ok, heres my situation. i play in a christian progressive metal band. so my primary instrument is my 5 string. theres one part in one of ous songs im going for a fretless sound. ive upped my mids, lowered my highs, added chorus, and am only using my bridge pickup. without having to get a bulky multi effect processor that im not gonna use most of the effects, what else can i do to get the fretless sound. and yes, i know nothing will replace an actual fretless. any help would be greatly appriciated. thanks again.
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trying to get a fretless sound
- Thread starter frazierbass
- Start date
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One of the effects in my old Zoom 506II is designed to sound like a fretless and it actually isn't too bad in that regard!
I'm at work at present so I can't tell you what it is or how the sound is made up.
I'll try to remember to have a look tonight for you.
Hopefully ou should be able to mold a similar sound out of what you have. Fingers crossed.
Greg
One of the effects in my old Zoom 506II is designed to sound like a fretless and it actually isn't too bad in that regard!
I'm at work at present so I can't tell you what it is or how the sound is made up.
I'll try to remember to have a look tonight for you.
Hopefully ou should be able to mold a similar sound out of what you have. Fingers crossed.
Greg
Put another fretless neck on your body
, or you could remove the frets above the twelfth. I did that on my Dean, and its pretty sweet.
, or you could remove the frets above the twelfth. I did that on my Dean, and its pretty sweet.
On top of what you have already done regarding the EQ and pickup selection, try fingering the string over the last 5 frets of so - this way the attack of the string is moved from directly above the pickups and feels 'softer and smoother'. If you play here by stroking the string rather than hitting it against the frets you'll find it helps.
Applying a similar technique to a Fretless neck helps simulate an upright too...
Applying a similar technique to a Fretless neck helps simulate an upright too...
To be honest, nothing will get you fretless sound other then playing a bass that doesn't have frets... I tried pedals that had fretless simulation on them and they all sounded rather funny to me (no offense to people who actually like those).
This might get you closer to the tone, although there really is no way to get the mwah sound out of a fretted bass. Compress the crap out of it and turn up the gain a bit on the amp. Turn your neck pickup up (less definition to the notes than the bridge pickup), and tone down (or bass up if you play an active bass). This won't get you a Jaco-esque fretless, but it will get you a upright-ish fretless sound. I am both an upright, and fretless and fretted player, so see how that goes for you. Hopefully it'll help you out some!
Awww now thats just mean. Funny, but mean.
One way you may be able to simulate a fretless (or at least make a sound that would similarly fit) is with a wide-sweeping envelope filter to make your attack not sound like a fretted bass. Basically it'd sound like a fretless bass played through an envelope filter (so I dont know if this is really a relevant suggestion) but if it was set to wide sweep and not "quack" I'd expect a very smooth sound, and if you had a dual humbucker bass (good guess considering you play a 5 string in a metal band?) try going 100% bridge pickup and playing right down by the bridge. It gets the burpy Jaco-esque tone that most people associate with fretless bass, just without the "mwah" slides.
Do you have a beater bass you don't care about? Defret it. I think there's a thread in the setup/repair forum about it stickied. I suggest an oil finish for the board. You can get by filling in the slots with wood filler, but thin veneer strips are better.
If you don't have a beater bass, you can probably get a cheap squier used or an SX.
If you don't have a beater bass, you can probably get a cheap squier used or an SX.
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Disclaimer (Before the TB torches come out):
All the guys who suggested that to achieve a fretless sound you should use a fretless bass are dead right. This is the best idea... ok TB torchers? LOL!
My little Zoom 506II has what is claimed to be a fretless-like effect. I think it's ok, though I'd rather have a fretless bass.
According to the Owners Manual, the effect is made up of:
1. "Compression" 3
2. "Clean" 2 (They say "attentuated mids" in the Owners Manual)
3. "EQ" 4 (They say "attentuated highs and emphasised lows" in the Owners Manual...... Read 2 above then go figure!)
4. "Contour" 6 (They say "increased boost in high range" in the Owners Manual)
5. "Znr/Amp" 9 (They say "A more efficient noise reduction" in the Owners Manual)
6. Reverb (They say its a light, warm tape style echo in the Owners Manual. The timing of the echo is 240ms)
As I say, I think it sounds reasonably good. Others would no doubt say its crap.
Hopefully you can head in the right direction in the absence of the real deal.
..... and no torchers, I'm not doing any sound bites because:
a) I'm sure I don't play as well as most of you.
b) I don't know how to upload sound bites anyway!
Greg
Disclaimer (Before the TB torches come out):
All the guys who suggested that to achieve a fretless sound you should use a fretless bass are dead right. This is the best idea... ok TB torchers? LOL!
My little Zoom 506II has what is claimed to be a fretless-like effect. I think it's ok, though I'd rather have a fretless bass.
According to the Owners Manual, the effect is made up of:
1. "Compression" 3
2. "Clean" 2 (They say "attentuated mids" in the Owners Manual)
3. "EQ" 4 (They say "attentuated highs and emphasised lows" in the Owners Manual...... Read 2 above then go figure!)
4. "Contour" 6 (They say "increased boost in high range" in the Owners Manual)
5. "Znr/Amp" 9 (They say "A more efficient noise reduction" in the Owners Manual)
6. Reverb (They say its a light, warm tape style echo in the Owners Manual. The timing of the echo is 240ms)
As I say, I think it sounds reasonably good. Others would no doubt say its crap.
Hopefully you can head in the right direction in the absence of the real deal.
..... and no torchers, I'm not doing any sound bites because:
a) I'm sure I don't play as well as most of you.
b) I don't know how to upload sound bites anyway!
Greg
IME the only way to get a fretless sound is to play a fretless. This may be the effects forum but let's not kid ourselves here.
This really depends on the right compressor. A lot of compressors just don't squash enough no matter how much you turn the knob.tjnkoo said:
I have an Aguilar and it does a great job. In my experience compressors can squish the signal too much, but rarely not enough, haha.
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That's right
..... and the only way to get a hall reverb is to play in a hall.
........and the only way to get an octave sound is to play an 8 string.
....... and the only way to adjust pitch is with the tuners.
....... and the only way to get an overdrive sound is to overdrive your amp at the input stage.
... etc.
Let's not kid ourselves here. Who needs effects?
Greg
That's right
..... and the only way to get a hall reverb is to play in a hall.
........and the only way to get an octave sound is to play an 8 string.
....... and the only way to adjust pitch is with the tuners.
....... and the only way to get an overdrive sound is to overdrive your amp at the input stage.
... etc.
Let's not kid ourselves here. Who needs effects?
Greg
I have one of those! I also have a Flea pedal. A Geddy pedal. A Timmy C pedal. A Justin from Tool pedal. And the guy from Muse pedal! Works....not so well.
You guys did read the part in the OP's question where he mentioned PART of a song needs a fret less tone? I hardly think changing basses mid song is an appropriate solution.
I do agree with another comment tho regarding compression. It's got to have quite transparent sound. Use one with an attack control if you can and set that as fast as it goes. A little light overdrive after compression wouldn't go amiss either.
I do agree with another comment tho regarding compression. It's got to have quite transparent sound. Use one with an attack control if you can and set that as fast as it goes. A little light overdrive after compression wouldn't go amiss either.
Play with a slide! Maybe a clay one, or any slide that isn't going to be as bright as a metal one.
