JJMotown Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Seen fret wraps around, so got me one to cut some overtones, although I do palm mute, I wanted to see what fret wraps are all about. I play motown and soul, but mostly rock and blues these days. I also play mostly with a pick for a more aggressive tone, so thought a fret wrap would help. Boy, was I wrong. It seems logical now I've tried a fret wrap, but all I found was playing notes just sound the same, loud, pronounced and twangy, as the wrap is above the notes being played. However, playing open notes and they sound flat and dead. So the sound goes from bright and twangy to dead on open strings. Totally unusable. I tried various pressure the wrap has on the strings, but just sounds plain bad. Really bad! Am I doing something wrong? I did check out some YouTube clips and noticed the wraps were used mostly for tapping, but for what I'm playing at the moment they certainly don't Rock!! Definitely no good for rock. 🤬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Never used one but I always assumed that when you put it on you cannot play open strings 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrixn1 Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Mute the strings at the bridge as per https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/488803-yamaha-or-mustang/?do=findComment&comment=5126676 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 40 minutes ago, JJMotown said: playing open notes and they sound flat and dead. So the sound goes from bright and twangy to dead on open strings. Totally unusable. I tried various pressure the wrap has on the strings, but just sounds plain bad Sounds like you may have had it too tight, did you try it around the nut, I use them all the time to kill the overtones and stop the open strings ringing out, it suits what I’m playing sometimes 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 You are using it too tight it should just rest against the strings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJMotown Posted July 8 Author Share Posted July 8 Yes, tried various pressures. If it's too loose then the middle two strings don't get enough pressure, not compared to the E and G strings. My main issue is that all open notes sound dead, and every fretted note rings bright as they are played below the fret wrap which I got sitting on the 1st fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JazzyJ Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Place the wrap lightly on the Nut, works for me if I use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 I always assumed the point of them was just to mute open strings, to save one's right hand the bother.... oops? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 Yeah, they only work on open strings, I thought it was for the lads who like to do the tappa-tappa stuff on youtube and haven't got their muting technique in good enough shape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 I always viewed fretwraps as a gimmick when i first started noticing them, an excuse for poor technique? Over the years though, I’ve come to find them useful, especially on multi-string basses, for keeping the ‘rumble’ from those low strings at bay… I now use them when I play my 5 string basses, especially my Stingray 5, to tame the B string from rattling when slapping. Here’s a pic of me at a recent festival in Germany, letting loose on “Too shy” by Kajagoogoo.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 I'm thinking about trying one but I've noticed that they come in various sizes, what is the recommended size for a jazz width neck (38mm)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 Piece of old foam under the strings right up against the bridge works for me, that might suit you better @JJMotown? Sometimes if I’m recording I’ll stuff a bit of foam behind the nut as well, as my cheap Precision is a bit of a lively bass, even with 10 year old La Bella flats on it. Overtones galore on that thing. Never ever thought about using a fret wrap though, I must admit. But then, I am a bit of an old duffer 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 A tool for those with poor technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 4 minutes ago, Supernaut said: A tool for those with poor technique. That's me! Unfortunately, the pain from my arthritic hands doesn't help my poor technique. 🙁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 30 minutes ago, Supernaut said: A tool for those with poor technique. You tell 'em! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 Who is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 9 minutes ago, Supernaut said: Who is that? That's Dave. He works down the local chip shop. One eye, got a limp, smells of vinegar. You must know Dave? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 5 minutes ago, gjones said: You must know Dave? We all know Dave! He's the one who thinks he's Elvis! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 17 minutes ago, Supernaut said: Who is that? Some geezer making up for poor technique with fret wrap and a Fodera... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 6 minutes ago, gjones said: That's Dave. He works down the local chip shop. One eye, got a limp, smells of vinegar. You must know Dave? Saw him yesterday but he smelled of Bovril and he was wearing a sock on his elbow. Friendly as ever, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 1 minute ago, meterman said: wearing a sock on his elbow This bloke's technique is so rubbish he's wearing a sock as a fret wrap on an upside down bass! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 57 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said: This bloke's technique is so rubbish he's wearing a sock as a fret wrap on an upside down bass! He’ll get nowhere with that palaver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 Just now, meterman said: He’ll get nowhere with that palaver! Looks more like a hoodie? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackroadkill Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 1 hour ago, Leonard Smalls said: We all know Dave! He's the one who thinks he's Elvis! Kirsty wrote a song about him, didn't she? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted July 9 Share Posted July 9 (edited) @Bassman68 Blimmin’ kids, I don’t know what they’re all about these days! Edited July 9 by meterman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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