Effects for fretless bass...

[Jigster]

Hi all, I'm sure there's a thread lurking somewhere that's covered this, but needle in a haystack methinks.

So a simple question, what do people use when playing fretless? I'm coming to the conclusion it's probably a sound that's best left natural, BUT at a push, perhaps a touch of chorus, and a touch of reverb??

Any thoughts?

[Rumple]

I'm fond of an Octaver on fretless it's very 80's though!

[xgsjx]

If I still played, I was going to go for a fretless & put it through an octaver, murf, distortion, low pass filter & chorus. But I was playing electronica & folk.
So depending on what sort of music you play & what sort of sound you want to produce, it varies greatly.
If you're not sure, get a multi fx unit to play about with different effects.

[Beer of the Bass]

Yep, I'd say octaver too, ideally an OC2. Something about that synthy sound goes well with the ability to slide around. It's 80s as hell, but the good sort of 80s IMO!

[franzbassist]

Keep it clean. Let your fingers do the talking....

[steve-bbb]

bit of delay and a boss bass chorus set with with the chorus sweep affecting frequencies from th e open G upwards sort of range

[RichF]

some good suggestions above - at various times depending on bass and set I have used touch of chorus, occasionally flange, rarely octaver, always compression and increasingly my TC HOF mini reverb with various toneprints (I love the size and functionality of the mini toneprint pedals).

[Jigster]

keep em coming guys

I have a EHX Pog, for my fretted stuff - but can't really get on with it altho it tracks really well. May give a try.

[Rumple]

I've got an old Boss CS-1 that gives this weird swell to notes, it kinda gets louder before it drops off, works quite well on fretless.

[Tuco]

OC2 > CEB3

[nick]

Crowther Prunes & Custard.

[Kiwi]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1413476228' post='2578663']
bit of delay and a boss bass chorus set with with the chorus sweep affecting frequencies from th e open G upwards sort of range
[/quote]
This works for me also and don't forget a bit of compression too.

[UglyDog]

Chorus, octave. That'll do me thanks

[thisnameistaken]

It's still a bass, use whatever you like.

[elephantgrey]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1413573021' post='2579821']
It's still a bass, use whatever you like.
[/quote]

^^^this.

As a side, ive seen defret effects, but never ones to do the opposite.

Edited October 17, 2014 by elephantgrey

[Guest FretNoMore]

I like to throw the whole pedalboard at it

http://youtu.be/aY2hDngI5bI

[GrammeFriday]

TC HOF

[ezbass]

Chorus and octave are my effects of choice.

[uk_lefty]

Boss bass limiter/ enhancer to bring out the "mwaaaaahhhh" - great for my fretless, still got to find a setting on it I like for my fretted basses. Tried a Boss bass chorus and just personally didn't like it so sold it on. Boss digital delay works nicely with it too. I use my fretless for heavier music too so distortion and fuzz (EHX Bass Blogger being the current weapon of choice) does very nicely

[ambient]

Anything you want really

I like reverb, chorus and delay/echo personally.

Checkout some of Steve Lawson's playing for inspiration.

[Japhet]

Bit of Chorus. Bit of Octaver. All together now..................'Wherever I lay my hat, That's my home'

[GazWills]

have you checked out Juan Alderete's website, pedals and effects? he seems to use a fretless on an awful lot of the demo videos, so that may give you some inspiration

[ead]

For me light compression (I have a Diamond BCP) works really well, or maybe a bit of chorus.

[zero9]

Cry Baby Wah

[vailbass]

octave box on fretless was fun in the 80's, for sure... never use compression, you'll lose the expressiveness that makes playing fretless so rewarding. I don't use any effects on my fretted or fretless, save for a little reverb on a recorded solo. You've all you need with 8 fingers and 2 thumbs (hopefully :-))