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- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,016
- 1
- 31,730
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
This is really enjoyable for me to follow. I have a real love for fretless bass, even though my current band has very little call for it. I find it a very expressive instrument, capable of more nuances than fretted, and therefore a bit more challenging to play. But it’s great to see you pull off such a beautiful build, and then embrace the challenge of learning how to play it well. Brava!
Rôckhewer
Commercial User
- Feb 28, 2015
- 2,922
- 9,028
- Disclosures
- Owner/Builder- RockHewer Custom Guitars LLC
For the most part, I would agree...
However, on my first fretless... I noticed that AFTER I coated the fingerboard with CA, and just normal fingering ( without any lateral vibrato technique)...I was hearing not so much "mwah"...as a general fretless-y "blossoming" of the note. A characteristic that was not apparent on the raw board.
This is why I am a big proponent of coating fretless boards .... if a lot o' mwah is desired.
But of course the type of fb wood has a lot to do with it too.
So in general.... my thought is... the smoother the board, (less surface defects, like open grain)... the better the blossom or mwwaahhh.
But also... it is mostly picked up or intensified ...closer to the bridge.
So there's that.
Installed the control cavity cover. Wondering now if I should have went with a couple of magnets. Heh, always second guessing myself...
Well now I won't have to order strings for a while as I have 100 individuals, from .025 to .140 gauge.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,016
- 1
- 31,730
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
drool
Holy moly....Where'd you get those from?....Well now I won't have to order strings for a while as I have 100 individuals, from .025 to .140 gauge.
Love the case...
From our very own classified section. The case was what sold me. That, and the great price for what amounts to 20 sets of strings.
Truss rod cover is on, but not permanently mounted. Just press fit under the strings. Still not sure if I'm going with this one, but it seems trc's are a weak area for me.
Id make a triangular TRC that mimics the V of the tuners. If you have the patience to make it out of matching aligned laminates, that would be The Bomb!
For the most part, I would agree...
However, on my first fretless... I noticed that AFTER I coated the fingerboard with CA, and just normal fingering ( without any lateral vibrato technique)...I was hearing not so much "mwah"...as a general fretless-y "blossoming" of the note. A characteristic that was not apparent on the raw board.
This is why I am a big proponent of coating fretless boards .... if a lot o' mwah is desired.
But of course the type of fb wood has a lot to do with it too.
So in general.... my thought is... the smoother the board, (less surface defects, like open grain)... the better the blossom or mwwaahhh.
But also... it is mostly picked up or intensified ...closer to the bridge.
So there's that.
I've built a few fretless in my day. Muwah comes from alot of places. But generally speaking, I think I'm in agreement with you.
Here's where I think it comes from
1) Highly polished and straight fingerboard
2) Low action at the nut .010 to .012 for the G string. .018 to 20 for the E string
3) Midrange voiced pups
4) Material for FB. While I haven't done CA, (but there's one in the works), I find ebony a little easier to coax the muwah over any other wood, and Epoxy
But then again, this is just my little world
So for the past couple of months, I've been building, and really not playing much. The last few days, I've been playing this Diva quite a bit, and I have to say, my fingers are killing me. Still working on trying to figure out intonation. So I threw together this little test track. It's going through my Ampeg Micro VR DI into the AudioBox USB. Normally, I'll just play through my PF-800 and SVT and mic it, but my Husband is now working the late shift, so he's still sleeping.
Anyway, enough excuses. I hope you can get a sense of what this bass sounds like. I'll work on the full song going forward, as soon as my fingers heal.
Anyway, enough excuses. I hope you can get a sense of what this bass sounds like. I'll work on the full song going forward, as soon as my fingers heal.
Lost in a daze of admiration.....
(If that makes sense
).....
Love it....
(If that makes sense
).....Love it....
Sounds great! Thats about how much mwah i like, the intonation will take care of itself with time, though I still prefer a lined fretless since i dont play mine that often. Lines on that bass would have been sacriledge though. I feel your pain on the hands! After a long dry spell, I'm playing every day again, and it hurts! Part of that is the beginnings of arthritis in my hands, part the lack of calluses, but I'll keep plugging away until I can enjoy it more. Theres nothing like the satisfaction of playing something you built, is there?
Sounds very nice, warm and articulate. and looks awesome. What a great bass you built.
