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Side dot placement on fretless - make sense to you?
- Thread starter darwin-bass
- Start date
if you "needed" visual references there wouldn't be any blind musicians
My <<< $0.019
I've gigged the blank fingerboard with dots on the edge where the fret ends or line ends would be; and that marking is workable. I went away from it, because the sight references for intonation in the upper register aren't very effective for me. too hard to triangulate with accuracy. In this same way, I would be comfortable with the blank fingerboard and line ends where the frets would be and dots between the line ends.
I've gigged the lined fingerboard with dots where they are normally located between frets. That's OK and that's what I use; because the sight references in the upper register, where the lines on the board become more visible, work better for me. Still use my ears for vibrato/intonation. Lines are NOT training wheels. they are useful in the upper register, where markings ON the fingerboard are more effective than dots on the board edge. Dots on the fingerboard, as F Bass uses, would be fine.
I've played the instruments with lined fingerboard and dots on the lines, but NOT gigged them. I personally find that marking scheme to be VERY disorienting. YMMV
I also play upright, and don't use markings on upright; but, I do note that Edgar Meyer uses dots in the upper register of his fingerboard. Were I a soloist, the way Edgar is, I might consider that as well.
If there are only dots, they should be where the 3/5/7/9/12 fret would be. If there are lines, then the dots would be in between the lines.
Sure there would... they'd play in spite of it.
I prefer unlined fretlesses so I prefer dots where the notes would be at 3,5,7, etc. On a defret it makes sense to leave the dots where they are between the frets.
I have noted this as well, especially early in my playing. It took several years to develop similar note placement accuracy up and down the neck of an electric bass.
One exception: I demoed a Gibson Victory bass several times. The thickness of this instrument's neck tapers along it's length. I found the varying thickness surprisingly helpful and intuitive for determining exactly where your hand is. Far better than a neck with tapered width IMHO. Within a few minutes of picking up the Victory, I found my accuracy was far better than on my primary axe (Ric 4001). It should be noted, the thickness and width of a 4001 neck is consistent along its length, so worst case scenario.
I am surprised tapered thickness is not a common feature on electric basses.
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My fretless also started life off with frets.
I need both lines (where I place my fingers) and dots. Both feel great... and it wouldn't feel right if I had one and not the other.
I need both lines (where I place my fingers) and dots. Both feel great... and it wouldn't feel right if I had one and not the other.
No right or wrong - whatever works for you.
I started on upright. My 1st electric was a fretless '78 P-Bass.
Had a FL Steinberger copy for a while, then got the ’94 Carvin LB75F, and finally the Jaco Relic.
The Jaco obviously started life as a fretted bass.
As for the others - I actually had to go look at them to see how they were set up. (I looked at my uprights 1st
)
Bottom line is, it just doesn't matter to me - whichever one I pick up seems natural.
Any visual reference just gets you in the ballpark - you've got to use your ears!
(and to this day, I'm still am lost if someone says the 5th fret or the 9th fret or whatever. Just tell me the note!)
I do agree with Kirk though, if I'm ordering a bass and have the option;
(just deaf)
I started on upright. My 1st electric was a fretless '78 P-Bass.
Had a FL Steinberger copy for a while, then got the ’94 Carvin LB75F, and finally the Jaco Relic.
The Jaco obviously started life as a fretted bass.
As for the others - I actually had to go look at them to see how they were set up. (I looked at my uprights 1st
)Bottom line is, it just doesn't matter to me - whichever one I pick up seems natural.
Any visual reference just gets you in the ballpark - you've got to use your ears!
(and to this day, I'm still am lost if someone says the 5th fret or the 9th fret or whatever. Just tell me the note!)
I do agree with Kirk though, if I'm ordering a bass and have the option;
By the way, I'm not blind!
(just deaf)
I switch back and forth between fretted and fretless. So I prefer the dots on my fretless to be the same place as they are on fretted: in between the lines. Hey, it worked for Jaco!
+1 on all of the above...
Not to start anything, but I always thought the dot markers were to help you learn thumb position.
I played an unlined fretless with side dots exclusively for 6 years when I was young. I thought I had pretty good intonation. later on I got a lined fretless Fender jazz bass than I noticed that on the unlined bass I was using a lot of vibrato as a means to get the right notes. On the other hand I have played the lined fretless and in studio sessions people didn't notice I was playing a fretless bass because the intonation was dead on without vibrato.
I personally prefer lined fretless because I feel that I use vibrato when I see fit rather than depending on it to play in tune.
I personally prefer lined fretless because I feel that I use vibrato when I see fit rather than depending on it to play in tune.
I have owned and played fretless with all of the position marking methods covered so far and find I have no bias for or against any of them. My three current fretless basses are all unlined with side dots at the note positions. Two are marked at 1,3,5,7,9,12,15,17,19,21 and 24th positions. My fretless unlined Steinberger has dots at all positions and are orange at the 7,12 19 and 24th positions. Here are pics of my SSD Czech, Zon Sonus and the Steinie.
I am partial to unlined basses, but have no quams with lined, micro lined or any other marking method. They are all useful for me. Find the scheme you like and play it like you mean it. I use mine for all kinds of different music and jobs. People are frequently surprised to see a fretless being used for Rock and Metal. I also do it to irritate the Blues snobs around these parts. Especially when I pull out the Steinberger. The looks on their faces is priceless.
Peace all,
Mike
I am partial to unlined basses, but have no quams with lined, micro lined or any other marking method. They are all useful for me. Find the scheme you like and play it like you mean it. I use mine for all kinds of different music and jobs. People are frequently surprised to see a fretless being used for Rock and Metal. I also do it to irritate the Blues snobs around these parts. Especially when I pull out the Steinberger. The looks on their faces is priceless.
Peace all,
Mike
in my opinio the problem with fretlines is that you only have one pisition on the fretboard where the correct intonation falls directly on the line. in lower positions the finger must be a little further forward and up higher it falls a little behind the line.
I mentioned this in my post this week, regarding my new Ibanez fretless.
NBD: It's an Ibanez but I'm not fretting about it.
NBD: It's an Ibanez but I'm not fretting about it.
The original Fender style, dot where the note should be. ( 3-5-7-9-12-15-17-19 ) Always worked for me. Play with your ears, not your eyes.