Why you need Fretwraps for your Bass | Thomann

[@Mattseak]

Fretwraps are also good for getting rid of sympathetic resonance, especially to get a "cleaner" distorted tone.

[@stefanodegerome5586]

I love it how she says: "Come on, who's gonna play a 7-string bass? That's ridiculous" and before we know it, she's there with a 7-string bass. ;D

[@marklowe7431]

Julia is an awesome advocate for this instrument. Thoman very smart for presenting her. The videos are very productive and interesting.

[@r.rajabally1865]

I second that.

[@PEACEinYESHUA-oj7vc1pk7w]

I just got ne of these to try. I played bass professionally many years ago and I never used one. However, now I am busy recording the songs I write, I use a 5 string fretless, and am getting tired editing out string noise. I had noticed several bass players using these string mutes , particularly the bass guitarist Andrew Gouche I watched him playing bass he is awesome! So i will give it a go, however that's a good point you made about harmonics, and i do use those in certain songs and pieces of music, but I think for the most part this will work for me. I like your bass playing!

[@niclastname]

I don't play bass, and I don't own one. I just watch the bass videos because Julia is great! :D

[@crashvanier3642]

Creepy, you just watch for Julie?

[@niclastname]

@@crashvanier3642 I mean I still find the information interesting as a guitar player. How is it creepy? I watch interesting and entertaining presenters. Just like I watch Kris and Andy doing videos about things I don't use. It's because I like the hosts and am interested in the topics. That's not creepy, that's normal.

[@RockABaula]

#simpalert

[@niclastname]

@@RockABaula Don't think you know what a simp is... lol. I do the same with people like Kris or Andy. I watch them doing bass videos when they do as well. They're good and entertaining presenters, presenting interesting info. Nothing I mentioned had anything to do with anyone's sex.

[@Upotrex]

ok simp

[@bungbi_5294]

She is brutally honest lad 💝

[@konradfraczek6482]

Lies and and sugarcoating are for the weak. Plus she's Austrian 🇦🇹 (my best female friend is Austrian and she's very proud in being direct and sincere, whether a personality trait coincidence or a national trait, it means a life to me)

[@ericbraswell4713]

@@konradfraczek6482 Thanks for the correction. I thought she was German.

[@konradfraczek6482]

@@ericbraswell4713 no problemo!

[@SeverinoSE]

Talented player and product analyst or whatever it's called :) She presents both the pros and the cons. To me, honesty is everything! It builds trust and boosts sales :)

[@lev9161]

I wish Julias videos was it's own youtube-channel, tbh. I like the other videos on here as well, but hers are the highlight!

[@savanaviolenta]

I don't have any annoying buzz sound of any of my open strings on all my four basses,while playing them, I actually love the open string sound.

[@ROOKTABULA]

I don't see her having a future in advertising since she's honest about things like the product being expensive, cheap DIY alternatives and pointing out poor quality,😀

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha! Such luck noone involved with this channel is interested in brainless advertisments and faking. :) So Julia is the perfect bass host for us I guess. //cheers, Kris

[@ciddax754]

No, I don't think so. Credibility and integrity are two key features if you make gear reviews. We should not forget that most folks is pretty lazy. Yes you could take a sponge and cut it to a fitting stripe, but the lazy guy or gal just grabs that device and is done. And as she told a hairband could be used, but to get the right pressure is trial and error and time consuming. A remember Carol Keye once said in an interview: Mostly she did not change strings, often simply she got a new bass.

[@OdaKa]

@@ciddax754Keyword: Advertising

[@ROOKTABULA]

@Bigg Papa Reading comprehension and subtext: Work on those, mouth breather. You're attacking someone who was complimenting her. Dolt.

[@hannes1734]

@Bigg Papa Last time i was at thomann, the place wasn't horrible at all. It's some beautiful place somewhere 10 Miles off the highway in a small village. Wouldn't mind living there.

[@Rgdonaire_07]

Such great and genuine content. Thanks Thomann.

