Linus27 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I have three fretless basses, an ESP Jazz, a Stingray and now a Warwick Streamer LX Jazzman. All three have roundwound strings and are played pretty much with flat settings. My ESP 400 Series Jazz sounds totally amazing. Tones of mwah, sustain, vibrato and the full fretless thing down to a tee. The Stingray also sounds great and as a fretless should. My Warwick on the other hand has no mwah what so ever but sounds great but just like a fretted bass. Even if I try to accentuate some vibrato, not a lot happens. Sliding up and down to notes is also so very subtle. Don't get me wrong, the bass sounds totally amazing with lots of punch and growl as Warwicks do but it sounds just like a fretted bass, its so very weird. Is this normal for a Warwick or for some fretless basses? Would different strings make a big difference? I could possibly post some sound clips to show the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Is your action high on the Warwick?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 [quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1316643013' post='1380982'] Is your action high on the Warwick?! [/quote] I would say average really. Maybe a little high. Its certainly not really low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 High action was my first thought too. Try lowering it a bit, I suspect you'll start getting the sounds you want/expect. The "mwah" is to a large extent determined by the action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 Ah ok, thank you. I was under the impression that the higher the action, the less mwah and sustain. Am I right that if you go too low, the string can become choked and lose sustain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Yeah, that's about it. You wanna get it low enough for a *slight* buzz, but not enough to choke the string off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 [quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1316645931' post='1381026'] Yeah, that's about it. You wanna get it low enough for a *slight* buzz, but not enough to choke the string off. [/quote] Excellent, thank you. I will have a play tomorrow and report back. Cheers for the help everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I had a similar issue on a fretless, and found that the neck relief also makes a big difference to getting that sound. A flatter relief seems to maximise the "mwah" qualities, so it might be worth checking it and adjusting the truss rod if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 [quote name='Linus27' timestamp='1316642158' post='1380968'] ...Is this normal for a Warwick or for some fretless basses? Would different strings make a big difference? ... [/quote] I've got a few Warwick fretlesses (fretlei? ) and they all certainly sound like a fretless should - I can get all the mwah I want out of them. I use TI flats now, but even when they had rounds on they still had the sound. So I'd guess it has to be in the set-up, like the others have said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Well I managed to lower the strings and it did improve the fretless mwah a little. However, I would like the strings to be even lower but I have lowered the nut and bridge as much as possible and straighted the neck as much as possible and I personally can't get the strings any lower. So for me, the next step is take it to an expert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Have you lowered the baseplate of the bridge as well as the saddles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Yes, as far as it will go I think. I might have another look at it all again just to double check. The neck does look quite flat now so its just at the bridge end which could do with lowering so the strings are lower up at the high end of the neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Can you hear the mwah and vibrato when you play acoustically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Share Posted September 27, 2011 Yes, about the same as when plugged it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Maybe try some flatwounds...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Share Posted September 27, 2011 [quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1317110331' post='1386715'] Maybe try some flatwounds...? [/quote] Really not a fan of flatwoulds. The bass came with a set of La Bella Deep Talkin flats and it sounded horrible and I have tried other flats on other basses and they just sound and feel horrible to my ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Well, perhaps try some [i]new [/i]flats? And maybe some other guages? Failing that, maybe the action is too low WRT the pickups? There may be some magnetic problems there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Lower string gauge would be the next step I reckon. 95's maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Might be worth a try. That's my preferred guage anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Share Posted September 27, 2011 Yes, lower gauge rounds is going to be my next job (when I get paid ) I normally use light 40 - 100 but its currently strung with 45 - 105 on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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