Stupit fretless questions...

[Psycho Ward]

OK, a beautiful fretless Sterling found a new home here at the "Psycho Home of the Wayward Lefty Bass Ranch" and since I've never ever even touched a fretless I have a few questions.

The bass in question has flatwound strings and a low action. The first thing I want to do is hear the famous "muwahhhh" effect, I can't do it... what am I doing wrong?

I do have a set a roundwounds on the way, will that help?


Thanks guys.

[smallequestrian]

OK, a beautiful fretless Sterling found a new home here at the "Psycho Home of the Wayward Lefty Bass Ranch" and since I've never ever even touched a fretless I have a few questions.

The bass in question has flatwound strings and a low action. The first thing I want to do is hear the famous "muwahhhh" effect, I can't do it... what am I doing wrong?

I do have a set a roundwounds on the way, will that help?


Thanks guys.

Yes.




Also, depending on how low the action is, you can sometimes choke the mwah out. The way I have my Bongo setup, i don't get all that much mwah out of it, but it still sings like a bird. You will just have to experiment with action and relief when you get it. I think Gary Willis has a setup guide for fretless on the internet somewhere.

[Psycho Ward]

Thanks Paul, and I took your advice on the strings too.

I'll do some experiments, plus just play the thing.... alot!

[higher1]

Also try rolling the finger to and fro about a 1/4 step at different speeds and see what kinda neat affect that has on the note

fretless is a blast!

[Brim]

TI Jazz rounds are light tension, round wound, and muwaa for days. They cut through the mix very nicely.

[Father Gino]

A fretless Sterling is my #1 bass. I love it. Sterlings will not muwahhhhh quite so much as say a passive J bass, but they will certainly do it.

How dead are the flats? Probably a hard question for you to answer if you just got it.

Rounds will help, but flats should muwahhhh some unless they're totally dead.

Low action should be good. Little to no relief on the neck is good too. As flat as you can get it without buzzing. The nut should be cut very low also, though it probably is if this bass was factory fretless.

Don't over boost the bass frequencies on your EQ. Start with the Sterling and amp set flat. Turn up the amp if you want more volume. You can also boost around 700 hz if you can. Boosting the mid control on the Sterling will help, but I don't think it's really centered @ 700.

Pluck softly, turn the amp up. Instead of fretting with your finger tips, use the flats of your fingers. Pluck the strings up near or over the neck. Experiment with your plucking attack.

Have fun. Sterlings are great fretli. Pluck softly, turn the amp up. Did I already say that?

[Father Gino]

TI Jazz rounds are light tension, round wound, and muwaa for days. They cut through the mix very nicely.

You're not supposed to say that here, but I agree

But he wants it to muwahhhhh as opposed to muwaa, so maybe we're not on the same page.

[higher1]

U gotta try EB flats! I did a whole record with those back in 97 and they are great sounding well balanced MWAAAAAAAAWAAAAAWAAAA fer days strings.

[Psycho Ward]

Hey, thanks a bunch guys!

I think the strings are very dead and will be changed in a day or two. The nut is cut low for sure and I'll check the neck tomorrow, it came from the cold midwest to Carolina. I usually don't adjust anything for a day or two, till it has a chance to adapt to it's new home.

Great suggestions,
Thanks!

[Father Gino]

MWAAAAAAAAWAAAAAWAAAA? Is that a good thing?

Actually, maybe it's good if you can't make it mwahhhhh right now. Once you figure out how to get mwahhhhh, don't forget how to get rid of it when you want to.

[Lazybite]

mmmm love the fretless mwa.....I have actually near-replicated on a normal bass when playing with a guitarist... its all about note timing... someone actually asked me if I was playing a fretless

[nspark]

mmmm love the fretless mwa.....I have actually near-replicated on a normal bass when playing with a guitarist... its all about note timing... someone actually asked me if I was playing a fretless

Yeah, I think a lot of it has to do with the "swell" of the fretless notes that you especially get when plucking near or over the end of the fingerboard - which you can probably simulate well by varying your timing. As for my fretless playing, near the bridge I get a tight, precise sound that's not particularly mwah-y, but still sounds like a good fretless. Near the end of the fingerboard, my fretless just opens up with this insane mwah-swell. Gosh, I love fretless basses. Sadly, mine isn't an EBMM, though I hope to get one eventually.

Go for rounds, though. I think I'm a little "backwards" - I have rounds on my fretless and flats on my fretted basses (including my SR5). Sure sounds good to me, though!

-Nick Park

[tkarter]

On a lefty wouldn't muwahhhh be translated to hhhhawum?


tk

[Figjam]

On my fretless bass i set it up with very little relief and action low enough that its close to the board, but not so low that the upper notes get choked.

I seem to get a very good amount of mwah.

[syciprider]

I use flats on my fretless and get some mwah. I just vary my fingering technique. I like the smooth surface of Chromes.

Anyway, congrats on the toothleff baff.