Mwah deficit

tkauf · #1 09-18-2009, 06:23 AM

Hey everyone

I've got a NS Designs/Bolin 5 string fretless bass, it has a soapbar pup and a Fishman piezo bridge.

Right now I'm using Elixirs, which are almost the tone I want, but I'm still not getting the fretless "mwah" sound I'm looking for. I've tried TI jazz flats and like the Elixirs better for the tone I'm seeking.

Anyhow, it's time for a new set o' strings. Suggestions?

thanks

fontez5 · #2 09-18-2009, 06:32 AM

Lower your action. That'd do the trick right then and there.

tkauf · #3 09-18-2009, 06:39 AM

Good suggestion, but I've already done that.

Lonnybass · #4 09-18-2009, 06:52 AM

Use EQ to boost your midrange in the neighborhood of about 800Hz - 950Hz and cut everything else - that's where the mwahhhhhhh lives.

dmusic148 · #5 09-18-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkauf

Good suggestion, but I've already done that.

OK. Also check your neck relief. Flatter is usually better, for getting that sound to happen.
If you have low action/minimal relief, there is nothing left to do. Your bass simply doesn't WANT to 'mwahhh.' It happens.

unclejane · #6 09-18-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkauf

Hey everyone

I've got a NS Designs/Bolin 5 string fretless bass, it has a soapbar pup and a Fishman piezo bridge.

Right now I'm using Elixirs, which are almost the tone I want, but I'm still not getting the fretless "mwah" sound I'm looking for. I've tried TI jazz flats and like the Elixirs better for the tone I'm seeking.

Anyhow, it's time for a new set o' strings. Suggestions?

thanks

You say this like it's a bad thing....

. Sorry, I'm not a fan of mwaaah, so....

Try a set of light guage roundwounds. Flats I've never found to give much mwaah, which is one reason I use them. Low tension rounds will bring it out a lot more. Also, play with a light touch a little closer to the neck....

LS

fretlessguy · #7 09-18-2009, 03:44 PM

Play your bass with your playing hand over the neck just slightly past the body. Otherwise you could say over the fretboard (if it had frets). When you play over the body or closer to the bridge it diminishes the mwah effect. Use light gauge (.40-.100) roundwounds, and increase your treble slightly. Also, if you use a chorus with just a slight bit of effect and the rest of the single dry, which also increases the mwah effect.

tkauf · #8 09-22-2009, 08:20 PM

When you say light gauge strings, could you give an example? What would be a good set for this type of bass? And would you use the piezo if playing over the fongerboard?

thanks

MIJ-VI · #9 09-22-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

Play your bass with your playing hand over the neck just slightly past the body. Otherwise you could say over the fretboard (if it had frets). When you play over the body or closer to the bridge it diminishes the mwah effect. Use light gauge (.40-.100) roundwounds, and increase your treble slightly. Also, if you use a chorus with just a slight bit of effect and the rest of the single dry, which also increases the mwah effect.

And, when fingering a note, gently rock your finger slightly to get a singing tone the way cellists do.

BTW. If your bass is well set up with a low action (but not too low or you'll lose too much boom) , and you apply the techniques described above, the 'mwah' will be apparent even if your bass is played acoustically.

(Please note: though I currently play an MIJ Fender VI, I have formerly played a fretless P, a fretless 5 string Steinberger, and a six string fretless F-bass.)

fryBASS · #10 09-22-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

And, when fingering a note, gently rock your finger slightly to get a singing tone the way cellists do.

Cellists? How about how bassists do??

MIJ-VI · #11 09-22-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryBASS

Cellists? How about how bassists do??

I was thinking of Yo-Yo Mwah.

tkauf · #12 09-23-2009, 04:35 AM

What would be a good set for this type of bass? And would you use the piezo if playing over the fongerboard?

Thombas · #13 09-23-2009, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkauf

What would be a good set for this type of bass? And would you use the piezo if playing over the fongerboard?

I've only played fretless for about a month, so my experience is VERY limited - but: My MB-2 is stringed with La Bella nylon wounds. I don't know if it'll work on your, but I'm getting more mwaahhhhhhh than you can imagine out of those - combined with a low set-up, as some have pointed out.

john-boro · #14 09-23-2009, 05:42 AM

THe key component of mwah is to have the neck very, very straight, and the action reasonably low. You don't want it so low that the string is just buzzing, but with a straight neck you'll be able to get it so that a significant length of the string very *lightly* touches the neck as it vibrates (as opposed to having a short length of string heavily vibrating against the neck, which would happen if the neck was too curved).

Then, by playing over the neck you can induce nice, wide vibrations in the string which will be sort of reinforced or modulated as the string touches the fingerboard, causing the note to 'bloom'. That is mwah.

deckard · #15 09-23-2009, 10:48 AM

Some good suggestions above...

I esp. agree with using light(er) gauge roundwound strings (I recently went from Roto RS66LDs to Roto RS66LCs & got more mwah), plucking over the neck, very little neck relief.

You say you've lowered your action - playing exclusively fretless for years now, I find that getting the right action height for max mwah on each string can be somewhat time-consuming & often involves adjusting each saddle as little as 1/8 of a turn at a time... I also find that lowering the saddle more than necessary and adjusting "up" from there works better than adjusting "down".

Too, I found I have to basically disregard having "even" action that follows the radius of the fingerboard, if you know what I mean - I go for wherever each individual string sounds best mwah-wise.

Turn up & pluck lighter.

Lastly, using the tip (less mwah) or the pad (more mwah) of the finger can definitely affect mwah.

Hope that all helps...

standupright · #16 09-23-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclejane

You say this like it's a bad thing....

. Sorry, I'm not a fan of mwaaah, so....

Try a set of light guage roundwounds. Flats I've never found to give much mwaah, which is one reason I use them. Low tension rounds will bring it out a lot more. Also, play with a light touch a little closer to the neck....

LS

+1 for me. it sounds like the player is hunting for the notes.

and this video always cracks me up - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_u35sHICjE

Lesfunk · #17 09-23-2009, 11:00 AM

Low action
Flat neck relief
Roundwound strings
Play closer to the neck

Good suggestions

bassteban · #18 09-23-2009, 11:27 AM

Agreed on pretty much all of the above, plus:
I've had a couple of basses that really did not want to mwah(one that would NOT- for me), even after applying all the setup & technique tips already mentioned, & a couple that do very well(one that is out-of-control).
THAT said, I've heard Norm Stockton make a Carvin ABG w/flats mwah like nobody's business. Steve Lawson also makes flats sound round. My point? There's much in the hands(IMO, maybe mostly), often much in the bass.