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Special showing for 'lefties' ...

Here’s my solution. A bit of both 😏

Having lines and dots doesn't challenge enough to start using your ear - at least this is how I feel. One of the reasons I bought the double bass was to develop my ear, as my, nomen omen, precision bass made me too lazy. I developed thinking about notes as patterns on my fingerboard rather than sounds I need to listen to. I know it might be just me, but it still seems like a common side effect of playing on a fretted instrument. Considering the above, the choice should be dictated by the intention behind the fretless. If it's the sound or comfort, lined will do, but if it's general musical development and taking it outside ones comfort zone, I'd say go for as plain a fingerboard as possible. I'm not an authority on that though, just my own reflections on the matter. There's also a valuable lesson in the training wheels metaphor. Children struggle so much when the wheels are finally removed, because they need to get rid of all the bad habits they developed. I'm sure motorcyclists know what 'counter steering' is, but in general, after removing the wheels (or transitioning from the tricycle to bicycle) you literally need to start pushing the handlebars to the opposite direction than you used to. The conclusion is all cyclists make poor basists, or something, I don't know

I think manufacturers should just stop being lazy and finish the basses properly. Put frets in the neck and that would do away with all this stupid arguing 😄😉

You can always have an unlined fretboard and draw lines with a pencil, erase them as you learn and get more confident with it, as a removable easy guide.

Is it because Antoria might sue them?

On behalf of myself, Michael G and our Product Engineer Simon Austen, just putting a marker down that your friendly neighbourhood Basschat sponsor Gillett Guitars will be there on stand A0. We'll have our Contour Bass range, a couple of Ashdown amps (UK manufacturers only on our stand ), our bass buddy Freddie Draper, and an itinerant keyboard player to make it all feel like the cocktail lounge on the QE2. Very much looking forward to meeting fellow members of the Basschat gang over the weekend! Scrumpymike, aka Gillett Guitars Sales & Marketing Manager

Just realised...it's NEXT WEEKEND!!

Disappointed to see that being over 60 leads to warnings about falling over.

We are all different so we should do it whichever way feels most productive, no one way is best for everyone.

Another reason I like P basses... as said above, they are very simple but instantly give you 'that' sound in a mix. So you can forget all about the 'tonequest', forget about GAS and get on with the business of actually playing the bloody thing. Which is why I don't much care for on-board preamps, active basses* and over-complicated amps - too much of a distraction. *Spectors excepted, obvs.

I won two tickets for the London Bass Guitar show next weekend, so I have an extra one I am happy to give away. I am thinking of going on Saturday. Hit me up!

So i got the behringer thingy! First impressions are that its great, does what i want and as a bonus, makes Netflix sound a lot better!

Who has time for kudos? It's about the fact that I find it easier to make good music and play in tune without trying to use visual clues to get a result that is non-visual. You don't use your ears to help you paint...

Cheers for all the comments. Progress on this has been slow recently - between work and the garage being so cold getting some of the remaining jobs done is taking a while!! The fretboard had been radiused and the frets have been installed. I filled the gaps at the end of the fret slots with the sanding dust from the fretboard and some epoxy and I've started dressing the fret ends but this isn't finished yet. I've also shielded the control cavity and soldered the pots and jack; the pickup is yet to be installed. I made battery holder for the cavity and fitted this with a couple of screws - I'm quite pleased how this has turned out. I've also fitted the string anchors which was one of the last fiddly jobs. Hopefully I'll get to do some more work on it next Friday - I'd like to get it assembled and check the neck angles etc. before I complete the finish. Cheers Jez

Here you go:

I thought the med. helicores were a bit like spiro mittels , maybe a touch less tension , pretty bright string , zyex medium are a lot lower tension , possibly one of the lowest tension metal strings? I like zyex on one of my basses, they have some of the sustain of metal core strings but are a little bit thumpier and easier to get moving

Thanks Jim , it seems they are really good bang for buck and I found a company selling new for under £80 including postage - I may have to go shopping

@TheGreek has raised some good points, @jeff.nicol_scotland. The bass you've selected has a particular sound. Is this selection based on a like for that sound, or is that based on looks? As @TheGreek says, you probably should try out some basses and don't overlook the fact that the amp and speakers make up a good contribution to the overall tone/sound.

He's more polite than me, anyway. I describe them as flakes and fantasists.

The audience commonly do not know and even less do they care. In ten years I have only ever one time had an audience member comment on my fretless or upright playing ... and that was another bassist on Basschat. The words 'kudos', 'wow' and 'without lines' were not used.