[@stephenmcconnell7868]

I’m just starting bass (after 55+ years of acoustic guitar). I really appreciate your insights and suggestions on cool bass licks. Your playing is amazing and your enthusiasm makes me want to learn more. I’m still trying to get my scales, arpeggios and triads to sound right (I’ve only .been practicing 2 weeks). But I can see that most of these bass lines are contained in those concepts. I just watched the interview with Carol Kaye and was blown away. Thank you for suggesting looking her up. Hope to see more of your stuff in the future. Thank you.

[@marklowe7431]

Acoustic guitar is fantastic. Great to see a guitarist is open to playing bass too. Very cool.

[@loretoz]

Gosh thanks so much Julia, just bought my first bass and I was getting frustrated with all the (extra) sounds, I think your tutorial will help me learn faster, thanks again sweety.

[@ljgarrison6910]

Interesting, i've always used a kitchen sponge pre-bridge like that. Nice. And refreshing to have an honest review, top content. Subscribed.

[@EH-bm4do]

" don't use it 24.7 cuz u don't have to develop bad muting technique" GREAT ADVICE ! FOR A CLEAN SOUND IN THE STUDIO

[@och70]

You can achieve the same results for cleaning up the unwanted noise from open strings by spending more time practicing. The sponge or foam bridge mute is a much better alternative than that Gruvgear Frump thing - $22.00 and it didn't even work properly.

[@rosco3516]

I agree. Practice first. And if its at the neck like that its not getting the overtones of any played strings. Bridge mutes work much better and allow harmonics.

[@philipschrantz8402]

True to a point, but a bridge mute mutes the string all the time, whereas muting at/near the bridge mutes only open strings - fretted notes still ring and possess the harmonic content of the string between bridge and fret...

[@AlexiKaruna]

The fretwrap/hairband looks amazing... but what I'm curious about is for someone who is just getting their head around muting, especially with slapping/popping, does this possibly become a crutch and make me lazy before my time?

[@gyffesme]

Definitely my fear.

[@jesserobinson20]

This is a classic example of something you can practice without so you learn to use proper technique and perform/record with it.

[@regortex3364]

I’ve always considered wraps a device only tappers would use, this is an eye opener.

[@amyabramajtys2100]

WOW, so cool!! Your videos are so effective and full of substance. Thanks!! I can see how you can move it around as you need during the song, for the harmonics.

[@stein0niets]

fretwraps are great also for headstock chime (when popping and slapping).. or to make your open notes sound more like fretted notes. have it just slightly over the zero fret. they never leave the basses. still muting and proper finger placement remains key always. its just a cool tool

[@ericandreeatingachickenwin2140]

Not hating, but at 2:33 I didnt hear any vibrato. Is it supposed to work on bass?

[@PetrPodzimek]

That trick with fretwrap under bridge :-) :-) It is perfect!!! Thank you.

[@Mars-1995]

I think I'm gonna use one for rythm guitar parts. Can imagine a much easier experience not needing to take care of proper muting and just beeing more relaxed in sessions

[@shane49933]

That Sandburg is gorgeous 😍😍😍

[@kongandbasses8732]

For a vintage "sponge under the strings" tone, try the Nordymute by Nordstrand. Its an intelligent solution, it takes seconds to attach or remove it, no rattling noise at all. Give it a try.

[@nigelmoscrop9987]

I just fashioned a piece of dishwashing foam pad to make a damper sounded good for a James Jameson motown tone

[@220_hz4]

Or you could also put a sponge under the strings???

[@corvusmonedulas4895]

40 USD is fucking ridiculous, just use a piece of foam.

[@corvusmonedulas4895]

plus shipping...

[@yeoldefoxeh254]

Nah, $40 for a product made of about $4. No thanks.

[@brandonelliott7399]

Also the fret wrap is a life saver on 6 string basses. And 5. For doing rediculus things such as classical thump by wooten

[@thewomanwithnohead]

Nice ! I always wondered if we can really hear the differences !

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

I use these on all of my acoustic guitars so the guitars don't speak until I need them to. The sympathetic resonance will ring out when recording in my room, so I just throw these on and it stops that issue completely.

[@stevenwarner9156]

I do the same on my acoustics. Particularly to stop the strings behind the nut ringing out when I play. Otherwise I don't find them useful unless playing 6 string basses. I use a form of floating thumb technique to mute lower strings, and my fretting hand to mute higher ones and never had muting problems on a 4 string. I can see these being very useful for people who don't use a form of floating thumb technique, though, and for certain situations. Can't be too good if you want to play open strings, mind you!

