How do fretless players get that classic fretless sound?

[bassguy74]

First, for an example of what I mean by "that classic fretless sound", watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCd2h6KPgL8

So I've always wondered: do you get that by just changing your bass and amp controls, or is there a specific effects pedal box that does it? Just curious, for the day someday when I do fretless. hehe

[bongomania]

That's a chorus effect plus (probably) compression. Pino got one of his classic sounds by using a Boss OC-2 octave-down effect, and playing his lines one octave up from normal.

[bassguy74]

Originally Posted by bongomania

That's a chorus effect plus (probably) compression. Pino got one of his classic sounds by using a Boss OC-2 octave-down effect, and playing his lines one octave up from normal.

So that's it? You just plug in those effects and just go for it? No changing of the amp controls for tone or anything? lol

[bongomania]

Well I mean a huge percentage of it is technique, and then having a bass with that upper-mid-throaty tone like an SR or Jazz. That style of playing and tone would sound similar at a wide range of amp EQ settings, so really you should think of amp tone settings as like "final polishing" rather than a fundament of that sound.

[conebeckham]

Relatively low action, boost to the upper mids, pluck up by/near the neck..those are the keys.

[metalinthenight]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Well I mean a huge percentage of it is technique, and then having a bass with that upper-mid-throaty tone like an SR or Jazz. That style of playing and tone would sound similar at a wide range of amp EQ settings, so really you should think of amp tone settings as like "final polishing" rather than a fundament of that sound.

+1 Not that I am a big fretless player, but I have noticed that when I'm playing "correctly" (whatever that means) that "mwuaah" comes through really nicely. There are just moments when it really purrs. I think that with a decent fretless (as stated above) and the right technique you'll get that sound without pedals and tons of EQ.

[bassbrad]

Touch, technique and proper set up are more important than what you do with effects or your amp. Pino used a Boss OC2 and some chorus quite a bit and was very fond of his Trace Elliot amps. I use a Submarine to put the finishing touch on my fretless tone.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Touch, technique and proper set up are more important than what you do with effects or your amp.

This is absolutely the case. However, if you're looking for effects that are often used for that kind of a fretless tone you're talking about chorus, compression and reverb with octaver (specifically the OC-2) providing a synthy addition at times.

The chorus (and less often) the reverb add a thickness to the sound and the compression evens out the volume, generally adds "punch" and definitely allows harmonics to "pop" a bit more.

[raymondl3]

To answer the original question, I would say good technique, a good set up, and a Fender-like bass with the bridge pickup dominant.

[Mad Maestro]

The mwah sound - Fretless Bass, very low action, round wound strings, boost the mids, use the bridge pickup and play near the neck (more mwah). I never tried to achieve the mwah sound on a fretted bass using effects. Time to experiment with the ideas already mentioned.

[bongomania]

Note that the guy in the posted vid has the classic tone in spades, and he's plucking back by the bridge, not by the neck.

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by bassguy74

First, for an example of what I mean by "that classic fretless sound", watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCd2h6KPgL8

So I've always wondered: do you get that by just changing your bass and amp controls, or is there a specific effects pedal box that does it? Just curious, for the day someday when I do fretless. hehe

It's the toilet paper.