Can I get a little help from my friends?

[ajish4]

http://www.myspace.com/music/michael-ma ... 50020?ap=1

Please listen to the track above, it takes a few moments to load.

I'm not sure where to begin. I'm apparently going to TRY to do this song on Christmas Eve.

The band is on board, even have a (not sure what she is called) HARPIST? playing along! LOL

I LOVE THE TONE Michael Manring gets on this song.

What do you guys think? Some kind of effects in there? Chorus possibly? I never used any pedals and would REALLY LIKE to get as close to that tone as possible. Strings?

I could use either my 4003FL or my Peavey T-40FL....

ON ANOTHER NOTE, how do you guys feel about composite necks on fretless bass? I keep hearing the BEST SOUNDING fretless tones come from composite necks..I know NOTHING about them...

Thoughts? Ideas? Imput? HELP!

Thanks in advance.

[rickenbrother]

The composite necks tend to make a bright tone, as well do necks with phenolic fingerboards. Some people complain there's not enough warmth to them.
Tony, I think the tone your diggin' most of all is the fretless with the bridge pickup close to the bridge.

[jps]

I LOVE THE TONE Michael Manring gets on this song.

You should have bought my fretless ZON!

[FretlessOnly]

There may be some chorus there (along with compression), but overall, what I hear is wood. No varnish, just string on wood (probably ebony - a crisp sound with balls) and a heavy bass body that creates natural resonance. Doubtful that those are rounds; more likely a brighter flat such as DAs or LaBella DTBflats (or possibly some rare string only Manring knows about).

Jeff, did you move that Zon?

[jps]

Yes, the ZON now lives in sunny San Diego.

MM plays ZON basses almost exclusively, so I am fairly certain this song is his Sonus Hyperbass with super light gauge roundwound strings. I don't hear any chorus on it, his long notes are nice and clear (listen to his double stops) except for his occasional cello style vibrato.

[FretlessOnly]

Well, I'm near deaf from 30+ years of gigging, so don't pay any attention.

[ajish4]

I LOVE THE TONE Michael Manring gets on this song.

You should have bought my fretless ZON!

I thought about it Jeff, I really did....

Ugh.....

Well, I know for sure both my fretless basses aren't even close to that tone.

In all fairness, my 4003FL has the old RIC rubber coated strings on it.
It has a very realistic upright tone to it, which I love.

BUT, this tone for this song is just WOW. My T-40FL has DR's Highbeams on it, but the natural Rosewood neck doesn't give me the sustain I'd like. I really should have had it coated when it was converted.

SO, where are we....attainable tone with mostly no effects?

[jps]

Epoxy coat the fingerboard on the Peavey and use the bridge pickup only, or maybe a little bit of the neck pickup, too. D'Addario extra light strings (.035-.095) help to get more overtones. In the past Michael used SWR amps, these days he's using Markbass.

[cassius987]

I've gotten a tone close to that but warmer on my 4003FL using a tiny bit of chorus and the bridge pickup soloed. Play right over the bridge pickup or close to the bridge; too close sounds plunky though.

[rickenbrother]

Tony, how is using only one pickup at a time working out? Are you closer to the tone that you want?

[ajish4]

Tony, how is using only one pickup at a time working out? Are you closer to the tone that you want?

Hey Joey,

I haven't tried the single pickup just yet. I just picked up some new Highbeams and will string 'em up around mid week. I'm running like a nut here and have to try to prepare for that weekend gig.

I promise to keep you updated. I nailed down bass part on the song, NOW to work strictly on the TONE.

[rickenbrother]

nailed down bass part on the song, NOW to work strictly on the TONE.

Alright, T!! Move over Michael Manring!!
Now just use the treble pickup!

[ajish4]

nailed down bass part on the song, NOW to work strictly on the TONE.

Alright, T!! Move over Michael Manring!!
Now just use the treble pickup!

LOL! I WISH!

Ok, here's where I'm at.

The RIC has VERY OLD, black tape wound strings on it. I LOVE the tone....very old school thump Motown sound and I don't want to change the strings.

My T40 Fretless has a NATURAL, rosewood board. NO clear coat on it. Doing as Joey suggested, I do get much more of "that sound" playing with just one pickup. MORE so the bridge than the neck, playing up at the base of the neck. I normally play up that high, so no change there. I managed to get a GOOD 40-50% improvement, thanks everyone!

NOW, the big question...Jeff suggested in a PM that I coat the fingerboard with a clear coat of some kind?
ANY suggestions in this department? I'm not sure how to do this. Is it one coat? MULTIPLE coats? Can I ruin the bass? I'm lost here folks....opinions? Thoughts? Ideas? THANKS!

[FretlessOnly]

If you are so lucky as to have an uncoated FL board, why would you coat it? The voice of a bass is wood and, if you'll pardon the expression, you've got wood.

To me, all coating does is increase clack and decrease wood.

[rickenbrother]

I do get much more of "that sound" playing with just one pickup. MORE so the bridge than the neck, playing up at the base of the neck. I normally play up that high, so no change there. I managed to get a GOOD 40-50% improvement, thanks everyone!

Make sure you're not playing with a smiley faced type of eq. Taking out the mids will kill the tone you're looking for.