Best frequency band to generate "Fretless Mwah"

[LoTone]

I am wondering if the quality of the fretless mwah is, in part, created by putting emphasis on a given band of frequencies?

Obviously, the hands of the player, the strings being used, the quality of the fretboard all have a major role.

However, I am wondering if there is a way to emphasis the mwah by boosting or cutting a specific frequency band like bass, low-mid, high-mid or treble?

 

[misterCRUSH]

i don't know about EQ settings, but my fender jazz has a lot more mwah than my fender p (both fretless). The jazz had a lot more mids punch, so maybe mids? I honestly never thought of this before.

 

[Les Fret]

I am wondering if the quality of the fretless mwah is, in part, created by putting emphasis on a given band of frequencies?

Obviously, the hands of the player, the strings being used, the quality of the fretboard all have a major role.

However, I am wondering if there is a way to emphasis the mwah by boosting or cutting a specific frequency band like bass, low-mid, high-mid or treble?

I don’t think so. The mwah is all in the fretboard wood, round wound strings and good technique. Not so much in band frequencies. If the mwah is not there in the first place you can’t suddenly get it by boosting certain frequencies. You can already hear the mwah when you play your bass unplugged.

 

[FunkHead]

I have found that low action adds to the Mwah factor.

 

[CatOnTheBass]

I find a slight bass cut helps to accentuate the 'mwah.'

And I agree with @Les Fret that mwah is an acoustic quality of the instrument, and if it's not happening acoustically, you can't add it in later with EQ.

Really it's all about technique, so I recommend finding the best possible fretless specialist teacher you can find.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Boost an EQ with sweepable mids to find the sweet spots. There’s no single magic frequency sorry.

+1 on cutting lows on EQ or using a HPF.

Try different amp & cab pairings too.

 

[Indiedog]

I am always interested in the "mwah" threads (but I think we should have a Master Thread or section where we can group or combine the threads).

Technique is a big part of it, of course.

But set-up is key too. I have a variety of fretless basses and they are all different with regards to "mwah" which makes me feel that what others have said in the past is true: proper set-up is a very large part of the sound.

I need to dial in the set-up on my Warwick and my inexpensive Dean because they both are under-performers in the Mwah department.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Generally hi mids, somewhere between 800 and 1600.
Low action helps a lot.

 

[LoTone]

One of the reasons I asked the question is that my only fretless bass is a Precision. In previous threads, I heard many people claim that it if your going to have a fretless Precision, it is actually preferable to have a PJ because a lot of the mwah comes from the Jazz single-coil pickup closer to the bridge. Typically, a Jazz single-coil pickup near the bridge has more high-mids and treble than a split-coil in the middle position.

 

[Koshchei]

I am wondering if the quality of the fretless mwah is, in part, created by putting emphasis on a given band of frequencies?

Obviously, the hands of the player, the strings being used, the quality of the fretboard all have a major role.

However, I am wondering if there is a way to emphasis the mwah by boosting or cutting a specific frequency band like bass, low-mid, high-mid or treble?

Lower string action = more mwah. The mwah sound is the string buzzing against the fingerboard.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Hi mids.

 

[fretlessguy]

I have found, that besides technique and EQing, that lighter gauge strings and lower actions also help in creating the mwah sound. Other bassists who try my fretless basses have asked how I play them with such low actions and light strings.

 

[SamanthaCay]

Lower string action = more mwah. The mwah sound is the string buzzing against the fingerboard.

This simple answer is all it is.

The flatter the board, the lower the action. Also a harder surface, rw strings, all the stuff that promotes sustain will help. The only things ya really need though is a flat board and low action.

If you're having trouble and you have a good luthier around that understands how to setup a fretless bass guitar might be worth giving them a looksie at your bass.

 

[Koshchei]

This simple answer is all it is.

The flatter the board, the lower the action. Also a harder surface, rw strings, all the stuff that promotes sustain will help. The only things ya really need though is a flat board and low action.

If you're having trouble and you have a good luthier around that understands how to setup a fretless bass guitar might be worth giving them a looksie at your bass.

OP: I'd also add to this that you probably don't want as mwah as you think you do. The fretless bass is a beautifully expressive instrument that responds to touch like a living thing. In practice, mwah is a timbral effect, and if you want the most out of your fretless, you'll want to learn how to control when and how much mwah is in your tone.

 

[Lagado]

Mid-range definition. Like a voice.

 

[JRA]

I am wondering if the quality of the fretless mwah is, in part, created by putting emphasis on a given band of frequencies?

i'm thinking that the "quality of the fretless mwah" is actually a function of the things it doesn't have: frets. that's about it.

if you remove the frets = you can EQ the mwah however you wish.

 

[Lagado]

The notes at 0.43 and 0.46 are what I consider mwah, there is quite a bit of coaxing by vibrato.
The note you hear at 3.47 on is using the buzz of the fretboard for effect. Both are different colours, different things:

 

[moon-bass]

It differs somewhat from bass to bass, but the freq is typically around 800. Some basses like it a little higher, not many like it lower. IME a good parametric EQ is essential for fretless.

Plus, all the advice above about setup, technique, and having a good board. Hth.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I run a preamp with parametric EQ before my amp. I have found that a bump @ 400 is good for mwah and is more of a vintage sound. 800 is also good and is a more modern sound. Right now I have them both boosted but am favoring 400