Mwah-ha-ha . . .

[Lujon]

I recently bought a fretless bass that has NO mwah sound (not my favorite word but best way to describe it). It's a 2008 mim jazz bass with rosewood fingerboard, roundwound strings, nice straight neck and low action but it sounds exactly like a fretted jazz. I like the sound of a jazz bass but I already own a fretted jazz and bought this because I was looking for the sound of a fretless jazz bass.

This is the fifth fretless bass I've owned and all the previous ones had the sound one would expect from a fretless. I'm more perplexed than bothered by it, I'd really like to figure out what's different about this one. Any ideas?

 

[PWRL]

Was it converted to fretless?

 

[rickdog]

Maybe try adjusting the action from "low" to "ridiculously low"?

Maybe try different strings? I just switched to LaBella gold white nylon strings on my fretless - plenty of "mwah" (I agree, there needs to be a better word for this).

 

[Lujon]

Would worn out old strings possibly cause the issue? I just bought the bass so I really don't know how old the strings are. Guess that's worth a try.

I like the idea of setting the action even lower but I tried that got too much buzzing.

And no, this is not a converted bass, it's a factory made fretless.

 

[FunkHead]

Lower the action even more.

 

[Lujon]

Lower the action even more.

I feel like Scotty, "She can'nae take any more Captain!"

But I'll give it a try.

 

[5andFretless]

The sound you are looking for is not very pronounced below the 5th fret. Even on Tony Franklin the sound you desire does not become pronounced until above the 7th fret. Run a scale starting on the 5th fret of the E string and see if what you are looking for develops as you go up.

 

[Ketbass]

This is accurate 5and Fretless. My MIM jazz fretless is the same way. Some of it is action height, some of it string selection. I have TI flats on my KS BSR6 and it mwahs like there's no tomorrow. The TI flats are a more supple string and lends itself to doing that. Could also be the fretboard design/build.

 

[Erik Turkman]

I’ve found the the mwah is more pronounced on harder fingerboards, which is why some folks will coat a rosewood board with epoxy. I’ve got a MIM fretless jazz bass that has plenty of mwah, but the fingerboard is pau ferro, which tends to be harder than rosewood.

 

[Lujon]

That's a good point about the fingerboard. I also have an Ibanez GWB35 with ebonol board and it's got the sound for days.

Also, since nobody likes the term "mwah", I'm just going to start calling that sound "glavin flavin". Like, "Wow, that bass has so much glavin flavin!"

 

[Joe Nerve]

Maybe try adjusting the action from "low" to "ridiculously low"?

Maybe try different strings? I just switched to LaBella gold white nylon strings on my fretless - plenty of "mwah" (I agree, there needs to be a better word for this).

That's what I was about to suggest.

I have an acoustic that I had lots of different strings on. No mwhah... just a thumpy sort of sound that wasn't incredibly inspiring. I had a set of nylon tapewounds laying around, threw them on, and mwwwwWOW! Its like a completely different bass.

 

[JRA]

This is the fifth fretless bass I've owned and all the previous ones had the sound one would expect from a fretless. I'm more perplexed than bothered by it, I'd really like to figure out what's different about this one. Any ideas?

sounds perplexing! i'd sure like to hear it --- post a clip if you can.

 

[Carl Hillman]

...it sounds exactly like a fretted jazz. ...but I...bought this because I was looking for the sound of a fretless jazz bass.

Don't play so in tune.

(But seriously, your fingerboard is probably too soft. I have a Sabre with a rosewood fingerboard. I didn't really mwah until it was epoxied.)

 

[Pings Bass]

mwah sound (not my favorite word but best way to describe it).

"mwah" (I agree, there needs to be a better word for this).

I think "bloom" is broadly accepted

Sorry bout your bass. Not sure what to say, but that i concur the effect it's typically more pronounced higher on the neck, and i think I've generally developed my technique to get more or less of it as desired. I don't think about it, so i couldn't tell you how to do it!

 

[rickdog]

Would worn out old strings possibly cause the issue? I just bought the bass so I really don't know how old the strings are. Guess that's worth a try.

Yes - old, dead strings won't have much tone of any sort. If you get new ones, maybe try a light gauge. Your bass deserves to start its life with you with new strings.

I like the idea of setting the action even lower but I tried that got too much buzzing.

There's a really delicate balance between action and relief. How straight is that "nice, straight" neck? (Capo near the nut and hold down a string at the other end of the fingerboard to check.) Too straight and it'll buzz. Too much relief and no mwah (or bloom, or gavin flavin). Adjust relief a tiny amount, then adjust action, see if that helps.

 

[micguy]

The sound you are looking for is not very pronounced below the 5th fret.

If you set up a fretless with a hard board (ebonol in my case) and set the neck up with little relief, you'll get MORE mwah down there than you will higher up.

 

[DWBass]

I had a Yamaha fretless that had the Mwah unplugged but noting when plugged in. I sold it. No more fretless for me.

 

[Gigas444]

Had the same problem on mine, epoxy is the way!

 

[tubatodd]

My only fretless is an Ibanez SRH model. It has tons of mwah. It came stock with flatwound strings. They seem perfect for the bass and provides the mwah we all love. So yeah, I'd suggest exploring different strings.

 

[InhumanResource]

I recently bought a fretless bass that has NO mwah sound (not my favorite word but best way to describe it). It's a 2008 mim jazz bass with rosewood fingerboard, roundwound strings, nice straight neck and low action but it sounds exactly like a fretted jazz. I like the sound of a jazz bass but I already own a fretted jazz and bought this because I was looking for the sound of a fretless jazz bass.

This is the fifth fretless bass I've owned and all the previous ones had the sound one would expect from a fretless. I'm more perplexed than bothered by it, I'd really like to figure out what's different about this one. Any ideas?

I remember these not being particularly giving in the mwah department, however in general it is a setup issue. The goal is a setup that offers just a tiiiiiny bit of fret buzz (please excuse the expression) between the vibrating string and the board.