Fretless: Lined or unlined?

[oli@bass]

I'm currently contemplating whether my next 'ray should probably be fretless for a change. And since I've never had a fretless before, and also never had the opportunity to see or play a lined fretless EBMM, I'm a bit torn between those options -- I think the "blank plank" looks more sexy yet traditional, while my guess is that the lined wil be a lot more practical to learn and play and thus more useful.

I'd appreciate the thoughts and insights of all who have hands on fretless experience.

Thanks!

 

[NorM]

I find I am visually oriented as to my position on the fretboard. There fore I suggest Lined. The dots are cool and you could make do with that but I just prefer lined.

 

[PzoLover]

no regrets

I've never regretted ordering lines with my first SR5 fretless even though there are times and tunes when I don't "look", they are an important part of pitch control for me and I buy a bass to play, not just to impress onlookers
/PL

 

[thunder]

the lines make learning easier.

 

[AnthonyD]

Blank...

The side marker dots are there to assist with position.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I contemplated this several years ago as well and ended up going without the lines mainly based on the look. If I had the choice again now, I probably would go for the lines.
1) The lined fretless lines are actually quite faint, so it still has somewhat of a straight fretless look from far.
2) I suck at fretless so everything helps.

The position markers on the side do help but strangely enough, I always had a hard time finding the first fret position where there is no marker. I've had one added to mine.

 

[MrMusashi]

if i had to choose again, id still go for lined
i know youre supposed to practise in complete dark to strengthen intonation, but i prefer to cheat and have a look

MrM

 

[syciprider]

I have both lined and unlined.

IME, the unlined is no harder to play than the lined unless I start going past the 12th fret. There the notes are too close together and I get lost easy.

 

[Aussie Mark]

If you're playing a blank plank fretless with the same width neck and scale as your favorite fretted bass, you won't have any trouble playing fretless. Your hands know where to go and your ears tell you if you're right. Looking doesn't come into it once you have a starting point vis the side dots.

 

[oli@bass]

2) I suck at fretless so everything helps.

The position markers on the side do help but strangely enough, I always had a hard time finding the first fret position where there is no marker.

That's an interesting comment! I think I'd have exactly the same problem: Finding the first position....

IME, the unlined is no harder to play than the lined unless I start going past the 12th fret. There the notes are too close together and I get lost easy.

This as well, since I think the fretless would be used especially in recording situations for solo spots, where I'd be noodling around in the upper registers... (something which I souldn't even think of, given that I suck at noodling anyways... )

If you're playing a blank plank fretless with the same width neck and scale as your favorite fretted bass, you won't have any trouble playing fretless. Your hands know where to go and your ears tell you if you're right. Looking doesn't come into it once you have a starting point vis the side dots.

I fear that this won't apply to me, since I maybe have a rather sloppy fingering technique on the fretted: I press down the string more or less between the frets, and not directly on the fret. I guess I'd need to play completely different on the fretless.

What makes me think is this: If there are lines, I'll probably tempted to play by looking at the fretboard lines to try get the intonation right, whereas I'd need to concentrate on listening when there's just no help at all.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[oli@bass]

I have both lined and unlined.

Another question about that:
Do you feel the lines on the fingerboard? How does the different density of the woods behave in climate changes and over the years.

I want to think long term, because I guess this would be my one and only fretless and I'll be keeping it until forever...

 

[lowmid]

I'd go with lines because It'll help you at first getting the right intonation and when you get comfortable with you can just slide away as you wish, I like the look of both but unlined scares me!!

 

[captcolour]

If the fretless was to be your main instrument, then you could go unlined. If the fretless will be used occasionally, then get a lined board.

My first fretless was unlined and I tried to use it occasionally. Really sucked at it. Of course, I was stoopid and didn't know any better that you use the position markers differently on the fretless. My second fretless is a lined board. So much easier for the occasional use.

As a novice fretless player, was also surprised on how much difference the amp makes on the mwah sound playing live. My Trace Elliott and SWR (both solid-state) have little to no mwah with the fretless, while the Ampeg V-4B and Portaflex fliptop do a much better job. Not sure tubes are better for this in general, but at least with my stuff, they are.

 

[bass addict]

I like unlined, personally, but its purely from an aesthetic view. I think the board looks cleaner that way. Ive never had trouble following fret dots on the side of the neck, so unlined is best for me.

Really depends on what you want

 

[AnthonyD]

When you play and look at the neck, you're likely looking at the side of the neck, not stretching around to look at the fretboard...

Dots on the side will do it for you, especially if you're a "between the fret" guy like I've been (until recently!).

 

[oli@bass]

When you play and look at the neck, you're likely looking at the side of the neck, not stretching around to look at the fretboard...

Dots on the side will do it for you, especially if you're a "between the fret" guy like I've been (until recently!).

Does that mean you can't see the lines at the side of the fretboard? (Sorry, if that's a stupid question, but I've really never seen one in person )

 

[syciprider]

You still can. But it is likely that you're not looking at the face of the fingerboard (unless you're a giraffe).

To answer your earlier question, EBMM's lined fretless feels smoooooooth.

 

[Fred E.]

I'd recommend trying out each option before ordering. I've got both & honestly find the lined one to be confusing, because when I see lines my mind translates into "frets" & I instinctively land my fingers where I would on a fretted bass. Don't worry about the look or the "coolness factor" go with what works the best for you. Damn, Jaco played lined boards & how much cooler can you get?