Warwick Fretless does not sound fretless :(

[Linus27]

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.

[Darkstrike]

Is your action high on the Warwick?!

[Linus27]

[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.

[mcnach]

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.

[Linus27]

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?

[Darkstrike]

Yeah, that's about it.

You wanna get it low enough for a *slight* buzz, but not enough to choke the string off.

[Linus27]

[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.

[Beer of the Bass]

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.

[mart]

[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.

[Linus27]

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.

[Doctor J]

Have you lowered the baseplate of the bridge as well as the saddles?

[Linus27]

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.

[BigRedX]

Can you hear the mwah and vibrato when you play acoustically?

[Linus27]

Yes, about the same as when plugged it.

[Jerry_B]

Maybe try some flatwounds...?

[Linus27]

[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

[Jerry_B]

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.

[Mog]

Lower string gauge would be the next step I reckon. 95's maybe?

[Jerry_B]

Might be worth a try. That's my preferred guage anyway

[Linus27]

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.