Will a compressor help my fretless ?

[the low one]

I have a MIM fretless jazz strung with flatwounds. I love the full sound of both pickups wide open but sometimes this can lack attack. I don't want to squash all the dynamics out of the tone so will a mild compressor help with this?

[SteveC]

Possibly. I sometimes like a little compression on fretless.

[Shmone]

I might be off-topic but you can try roundwounds for more attack.

[the low one]

Originally Posted by Shmone

I might be off-topic but you can try roundwounds for more attack.

I've tried rounds but prefer flats. I know backing off the neck pickup puts a bit more attack in the tone but then I lose the bottom end. I like the darker tone you get from both pickuops but just want to keep the attack at the from of the note.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by the low one

I've tried rounds but prefer flats. I know backing off the neck pickup puts a bit more attack in the tone but then I lose the bottom end. I like the darker tone you get from both pickuops but just want to keep the attack at the from of the note.

Not to knock on your bass, but I had a MIM fretless jazz myself.
Still the stock pickups in it?
Maybe other pickups will help, I have found them to be lifeless. (the bass I had was early 2000s)

Sure, a compressor might help, it can add a little punch but don't expect wonders.
If the attack isn't there to begin with, not much you can do.
Maybe the opposite thing: an expander like the Steel Leather might work for you. Although I tried this too and didn't had great results on fretless with it.


I can't be of much help... since I only play roundwounds on fretless, and I am not much an expert on pickups and electronics.
Just thought I'd bring up the idea of different pickups.

[the low one]

Originally Posted by René_Julien

Not to knock on your bass, but I had a MIM fretless jazz myself.
Still the stock pickups in it?
Maybe other pickups will help, I have found them to be lifeless. (the bass I had was early 2000s)

Sure, a compressor might help, it can add a little punch but don't expect wonders.
If the attack isn't there to begin with, not much you can do.
Maybe the opposite thing: an expander like the Steel Leather might work for you. Although I tried this too and didn't had great results on fretless with it.


I can't be of much help... since I only play roundwounds on fretless, and I am not much an expert on pickups and electronics.
Just thought I'd bring up the idea of different pickups.

I'm sure you're right that new pickups would help. Mine is a 2005 model though with stock pickups which is when I believe Fender upgraded them in the MIM basses.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by the low one

I'm sure you're right that new pickups would help. Mine is a 2005 model though with stock pickups which is when I believe Fender upgraded them in the MIM basses.

I don't have any experience with different jazz pickups. Maybe it would help you, maybe not.
Someone experienced on this could guide you.


I love roundwounds on fretless because of the attack.
(my needs may be very different from yours.)


If you want to stick with roundwounds... how about a Steve Harris signature set?
I had them on a fretted precision bass and I loved the tone... as far as I know roundwounds.

[odin70]

Originally Posted by René_Julien

If you want to stick with roundwounds... how about a Steve Harris signature set?
I had them on a fretted precision bass and I loved the tone... as far as I know roundwounds.

You mean flats? Great strings, but on a fretless...

[the low one]

Originally Posted by René_Julien

I don't have any experience with different jazz pickups. Maybe it would help you, maybe not.
Someone experienced on this could guide you.


I love roundwounds on fretless because of the attack.
(my needs may be very different from yours.)


If you want to stick with roundwounds... how about a Steve Harris signature set?
I had them on a fretted precision bass and I loved the tone... as far as I know roundwounds.

I'm not in the market for new pickups but thanks for the suggestion.

I just like the soft attack I get from flats usually they cut through OK, it's just when they don't that I want that extrat attack or punch I was thinking a compressor might give.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by odin70

You mean flats? Great strings, but on a fretless...

oops, yeah I meant flats.

I never tried them on my fretless. I still have a set, I should try it out.
On all my fretless basses I have DR HiBeams (heaviest gauge).

Yeah, the Steve Harris strings are a very strange animal, surely not everyone's cup of tea.
I suggested that jokingly.

