or 5 string. I have been playing 4 string for over 10 years but i have switched to playing 5 string primarily for the past 3-4 years but wasn't really sure if it would be practical to have a 5 banger fretless in the arsenal.

Also i have been contemplating on what pickup config to go with.

H Piezo
HS Piezo
HH Piezo
?

Anyways just too many decisions in an area of unknown for me!

As always, thanks for the help guys!

 

[adouglas]

My next question concerns whether or not to buy a 4 or 5 string. I ... wasn't really sure if it would be practical to have a 5 banger fretless in the arsenal.

Why wouldn't it be? Makes sense to me to have the same configuration as your fretted, so that you can transition easily between the two.

By the way, I read somewhere that the afore-pictured Tony Levin strings his fretless SR5 EADGC to allow more options at the high end.

Also i have been contemplating on what pickup config to go with.

H Piezo
HS Piezo
HH Piezo
?

I don't own a MM fretless (yet) but my last fretless was a Carvin with their P-series electronics. This was a J-type neck pickup, a big MM-type bridge pickup, and a piezo bridge. The best tone came from shutting off the neck pickup entirely and mixing the bridge pickup about 50-50 with the piezo.

This led me to decide that if I ever do get a MM fretless I'd go H piezo.

Also...this might just be me, but once I found the "right" tone out of my fretless I never touched the controls again. This is not like my fretted bass...I fiddle with EQ on that to suit the song. I guess I just want a specific sound out of a fretless, and once I get it, I don't need any further adjustment.

 

[delberthot]

Does anyone here know when lined fretless became an option on SR4s.

I have an 87-88 lined but have never seen any others as old as this.

 

[NoFrets80]

line up!

i played lined fretless f@nder jazzes for about 6 years, and can honestly say that it's easier and less confusing to play an unlined board. the fact i come from an upright bass background probably helps, but i found the lines to be a bit confusing at times. side dots are a must for SOME reference, but i found lines to be an annoyance. just my $.02. i agree with earlier posters that if you can start out on an unlined, you'll be better off in the end. either way you go though, it's much more demanding on your ears. you can't rely on the lines to tell you that you're in tune all the time.

 

[silverburst]

I like the way the lines look. Don't really look at them too much anymore when I am playing it. But the sounds --- ooooooh.

BTW. I have some grooves on mine from before I switched to flats. Any idea if the can be taken out without ruining the fretboard? They are not super deep...

 

[armybass]

I think you should get whatever you want. If lines make you more comfy and in turn will lead to you playing the bass more than get the lines. If the blank plank speaks to you and you dig that look and vibe, then go for it. There is no right answer to this debate. It is Coke and Pepsi. Peoples is peoples.

 

[RitchieDarling]

Hey Everyone,

I'm in the market for a EBMM Fretless and since i am new to the fretless world i would prefer to get one that is lined. I am open to any suggestions and configurations and would love to have some feedback on the subject from the knowledgable members of this wonderful forum!


Also I would prefer to buy used until i see if it is my thing, so if anyone has a gem that they would be willing to part with let me know.

Thanks Everyone!

Hey there! I just sent you an email regarding my Sterling lined fretless for sale.

Ritchie

 

[bovinehost]

My first fretless was an unlined SR5.

I think I must have been insane.

I played it, though - in front of people and everything.

I'm much more comfy with lines. And, as my friend Chuck Moses says (and he is just about the best fretless guy I know), "If the lines bother you, DON'T LOOK AT THEM."

Jack

 

[KennethB]

Fretlines are my friends.

 

[ekb16b]

im with silverburst on this one, i like the look of the lines, i reckon they look better than frets themselves

 

[maddog]

BTW. I have some grooves on mine from before I switched to flats. Any idea if the can be taken out without ruining the fretboard? They are not super deep...

any good luthier should be able to fix her right up for you.