One more new order, for good measure...

[stu42]

Hey...just saw this thread. I saw a photo of a Stealth Unlined Fretless Bongo a while back and started drooling over that. Killer look!! But yeah...honeyburst has a more traditional look...but something about that all black appearance is super cool.

Also...my thought is...don't write off the unlined fretless. Give it a shot first because it's not really that bad once you start playing it. I've written about this before but...I went with unlined because the side dots mark the location where you need to put your fingers whereas on a lined fretless the side dots are in-between the "fret" locations. So, in other words, on a lined fretless you can't really use the side dots as a guide to help you place your fingers; you have to bend your neck forward to look at the fretboard to see the lines - which is okay when you're sitting while playing but not so good when you're standing. Plus, I found using the lines as a guide wasn't really any better - for me anyway - in helping me get a decent intonation because I found I was trying to use my eyes to figure out where I should put my fingers...which was unreliable. In the end, I find the side dots are great as a guide and then I use my ears and muscle memory to really hit the intonation and I personally find it's a better way to go.

That's my two cents anyway. I know this is a topic that has as many people on either side of the fence so go with what works for you but....just saying....don't write off unlined until you've tried it.

Anyway...congrats on a killer bass!!

 

[nurnay]

Yes, I'll give it an honest effort but I tend to look at the frets, not the dots it's worth a shot

 

[Paco Maraca]

A lined fretless tends to sound fretted, because you hit the right fretboard position immediately if you are playing by sight. On an unlined you have to quickly microadjust the tone by ears and fingers, which gives it that fretless mwah!

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[Paco Maraca]

BTW, on a lined fretless you don't need to look at the fretboard, as the fretlines span to the side. So it's like playing a fretted bass, except that you put your ON the fretline instead of closely BEHIND the fret. Anyway, if you are used to the fret spacing switching to a fretless - lined or not - is not to difficult. You have to like that special tone and should be open minded about your technique, as suddenly certain things work better (sliding) and others worse (bending, especially if you love your fretboard ;-)

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[nurnay]

The stealth fretless arrived today, and she's a beauty! 9 pounds of mwah. I don't think I'll have the patience without fret lines,but I'm giving it a go. Hey, BP, how about shipping fretless models with cobalt flats instead of rounds?