Sterling Fretless Setup

[Mantaray]

Hi there.

A friend of mine bought a new fretless SUB sterling and gave it to me to try it out in my new studio.

I tried to record the bass track for a session using this bass and I used the Avalon AD2022. The sound was very muddy, and the mwah couldn't easinly be heard. I made every possible setting on the onboard eq but still no results. Another thing is that the 'click-clack' sound of the strings hitting the fretboard is even louder than the actual notes themselves. I have an el cheapo fretless which I bought new for 200 pounds and it sounds(fretless-wise) better than this instrument. What kind of adjustments would you recommend? Note that the neck is quite straight, the action is very low and the pickup is on a medium height.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Hmmm, maybe the action is a bit too low. Playing higher up the fretboard will induce more mwah, as will using roundwound strings. On the other hand, using TI flats should quieten any noise and give more thump.

 

[adouglas]

Yeah, it sounds like it needs a simple trussrod tweak.

Does the SUB have the same trussrod wheel at the base of the neck as the other EBMM basses? If so, loosen it a bit...maybe a quarter turn.

In other words, stick an appropriate item...small screwdriver or allen key, say...in the wheel to use as a lever and as you hold the bass in playing position and look down at the wheel, move the lever up towards you. No need to take the strings off...just check the tuning when you're done.

 

[Golem]

Some flats are more prone to "whack-whack", especially Roto black nylon. OTOH, if you get the set up just right, they have a certain URB-ish character. Agreeing here with others that too flat a FB is not always the best set up. Really varies with the strings. That's one of the cool things about an EB FL, that little easy-to-use neck rod wheel. It's the "dial-a-mwah" wheel. If you like a really flat board and don't want RW, try D'Addario 1/2 rounds.

Also, more gain and a lighter touch will reduce whacking. Plucking nearer to the bridge also helps. I vary my plucking spots in response to left hand shifts. IOW, I don't choose to be 'at the PU' or 'at the 20th fretline'. I choose to be up from the bridge by 1/3 or 1/4 or 1/5th of the speaking length of the string for the tone I want for whatever I'm playing. This means the left hand is 'pushing the right hand around' as I play.

 

[adouglas]

a lighter touch will reduce whacking.

Careful there, fella. This is a family-oriented forum.

Wait a minute, what am I SAYING?