Question Fretless without lines

[drTStingray]

In my experience it takes a little time to learn to play one consistently in tune, but once you have it's very rewarding.

A combination of ears (especially to tell you when you're not in tune) and the side dots to help as a reference point (they're at the position the fret would be) do it for me.

As for sound, you can make them sound more or less like a fretted bass but they give the opportunity for a whole new range of mellow and melodic sounds. Have a listen to Pino Palladino from his days with Paul Young to hear a Musicman Stingray fretless, and you'll hear the difference from a fretted (the album No Parlez is a good example) - if you really want to be scared and wonder at the beauty of fretless all at the same time listen to some Jaco Pastorius (there are so many to choose from but A Remark You Made is a good mellow one).

The blank plank looks great also IMHO

 

[4play]

I just started messing around with an unlined fretless. I'm assuming the side dot represents the line or note (instead of the dot being between frets), my question is, where is the note supposed to be at the 12th marker so I can properly dial in my intonation? Smack-dab between the two dots? At the first dot? Or at the second dot? I'm hitting the right note, but I'm certain my intonation is outta whack as it's at a slightly different position for each string.

 

[Golem]

I just started messing around with an unlined fretless. I'm assuming the side
dot represents the line or note (instead of the dot being between frets), my
question is, where is the note supposed to be at the 12th marker so I
can properly dial in my intonation? Smack-dab between the two dots? At the
first dot? Or at the second dot? I'm hitting the right note, but I'm certain my
intonation is outta whack as it's at a slightly different position for each string.

The twelfth position is exactly 17" from the FB-nut intersection on a 34" scale.
In practical terms, it's exactly 1/2 way from the FB-nut intersection to the final
position of the bridge saddle once your intonation is satifactory. If that sounds
like a lotta trial and error cut-and-try adjustments ... well it would be, if you get
really anal about it. Just remember, some of the finest FL axen on earth do NOT
have intonation adjustable bridges



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[b-unit]

Unlined for me! Just seems to feel more natural.

 

[Golem]

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Those look very tricky to play .... since they're built backwards ....



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