Dingwall Segmented-Line Fretless

[Lenny JG]

Anybody else catch this? I couldn't find a thread and I'm curious what you all think.
From their post:
"Dingwall introduces the new segmented-line fretless fingerboard.

Lined fretless fingerboards provide a great visual reference, but often the filler material can cause buzzes during seasonal changes due to differences in expansion and contraction.

By using segmented fret lines, Dingwall ensures that the fingerboard surface directly under each string is solid wood along the entire length.

The segmented fret lines provide the visual reference of a lined fretless with the consistent tone of an unlined fingerboard."

 

[Gunga Din]

Don't get it. Why no just mark the 'board instead of filling it?

 

[Mastodon2]

This seems like an over-engineered and visually jarring solution to a problem which in all honesty, is not encountered often and easily solved.

 

[two fingers]

I love their work. I will likely own one of their products before the end of this year. I browse Dingwall basses almost daily.

That said, this is marketing hype, to me. This is a solution to a problem nobody had. Although, I actually think it looks unique and I dig it.

They should have just gone with "Check out our trippy unique lines. Dig it." ....or something more Madison Avenue. But acting as though all lined fretless basses really should be made this way to avoid a problem nobody ever heard of is a bit.... much.

 

[TTA]

seems like an interesting concept. As a non fretless player… fretless seems tough. on a multiscale fretless seems worse. This seems like a great way to make it more approachable.

i had to doubletake to see that they are lines only… not fret material.

 

[eloann]

I don't think it's mumbo jumbo as they discontinued full on lines a few years ago for that very reason.
I've never had any issue with the lined fretless they made me, but if there's a chance of it happening and they have a fix for it why not?

 

[Bruce Johnson]

This is an interesting technical innovation from Sheldon & Co. The white lines being segmented isn't the point of the design, it's just a side effect.

What they've done is make a segmented "modular" fingerboard. After installing white lines in the normal way, they've routed slots down the length of the fingerboard, directly under the five string paths. Then they've glued strips of hardwood down in those slots, and machined them true. It's five narrow individual fingerboards inlaid into a larger fingerboard.

The point is: Those five narrow strips are the critical part of the fingerboard. That's where the string contacts the wood. Those strips need to be consistent and accurately machined for a fretless bass to have a smooth even tone everywhere up and down. If you read up on how us Luthiers get crazy surfacing fretless fingerboards, it's mostly about the technique of truing up the string paths.

Sheldon & Co. have come up with a way to install the string paths as separate strips of wood, ensuring that they are as consistent and true as possible.

I like it. Some good engineering, improving the state of the art.

 

[CoarseBass]

Looks neat. Sort of like dual density/wood bodies, probably contributing very little to feel or tone. Probably expensive.

 

[sears]

What they've done is make a segmented "modular" fingerboard. After installing white lines in the normal way, they've routed slots down the length of the fingerboard, directly under the five string paths. Then they've glued strips of hardwood down in those slots, and machined them true. It's five narrow individual fingerboards inlaid into a larger fingerboard.
.

It would be wild to make an instrument where those long strips are purposely uneven so you can do those bends off the edge like in the music of certain places

 

[SteveCS]

It's five narrow individual fingerboards inlaid into a larger fingerboard.

The joinery must be to an incredible standard as there is no evidence of that method in the example given. The grain patterns seem continuous across the string paths in this close-up:

 

[CoarseBass]

I'm assuming they're sawing short slots, maybe plunge milling them, vs. anything that involves a ton of glue and fretboard toothpicks.

 

[BigDrew]

Totally cool! Dingwall really does some different stuff.

 

[RJC1811]

CNC technology, solving the problems you didn't know you had!

 

[Lenny JG]

Lots of good input here, and lots of misinformation and posts from people not getting the idea. Gotta love it. Haha

 

[Philip McAdam]

Anybody else catch this? I couldn't find a thread and I'm curious what you all think.
From their post:
"Dingwall introduces the new segmented-line fretless fingerboard.

Lined fretless fingerboards provide a great visual reference, but often the filler material can cause buzzes during seasonal changes due to differences in expansion and contraction.

By using segmented fret lines, Dingwall ensures that the fingerboard surface directly under each string is solid wood along the entire length.

The segmented fret lines provide the visual reference of a lined fretless with the consistent tone of an unlined fingerboard."

View attachment 4577114 View attachment 4577115 View attachment 4577116 View attachment 4577117 View attachment 4577118 View attachment 4577119

It looks interesting to me, having said that, I would need to try it before I could decide if it works well or not.

 

[cnltb]

As sensible as this looks, I still do not like lined fretless basses.

 

[Lenny JG]

Don't get it. Why no just mark the 'board instead of filling it?

Wdym by this?

This seems like an over-engineered and visually jarring solution to a problem which in all honesty, is not encountered often and easily solved.

Not encountered often? Sure. Easily solved? I don't think so.

That said, this is marketing hype, to me. This is a solution to a problem nobody had.

Well i mean there is definitely threads about players on TB looking for solutions to the tone change they get over inlays and lines. Idk lol

seems like an interesting concept. As a non fretless player… fretless seems tough. on a multiscale fretless seems worse. This seems like a great way to make it more approachable.

Multiscale fretless is just as intuitive as a normal fretless, and all it takes in good intonation. All i play is fretless and mainly multiscale.

What they've done is make a segmented "modular" fingerboard. After installing white lines in the normal way, they've routed slots down the length of the fingerboard, directly under the five string paths. Then they've glued strips of hardwood down in those slots, and machined them true. It's five narrow individual fingerboards inlaid into a larger fingerboard.

This literally isn't how they made it and idk why you have that idea.

 

[Obese Chess]

The joinery must be to an incredible standard as there is no evidence of that method in the example given. The grain patterns seem continuous across the string paths in this close-up:
View attachment 4577273

It looks a little more obvious in this picture, though that could be a visual trick:

 

[Vitamin D]

I checked the calendar... it's not even April 1.

 

[SteveCS]

It looks a little more obvious in this picture, though that could be a visual trick:
...

It's just an illusion. The section under the first string looks like a giveaway: