• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why Fretwrap?

Update 3.The Fretwraps I ordered through the Gruv Gear site are the same size as the Musicians Friend Ebay site.Too small.
Watch out!The sizes aren't as shown below!

fretwraps-dims.png


Again!!The "Large"size that they send me are only 6.125 inches long!NOT 7.5 inches!The mute pad is 2.5 inches long!That makes it a SMALL!The strap is not long enough to go through the loop to double back on itself to grab the velcro!
Instead of returning them a second time,I gave them to a friend who plays bass.

Now a third try!I have ordered a set of XL FretWraps.
Maybe the XL will be 7.1 inches!!
 
Last edited:
Alright.The XL FretWraps have arrived.Snapshot_2015103.jpg

Unstretched it is about 9 inches long.Snapshot_2015103 (3).jpg
This will work as I have enough belt to double back and attach without it being way too tight.Snapshot_2015103 (4).jpg

And it CAN slide up over the nut.Before it couldn't.It was too tight.Too small.

So just be wary.The one you order may not be the exact size you want.
 
Last edited:
I'm gonna ask this because its annoying the crap out of me and maybe I just can't figure out and need someone wiser than me to help. I have fret wraps I use 1 on my bass and it makes all my notes go sharp it kinda acts like a capo. Is there something I should do to figure this out. Its pretty weird and it obviously makes playing annoying when the opens are sharp and the fretted notes are in tune.
 
Try loosening it up so it doesn't push down on the strings so much. You want it to have a light touch, similar to a (correctly applied) palm mute. You may then find that you need to choke it up to a higher fret to get it to damp the same amount. They're really not intended to be used with open note playing so much as with tapping, for example.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout
I'm gonna ask this because its annoying the crap out of me and maybe I just can't figure out and need someone wiser than me to help. I have fret wraps I use 1 on my bass and it makes all my notes go sharp it kinda acts like a capo. Is there something I should do to figure this out. Its pretty weird and it obviously makes playing annoying when the opens are sharp and the fretted notes are in tune.
It's too tight!Loosen it up!
If you can't then it's too small.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Whippet
Interesting. This thread is the first I've ever heard of it. Back in the day we just used a scrunchie. Victor Wooten was the first guy I saw with one.
At the risk of sounding cynical, It seems like they found a way to get players to pay 30 bucks when they only needed to spend 30 cents
I've never used either--but I've heard of guys doing that and seen pictures too.
 
Wow I didn't know that there were so many size choices.
I just use a hair tie I got from my neice, it works fine but those fret wraps do look more pro.
Can the fret wrap do the harmonic trick that victor Wooten does?
The one where he isolates a harmonic node so that the 'open' a harmonic is sounded.
 
Then you need the next largest.
So that it can be looser.
It's supposed to be loose enough to mute sympathetic vibrations.But not so tight as to act as a capo.

Ah okay thanks mate. I ordered a medium just now to see what it will do. I'm at the same time working on my open string muting techniques to have the best possible sound. Thank you for the input I really appreciate it more than you know.
 
Last edited:
Seems plausible. On a guitar, you can clean up a lot of extra pinging sounds by dampening behind the nut, and also dampening vibrato springs, too. It doesn't matter 90% of the time, but when playing very percussive stuff on a very clean amp, it certainly makes a real difference.

Definitely. In my studio we keep two socks (clean, never worn :P ) for exactly that purpose and use them frequently.
 
I bought one of these on a whim. Am still deciding what I think. have been playing with the adjustment (yet a another knob to twiddle) I hear ya when you say it's either too much or not enough. Am leaning toward the not enough camp, but still think it makes a difference. for me it, in a way kinda facilitates the Mo-Town and almost Reggae feel. not sure, but I think i like it. It does seem to do something to note definition even when you push it up past the nut and leave it pretty loose. Will probably stay on my bass until something happens that motivates me to take it off.
 
If a person has both a 5 string and a 4x4 bass would a Medium FretWrap work fine for the two?

In my experience, no it will not fit both necks.

Is it considered cheating if you use those with normal technique to stop unwanted overtones?

GruvGear have started advertising them to be used this way but, like I said years ago, I would never recommend somebody use FretWraps to clean up poor technique. That is relying on a crutch and will hamper your abilities in the long run.

For those that don't know, FretWraps have been updatewd and improved. I highly recommend the version 2.0 model.

Tried the new Fretwraps - Huge Improvement
 
If a person has both a 5 string and a 4x4 bass would a Medium FretWrap work fine for the two?

I concur. I have a Medium for 5's and (actually just last night) tried it on my 4 and it works, but the pad portion of the fret wrap overlaps on both the treble and bass side of the neck. Not bad, and the medium would work in a pinch on a 4, but they make these things in sizes for a reason.