Originally Posted by the low one

I'm not in the market for new pickups but thanks for the suggestion.

I just like the soft attack I get from flats usually they cut through OK, it's just when they don't that I want that extrat attack or punch I was thinking a compressor might give.

Well, since last week I got a new fretless bass.
It's a J/MM, first pickup config like this I own, I'm usually a P guy.
The pickup at the neck is a Seymour Duncan Basslines Quarter Pound Jazz (SJB-3n).
Still on a learning curve with that pickup. (the MM at the bridge is idiot-proof )
I always have a compressor on, I have various compressors, recently started using a Maxon CP9Pro+.
(not that I am an expert on compressors, I use them with the desired results, that's all)

I did noticed with the compressor OFF, and the J only on it lost articulation. It sounded more muddy, while with my compressor on it sounded tighter. (That J is a growling thing, still getting used to it.)


Not sure if this experience can help you.


I am all for using a compressor, it works for me personally.
But not specific to help out my tone on fretless. I have a compressor set up the same when I use a fretted.

[the low one]

Originally Posted by René_Julien

oops, yeah I meant flats.

I never tried them on my fretless. I still have a set, I should try it out.
On all my fretless basses I have DR HiBeams (heaviest gauge).

Yeah, the Steve Harris strings are a very strange animal, surely not everyone's cup of tea.
I suggested that jokingly.



Well, since last week I got a new fretless bass.
It's a J/MM, first pickup config like this I own, I'm usually a P guy.
The pickup at the neck is a Seymour Duncan Basslines Quarter Pound Jazz (SJB-3n).
Still on a learning curve with that pickup. (the MM at the bridge is idiot-proof )
I always have a compressor on, I have various compressors, recently started using a Maxon CP9Pro+.
(not that I am an expert on compressors, I use them with the desired results, that's all)

I did noticed with the compressor OFF, and the J only on it lost articulation. It sounded more muddy, while with my compressor on it sounded tighter. (That J is a growling thing, still getting used to it.)


Not sure if this experience can help you.


I am all for using a compressor, it works for me personally.
But not specific to help out my tone on fretless. I have a compressor set up the same when I use a fretted.

Thanks René_Julien, yes it does help me. Sometimes I want that lose dub type tone and other times I want ti tighten things up so it sounds like a compressor is the way to go.

[bongomania]

Be sure to pick a comp that ether has an attack knob, or an inherently slowish attack (like the CP9Pro+). If the compression attack is too fast, you may not get the tight sharp attack sound you want. Remember fast compression attack = slow note attack.

[the low one]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Be sure to pick a comp that ether has an attack knob, or an inherently slowish attack (like the CP9Pro+). If the compression attack is too fast, you may not get the tight sharp attack sound you want. Remember fast compression attack = slow note attack.

Thanks bongomania. The Dod bass compressor can be picked for not a lot and it has an attack knob. Your review wasn't too bad so it may be a good place to start.

[Crabby]

I really like a compressor on fretted or fretless bass. i also have a MIM fretless Jazz. i did upgrade the pickups and it made a huge difference to the tone. I use the Diamond compressor and really like it.

[the low one]

I like to have as few controls as possible to play with so I'm thinking of trying the MXR dyna comp. Will this do what I want which is to add a little punch without spoiling the dynamics of my tone, and add a small volume boost to bring the level of my fretless up to my other bass?

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by the low one

I like to have as few controls as possible to play with so I'm thinking of trying the MXR dyna comp. Will this do what I want which is to add a little punch without spoiling the dynamics of my tone, and add a small volume boost to bring the level of my fretless up to my other bass?

I like the Dyna Comp, but the ones I tried were a bit noisy, and it seemed to add a bit of distortion. (?? or another term)
Not useless on bass, if you like what it does.
IMO this is a great compressor for guitar.

For clean and transparant compression I went with the Maxon.
And easy, simple good controls.

I even prefer a stock Boss CS-3 over the MXR when it comes to sound quality, and the tone I am after. YMMV

Like you said: try before you buy.