Fretless question

[ptg]

I am throughly enjoying my new SR4 fretless. (See "No longer a virgin" thread for some lousy pics.)

However, I have noticed that once you get to the high b on the g string the sustain goes down. Not quite dead from there on up. but more like a diminished response. Anybody else experince this? Is there anything I can do? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, knuckleheads!!

 

[Eggman]

My guess - the shorter string length - vibrating between bridge and wood - the "fretting" finger acts a bit like a mute - causing the shorter cycle vibration to decay quicker. More resistance than a fret = shorter sustain. YMMV

 

[saxnbass]

I believe that that's just the nature of fretless as your finger meat acts as kind of a mute, where as with fretted basses, the fret is a piece of metal that makes a clean "cut" and nothing pads after that to mute.

 

[adouglas]

I think Eggman's got it...shorter, lighter string = less vibrating mass = faster decay when muted. This would explain why you're experiencing the issue only on the G string, high up, and nowhere else.

Fool around a bit with string height. It makes a really huge difference in fretless tone, something I never realized until I actually lowered the action on my first fretless one day just for grins. The lower you get it, the more 'mwah.' On the flip side, you also get a bit less sustain.

 

[ibanez2005]

I dunno if my SR4 has a duff G string or developing a dead spot on the neck, about 7 frets half way along the neck are very dull and dont sustain, it wasnt like it when i bought it so im hoping its a duff string.