[@jphvnet]

I first saw these things in a concert if Spanish guitars, now I know why they used them.

[@CarySagady]

Why do you move the Fretwrap to the area on the fretboard where you are playing? Seems impractical when playing over several octaves of the nexk. Help me here. Learning a thumb mute technique can be used all over the fretboard. Thanks.

[@liviajod7157]

I always use this. Love the sound. The feel. And I put my pick in 😂 one more useful trick

[@jacobwright4653]

I fingerpick on the guitar a lot. When I mess around on the bass, muting isn’t an issue. My right and left hand work together to mute strings while I play.

[@ournameis_legion6426]

This. If you have good muting technique, you don't need fretwraps. You can actually use some of the sounds fretwraps remove intentionally if you want, or if you have good technique, you can eliminate those noises at will. It's just for people who haven't taken the time to practice their instrument, in my opinion.

[@powerforward1955]

Fret-wrap near the nut works great for me. For that P-bass old school’ sound (as the youngster’s call it), nothing works as well as trimming a quality sponge... cheap, 100% reliable, lots of colors, can AND you don’t have to order it! Alternative: Buy a 60’s or 70’s P-bass, but who can afford those now? Blessings.

[@jesusrom3913]

you can buy 62 'custom shop pickups and vintage electronics and it is the same result of buying a 60s or 70s bass

[@powerforward1955]

.....yes, a thought for consideration but IMHO, it is never quite the same as an original. Thanks 🙏...happy low-end playing!

[@jesusrom3913]

Yes, that will never match but you can get a similar sound without spending a lot of money ...

[@ayden9836]

3:38 “Come on, who’s gonna play a 7 string bass?” Davie504: **pulls out 24 string bass**

[@ljgarrison6910]

36 string bass now 👌

[@stevegray1699]

I play a 7 string- 4 string are boring

[@Julie-ox1ez]

Preston Garvey this is why no one likes you, preston

[@miloolsen4395]

@Preston Garvey *Manually saves game, and loads Fat Man with malicious intents* "Enough already, I get it!"

[@RisvoldTheGreat]

Oh look it's the Davie Zoomer kids...I saw Davie at NAMM last year...hes a pussy. Eyes to the floor walking around.

[@coltonpugh9669]

I would like to point out that the amazing Jeroen Paul Thesselin plays a Warwick Thumb NT fretless 7 string bass on the most recent Obscura release, A Valediction. Same with Pestilence. Those are likely not the only two releases to feature his 7 string, but off the top of my head that's all I can think of. Andre Lamoreux from the band Fields of Elysium and Linus Klausenitzer formerly of Obscura, as well as Dany Hauser from Veil of Maya, all play different variations of the Ibanez BTB series 7 string. Linus is the only of those 3 shoe BTB is a fretless.

[@johnmoser2689]

I like this little German girl very open and honest good qualities that are hard to come by... it's always refreshing to see a lady interested in bass too

[@TheLoreacle]

the thirst

[@BratislavMetulski]

shes not from germany

[@johnmoser2689]

@@BratislavMetulski sounds like it

[@BratislavMetulski]

@@johnmoser2689 she is from austria ;) thats next to germany. almost same language but still... shes not german hahahaha

[@johnmoser2689]

@@BratislavMetulski cool my grandmother's family was from Austria and grandpa's was from Germany👍😎👍

[@wasimoto_7540]

Victor Wooten uses the hair bands ("scrunchies") to create harmonics, not for tapping, but other than that, cool vid with good advice!

[@leonardpoindexter5289]

Hey Julia, ever try the Nordy bass mute? They really kick it up a notch for old school.

[@bassforkids4504]

The right size paint pad works great near the bridge.Just pull it from the long wooden handle which leaves a short plastic pin still attached to the pad for easy install and removal.

[@Sticky_Tea]

Looks nice for the leads, especially when recording👍🏻 Added to thomann wish list

[@P05TPWND]

I liked the dampening effect more from the fretwrap vs the actual Frum Damper Gruv Gear created. Much better sound (and probably cheaper in the end)

[@saulm1257]

Everyone: bUt WhAt aBoUt TeCHnIQUe

[@djabroni_brochacho4644]

I'm very open about my sloppiness.

