Hypothetical Question Regarding Fretlesses

[Roger Smith (rogertvr)]

Senior Management has asked me to ask this.  As she is so far gone on the Chinese Dragon I'm having on my newly ordered bass, she asked if it would be possible to inlay the fingerboard on a fretless bass.  I reckoned not unless it was somehow lacquered over but what effect that would have on a fretless bass is anyone's guess.
 
Anyone got any input to this?

[mica]

The answer is short: no.
 
Inlays of any kind are not recommended on fretless basses since as you slide over the various materials, they sound different. On a fretted bass, you're touching the string to a fret, so the inlay doesn't participate in the sound.

[Roger Smith (rogertvr)]

Thanks Mica - I'll tell her!