How do I get a nice fretless bass sound?

[Konjurer]

Hi,

I'm owning a Fame Baphomet fretless 5-string NTB, with active pickups.
I was wondering how I'd get a fretless sound of which you can clearly hear it's fretless and also which is audible in a mix.
Such as Steve DiGiorgio in Death's Individual Thought Patterns or Jeroen Paul Thesseling in Obscura.
Of course I've tried, but still couldn't find a tone I'm satisfied with.

Hope you guys can help me out

Cheers

 

[Deuteronomy]

Obviously the information that you want can be found in the 1800/4000hz area,plus some low mid's might also give this feeling.Try to boost and experiment.
Also keep in mind that Steve hits the strings really fucking hard!

 

[egan.]

Yeah, fretless is all about the mids. That clickity-clack + subs sounds guys here love isn't going to work.

 

[BLUElightCory]

+1 on the mids, and I wanted to add that the player is HUGELY important here.

 

[rdx4]

from low mids to hi mids.

 

[Konjurer]

Well the guy is Dutch and so am I, so perhaps a better idea to wait till he's doing something in the neighbourhood

 

[MIAnn]

nickel rounds will help..

 

[rdx4]

Obviously the information that you want can be found in the 1800/4000hz area,plus some low mid's might also give this feeling.Try to boost and experiment.
Also keep in mind that Steve hits the strings really fucking hard!

In fact, Steve created a sound nobody else could produce with fretless bass

 

[Konjurer]

It must be possible in some way
Anyway thanks for the answers! I'll try some stuff

 

[Deuteronomy]

I agree.It's basically the "DNA" of the player.If you give any guitar and any amp on santana,it will still sound like santana.

 

[Colin M. St. Claire]

Try using just the rear pickup. You want a honky, almost farty jazz sound. I used to love that sound until I started recording and couldn't get it to fit right haha.

 

[deschete]

When I think about fretless, I think about 400-500hz. This is usually where you cut for metal, but on a fretless it's where you boost. Chances are it will cut through great because the distorted guitars will be all but eliminating this range of frequencies.

 

[Konjurer]

What do you guys think of Ernie Ball Cobalt strings?