[@8nayrb]

OK Boomer

[@ManWithoutThePants]

@@8nayrb How long will this "OK Boomer" thing last and what will be the next thing parrots will start repeating?

[@8nayrb]

@@ManWithoutThePants Sorry, I saw some software that told you the key and melody of a song and I had some things to say about being a musician and did I get them. Just a bit of child coming out an (not too) old guy.

[@Skelterbane69]

@Mark Seymour Ok boomer

[@danmorrison8194]

My internet provider gave me a Velcro wrap thing with some cables. I just super glued a piece of a CLEAN kitchen sponge to it and it works fine as a fret wrap.

[@adamgordon]

I'm considering buying this for my 2 string Krappy bass guitar. What do you guys think?

[@TheCds777]

What if you play the Low F at the top of the neck? How would the wrap work? Do you put it the wrap higher? Close to the tuners?

[@justyouraveragehumanbeing7411]

Pff,try finding one for Davie's 24 strings bass

[@royfablooo2810]

34 😂

[@Bassistking]

You mean his 36 string bass? You think that’s something? He’s got a 69 string bass he’s waiting to reveal to us too

[@justyouraveragehumanbeing7411]

@@Bassistking yes

[@tudoot]

You guys must be from the past in 2030 he introduced a 999 string bass

[@andrep0wly35]

horse saddle 🤣

[@derrickremington8273]

You did a show on acoustic/electric micro basses with the rubber strings and you tried different things to quiet the “squeaky noise”.........you have to do another show and demonstrate how well ordinary ‘baby powder’ works....that’s right ‘baby powder’ is a game changer. Just dust your hands and fingers with it and rub it on the strings. Instrument will play super slick. I believe it has a silicone component in it. I have a fret less 23”scale Gold Tone micro bass and it plays and sounds amazing after discovering that. Cheers

[@billytai1096]

Does placement of the wrap on the neck have significances other that more muting? Can it act like a capo and affect the harmonics and scale?

[@SombraDeLaMosca]

The Rickenbacker 4001 has a built in bridge muting system (Felt or sleaze, not sure about the correct english word) which gives a great 60ies tone, but apparently nobody seems to use it

[@eldoctordeltac]

Sí, en el 4003 también. Se acciona con unos tornillos un poco difíciles de accionar, pero el sonido es bastante bueno. El material parece plástico, tipo goma EVA.

[@JDeloggia]

This Girls is doing great i love her videos super clear and to the point! Keep the awesome work!

[@Aiur]

Instant sub, what a thorough description and demonstration , thank you 🙏

[@kimho421]

I really wanna get one of those, but unfortunately they are not in stock in South Korea.

[@keithklassen5320]

Do you have kitchen sponges? Or a sock? Just as good.

[@dakda-rg4hx]

Go to Gmarket and you'll find one if you search for "기타 프렛랩"

[@Amrit_Dangol]

You can get them on coupang too

[@lmp344]

the advantage of a 7 string bass is that it can also be used to hang up and let the laundry dry.😊

[@Tonetwisters]

Original Precision and Jazz basses had a piece of hard rubber glued to the underside of the bridge cover that served the same purpose. Sometime in the '70s, players began to take them off and play free-ringing. Now they want dead-ringing ... It has taken a long time, but somethings take a while to come back around.

[@kirksmithph.d.7441]

I use the velcro wraps that come with 3 pin mic chords. They are free and work just fine.

[@2HimTru]

Thanks for your Fretwraps Tutorial! REQUEST TOPIC: "How To: Not Getting In the Way of a Keyboardist's Bass Synthesizer playing Bass Octaves in certain songs." Just how to go about enriching-contributing to the band's performance. So, what do you as a Bass Guitarist actually play as to not compete with the Keyboardist? Would you as The Band's Bass Guitarist use a Bass Octave Pedal with other Bass Synth Pedals when the Bass Synthesizer Keyboardist isn't there? How about for an example.... exhibit No. 1 . . . Steve Winwood's "Valerie"? Steve's earliest KZbin Videos of his live concerts show a 5-String Bass Guitarist present in his band playing "Valerie". Yet, in Steve Winwood's later live concerts of "Valerie" we see only Steve and a Second Keyboardist playing... no Bass Guitarist. Maybe, you might want to throw into the mix of this Topic, The Bee Gees' performance of "Nights on Broadway". Here we hear a lot of Bass Synthesized Sound, yet is it "a Bass Guitarist using Bass Synth Pedal(s)", or is it simply a Keyboardist playing "keyboard Bass Synthesizer"? Thank you for all you do! Terrell