Hi all, I won two tickets for the event next weekend, I'm thinking of going on Saturday, if you are interested in a free ticket for that day send me a message! Iacopo

Tickets are limited and marked up 25%

Nice bass! Would love a Rick but the cost has almost doubled in the past few years, can't justify it at all

I've been a fan since I saw them on the telly doing Live Aid. In fact the main reason I play bass is because of Queen

You can hear it here :

I think this statement is a bit of a clichè to be honest. It's a bit like saying 'use your brain' when trying to solve an equation. Great, if your brain already contains the necessary information to solve the problem. Using ears to correct intonation takes years, even decades of focused study. If you have that kind of time available, great. For the rest of us, there's fretlines, so we can get on with the enjoyment of playing a fretless without 35 years of listening to a drone. Just because the lines are there doesn't mean we stare at them all night. They're there to help. We don't stare at fretted basses when we play, but we occasionally check we're in the right place. If I didn't play jazz, I could probably get by without them no problem, but for soloing up the top end I definitely need those lines.

I'm basically a fretless player : sixers for the ego, one of them having 31 positions ("frets") for even greater ego. I'm also playing a 6 strings 3/4 EUB : ego, I told you. They all are unlined and my intonation is always good as I play with ears not eyes as everyone is telling it. In fact, I hate side dots at the fretted position as they are just confusing me when I take a look at the fretboard. The problem with the lines is that, in the beginning, you'll have a tendency to play right on it which will make you sound sharp. You'll also notice that your fretting fingers will not have the same hardness from day to day so you'll have to correct it by ear. There are four tricks for the beginners and others : 1. Use opened strings to check your intonation as they must be perfectly tuned. 2. Play chords from time to time, again to check your intonation : this is unforgiving. 3. Use a very good tuner like the TC Electronic Polytune in strobe mode to check if you are perfectly in tune. 4. When playing a fretted bass, play on the frets to develop your muscle memory. Use your ears, then lined or unlined won't make any difference. And don't forget to have your fretless bass perfectly set up by a real luthier as it's the key to perfect intonation. I would also add to play as often as possible in the higher positions to develop your ear precision.

Final thought. I have 3 fretless basses. The Wal has no lines, the Cort has no lines, and the Squier has lines. I was recording recently with the Squier, because I wanted the woody, hollow Jazz Bass sound. Listening to the tracks back, I realised I was fractionally flat ALL THE TIME. Nobody has complained about my intonation in years, so I was a bit shocked. Ended up playing everything again on the Cort. Came out spot on. The Cort and the Wal are both gigged far more than the Squier. Anyone want a nice VM Jazz with J-Tone active electronics?

Talking of the O'jays.

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I don’t disagree with them, I just have a different experience. I have played lined fretless more than unlined but I still feel happier, more in control and better intonated on unlined. The OP will have to decide for himself.

I'm looking forward to the Line 6 HX mini (MS-60B size) and the Line 6 HXn due (with DI and headphone out and aux in plus additional cab sims) both "due out" early to mid 20XX... I will be very tempted to get both

That doesn't surprise me - they're both monumental bell-ends.

Well if you need a load of TurboBlue Tuffcab paint, then fleabag's your man!!

I wouldn't take that as reason to buy. You need to try them out first..... I almost bought a Big Twin II but tried it side by side against my GenzBenz Neox212 and the Barefaced came out 2nd best. A good friend and respected bass journalist/reviewer was with me and also felt the same.... saved me silly money in an unnecessary outlay! I don't say this to 'hate' on Barefaced - they're great. Just be sure to try any cab before buying as it may not be the step up you're looking for, or even need!

The Gen3 are pretty much the flattest/most uncoloured sounding cabs I`ve used. When I recorded the sound I heard from the desk was virtually exactly what I got from my Gen 3 Big Twin. So really, choose the Gen 3 cab that fits best for size and practicality. for what it`s worth I was really impressed with the Super Midget - an amazing amount of sound from those little cabs.

Not helping the "walk away" thing are you Mr Pickguard

and the coloured girls go 'doo doo doo doo doo doo doo"

With that specification, surely the Thunderbird should have "Gibson" on the headstock. Can't believe that the "budget" brand is selling a potentially more authentic version of the bass than the parent company.

Hope not, the Tbird is supposedly replacing the current Pro 1V, which sells around £350/£400. Certainly not going to pay pushing a grand for an Epi, as good as they can be.