Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

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.

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.

ajish4 wrote:I LOVE THE TONE Michael Manring gets on this song.

You should have bought my fretless ZON!

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?

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.

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

jps wrote:

ajish4 wrote: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?

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.

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.

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

rickenbrother wrote: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.

ajish4 wrote: 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!

rickenbrother wrote:

ajish4 wrote: 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!

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.

ajish4 wrote: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.