[@jambajoby32]

Love how she pokes at herself about the 7 string bass earlier that year

[@ravelitschimo]

I love Julia’s harmonics.

[@ryan9nash]

Fell in love just a wee bit at 3:10 ❤️

[@andredegiant3876]

“I done had my eyes on you for a while, girl there’s something bout cho act and I sure do like your style” hehe some Superbad @ 6:00, Mc Lovin! 🤘

[@bones2532]

For that Motown/R&B muted sounds there's an alternative, that's more likely to work well on any bass: the Nordymute from Nordstrand. Ok, it's more expensive, but if you really dig that muted sound, I'm pretty sure it'll be worth a try. ... or just buy a Musicman Stingray Classic or Rickenbacker (lol)

[@iRsL1ck]

What are those two guitars in the backgrouns please? (the white and brown)

[@JFauerbach]

Cool channel and videos! Could you do one on bass effect pedals (cheap, mid, expensive/pro)? What could be considered a must and how to combine them? (I know, not an easy one as the fret wraps 😜)

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

Could listen to that walking bass line all day - top stuff!!

[@MidnightPurple02]

Question about these wraps. Are they good at stopping B string vibration on a 5 string bass, if you have poor technique like myself?

[@martinkrauser4029]

I'm a simple man, I hear Julia play, I press like.

[@Heisenhuegel]

Have Thomann the DBMeter to buy in his shop?

[@okiwatashi2349]

Greg’s has basses had this built in in the 50s! Although it was at the bridge end!

[@SmokinAcesProd]

God guys, if you don’t wanna use it DONT! Like y’all up here crying like it’s gonna play the bass for you.

[@makeudrippdropp]

LMAO

[@Skelterbane69]

My exact thought.

[@jimpaull731]

I've been considering using one but at this point I'm looking at my opinions and thinking I should consult outside tech giants to determine my opinion.

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

I love the chord demonstration. That sounds amazing!

[@RexyFan]

Can you leave the fret wrap on the first fret (it doesn’t look like it’s take up the whole fret, so it should still leave enough space to play on the first fret) and jam normally instead of having to slide it up the neck when playing in different keys ??

[@8nayrb]

where can I get the db monitor in back?

[@Gachimuchenique]

Can anyone please tell what's the name of the decibel meter standing behind?

[@manny75586]

Even sitting behind the nut, it cleans the sound up (and there is no technique for muting that by hand). That alone is a good reason to get one. Some higher end basses even put a piece of foam there for that reason. Which is how I use it 95% of the time. The other 5% is tapping licks. It makes no sense to avoid being able to make the absolute cleanest sound possible.

[@PlayWithYourThumb]

Having used both the foam and the Fret Wraps, my 2 cents. PRO'S: If you play covers like we do, you can easily slide on/off between songs and "tune" the wraps much more easily than a piece of sponge. CONS: They cost a lot more.

[@johnterpack3940]

So the wraps only work if you drag them halfway down the neck? Seems a bit limiting.

[@konradfraczek6482]

Julia are these easy to slide with thumb when loose (and do they lose functionality then?) Trying to find these fretwraps but seems hard to get them (at least on amazon) Victor Wooton shows that you can slide these fast with your thumb when tapping, wondering which are best and because if a loose fretwrap does similar job to hairband maybe no need to hunt for wraps?

[@1bassman9]

Nice sounding and sweet looking bass !!! Like a Music Man with an additional split pickup !

[@Crysis762]

Can i use it with my saxophone ?

[@NuncNuncNuncNunc]

"But Victor Wooten uses a..." Guess I can stop considering this at all.

[@namhy5162]

NuncNuncNuncNunc thought exactly the same! Good thing I got long hair!

