Various embodiments include a method for configuring and generating a non-adiabatic saturation pulse for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging. One such method configures the pulse by adjusting one or more of pulse amplitude modulation or phase cycling. The modified pulse is transmitted into a fluid such that a substantially uniform nuclear spin saturation or nuclear spin inversion echo response is received from the fluid. A wait time between the pulse transmission and the echo response that indicates that spin equilibrium has been achieved is substantially equal to a T1 time. The wait time is an indication of the characteristics of the fluid.