Best Set-up for a Fretless

[Zoidberg523]

Hi guys. I have a Mexican Fender fretless J-Bass, and I've been playing for about 2 years now, but I'm coming to realize that I'm not getting as much tone and response from it as I should. I have plain flatwounds on it, and my action is set extremely low(we're talking, about 1/8 from the fretboard here), and although my notes are clear, it's just not as fun as some of the other fretless basses I've tried. Should I raise my action, get new pups, go to tapewounds, what? I'm counting on you guys!!!

 

[Blues Cat]

I'd say use roundwounds.

 

[ubone]

start using roundwound strings. If your action is real low then I'm assuming your playing with a light touch. The roundwounds shouldn't cause any harm to the fingerboard and the sound will just jump out and bite you.

Steve513

 

[4 stringed fury]

I have that same bass and I use it like it has frets, though I don't know why but it seems to work pretty well like that; just I can't get awesome harmonics but still pretty good.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

i COMPLETELY agree with the roundwound comments!

the only bass i didn't use rounds on was my rob allen.

the rounds REALLY bring out the tone.

here's a recent example of my Squier VM fretless.

Link Removed

i know i've posted this in other threads (sorry), but the TONE of this monster is just incredible.

and for about $260!!! i've never been happier!

it just oozes!

again, sorry for multiple posts of this clip.

f

 

[Zoidberg523]

Thanks for your advice guys!

 

[spade2you]

You could also try Bright Flats, which supposedly sound close to rounds, altough I've never tried it. I use both rounds and flats on certain basses. Perhaps I'm a tad bit anal, but I tend not to use rounds on anything softer than ebony, even then, I prefer coated or semisynthetic woods since I play fretless a lot. I guess I wouldn't mind a whole lot if I weren't using a fretless a whole lot.

 

[chroma601]

I've been thinking of trying LaBella quarter wound strings on my fretless. Roundwound sound in a smoother string, supposedly. Then I keep hearing great things about TI strings, so I'm torn over what to try first.

 

[gjooro]

I have plain flatwounds on it, and my action is set extremely low(we're talking, about 1/8 from the fretboard here),:

1/8 isn't low, especially not extremely low. On my fretted I had 1/32 on strings A to C and I consider that low. Now it's higher.
On fretless it could go even lower, especially with flats.

Rounds will bring that extra bite

 

[Dan55]

TI flats and raise your action just a bit. It'll make a world of difference.

 

[dvh]

I'd say try it with the action raised a little. Low action isn't always where it's at even though popular opinion seems to be so. With the action a little higher you have more plucking/digging in options. I find it a bit freeing actually as there's no need to concentrate on plucking lightly to avoid unwanted clacking, etc. Consider the action on an upright bass, afterall.