[@pdodo388]

yeah and he should know better of all people its in the fingers he knows don’t think he doesn’t

[@tomlawrence3991]

Love her Bass I always thought a P and MM pickup combo would be awesome

[@cerealdust3714]

does a fretwrap interfere when you are trying to play on the 1st fret?

[@Ignacio.Fernandez.Santamaria]

Where do you get the black foam?

[@SquashDaBeef]

I have to say I've always considered them a crutch outside of tapping so have never used them. It's much better to just work on your muting IMO

[@shredd5705]

They are a crutch, but in studio recording I use them. Modern studio recording is one big crutch anyway, goal is to get perfect takes

[@hazardeur]

@@shredd5705 it shouldn't be though. perfect takes are boring. give me a very good real take over a cut and paste perfect one ANY day of the week

[@shredd5705]

@@hazardeur Yeah but what can you do, just how music industry is now. To be competitive on radio etc. you edit out mistakes, quantize every drum hit by hand etc.. it's like loudness war has been for years now, mastering everything too loud so that it loses dynamics. Because everyone else does too. Non-musicians who complain about autotune often fail to notice how even without melodyne/autotune, everything they hear is processed and singer may have done vocals 1 word at a time

[@kc0lif]

some basses used to have mutes in bridge

[@crimfan]

Much like a capo on a guitar, it's a useful tool that can also be a crutch, especially for a beginner who doesn't know how to mute properly. But that does not mean they're useless. If you see the instruments of many players, particularly jazz players who are playing standard tuned instruments in horn keys, something like this will be on the instrument to cut down on open string ringing and overall clean up the sound. Look up the jazz guitarist Jens Larsen here on KZbin or Elephant Gym bassist KT Chang. Both have mutes. Both are awesome players with highly developed technique. I am not claiming to be in the league of the greats but I have them on my basses and have used them on guitars, too. They do a marvelous job of damping sympathetic vibration, which helps clean up the sound overall. Could I do this with a hair band? Sure. However, the Fretwrap costs less than $10 and fits right on without the screw around factor. I've had the ones on my basses for a long time and they're totally fine, not worn at all, so I have 0 issue with quality, though overall I don't beat up my gear. It's a small thing that, like trying new picks or strings on your guitar, may end up really changing your sound for the better in a useful way that many pedals that cost 20x as much won't.

[@es5679]

Wow, what an honest review! This was great.

[@jamie1234591]

I use an strip cut from an old sponge I use to wash my car - works great!

[@alexrobertson9875]

Great video. Been thinking about trying these for a while, mostly for the studio. How does it effect the sound when playing an open string? Does it have an initial punch then kills the note or does the note sound muffled?

[@GillesCaudron]

that sounds awesome! but when you use a fretwrap, you lose access to the first notes? :/

[@Rick_Cleland]

The piece of foam sounded the best.

[@mattg7225]

Oooo I always wondered what has on mono neons bass

[@sirbassalot8743]

Great Video and very honest about the pros and cons. thank you

[@W.E.]

What Brand/Model number is the decibel meter?

[@W.E.]

THOMANN DMS-V1

[@deimos915]

How are you supposed to play when it's resting on the frets?

[@NoTrebleLowLife]

So Julia, question. What size wrap you use, the small or medium fret wrap?

[@bennohoundsuk9179]

Are they any good for general feedback? I play a low tuned bass and really loud

[@lilkris3008]

First thing I did when I bought my bass was shove foam in the bridge just love the sound

[@incelstate2466]

Will you make video about lap steel guitars that you have in store please think about customers

[@trisinogy]

Excellent review and nice practical tips!

[@stephenhodgeman6496]

4:27 I have a sliver of a Mr Clean magic eraser by the bridge on my fretless and one of my 5 string basses lol. Cheapest bridge foam on the market.

[@SafariAtari]

does it work well though? :o

[@stephenhodgeman6496]

Absolutely!

[@SafariAtari]

@@stephenhodgeman6496 how wide of a sliver? I might actually do this. does it stay in place well too?

[@stephenhodgeman6496]

@@SafariAtari it stays good. I do like an inch wide.

[@SafariAtari]

@@stephenhodgeman6496 thanks for the info! I might have to look into it!