Having a lined fretless Dingwall AB1 since 2002 (I believe the first fretless AB), I would say your teetering on crazy thinking about an unlined multiscale fretless fingerboard.(fanned fretless) ( you can see mine here-4th post-https://www.dingwallguitars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5&start=0) However, I would also say now w/ 10+yrs of experience playing a fretless Dingwall, that I would-should i ever consider another fretless- that I wouldnt hesitate thinking about an unlined board. Thats said, I wouldnt risk it, there alot of woodshedding involved getting those ever so close but not in the usual position neighboring notes on neighboring strings that throw you. But if your ear is good.... I am not aware of Sheldon ever making and unlined fretless bass

I defretted my Combustion and have one ABZ6 and think that a fanned fretless without lines must be a really dificult to play. I only play Dingwall basses but I´m not too brave to play a Dingwall fretless without lines!!

Question for all of you who play fretless Dingwalls: do you look at the lined fingerboard constantly while playing? I play a fair amount of fretless bass, and all of my fretless basses (except for an NS electric upright) are unlined 34" 4-string parallel basses with side markers. I indeed do look at the side-markers when shifting my left-hand position, but once in position do not usually look at the board. I agree that playing an unlined fretless Dingwall would be very difficult, but am hesitant to get a bass that would require me to be constantly looking at the fingerboard, particularly when on a dark stage.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm wondering if side dots on the fret positions, along with dots under the G string on the fret positions would be good enough. I'm willing to have lines if they're faint, maybe a tad lighter or darker than the fingerboard.

I don't play a lot of fretless, so when I do, I use the lines and my ear?!. (dingwall 6-string)

Are you also thinking double-dots (or different dots) on 3,5,7,9, 12 etc? The violin, cello and double-bass players do fine without markers, but maybe there's too high a cost in daily practice in order to keep this expertise fresh?

I would think if you only play Dingwalls, that going to an unlined Dingwall fretless would be to some degree easier than a parallel unlined one (the move to fretless notwithstanding). I think unlined looks cooler, is more immediately recognizable that you're playing fretless, and shows a certain level of skill (assuming you actually play it properly ) I've got a fretless 5. I'm not there yet to try to make the jump, but I think an unlined Dingwall would be awesome. I like the idea of dots on the side and on the edge of the fretboard, though I think only dots on the side would look better.

[quote="Franco Bollo":3uo4t6ng]Question for all of you who play fretless Dingwalls: do you look at the lined fingerboard constantly while playing? I play a fair amount of fretless bass, and all of my fretless basses (except for an NS electric upright) are unlined 34" 4-string parallel basses with side markers. I indeed do look at the side-markers when shifting my left-hand position, but once in position do not usually look at the board. I agree that playing an unlined fretless Dingwall would be very difficult, but am hesitant to get a bass that would require me to be constantly looking at the fingerboard, particularly when on a dark stage.[/quote:3uo4t6ng] It's a very visual type of fretless. You do not want an unlined Fanned fretless. You want white plastic lines or, even better, that glow in the dark material Sheldon's been using as side dots. That would be cool.

[quote="Funkshwey":t6rbpttt]It's a very visual type of fretless. You do not want an unlined Fanned fretless. You want white plastic lines or, even better, that glow in the dark material Sheldon's been using as side dots. That would be cool.[/quote:t6rbpttt] I hate, hate, hate lined fretless. I have a really amazing lined fretless, custom built, super light, sounds amazing no matter who plays it... but its a dark wenge board with white lines. The lines actually confuse me more than the really dark lines that are on my T-40 fretless neck. Those lines are nearly the same color as the fretboard. Thanks for all the input guys. I'm starting to think a maple fanned fretless with white lines or perhaps just filled with an ever-so-slightly lighter or darker-than-maple filler would be best. Sheldon, have you guys ever made a fretless ABZ?

No fretless ABZ so far.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":2g4qyjbv]No fretless ABZ so far.[/quote:2g4qyjbv]Is it even an option? It's not in the price list I got a while back.

It's not right now but we're working on a new price list that will include the option.