Flats or roundwounds on fretless.

[ProgHead]

I've always put roundwound strings on my fretless basses.

Now that I'm happy owner of a MMEB StingRay fretless (see my I won The Auction! thread), it's the first time I'm not sure of doing the right thing.

Please give me your thoughts, advise, experience...

Andy

 

[tiffles]

oh my gosh use flats, theyre gorgeous. i adore mine. and try the ebmm ones apparently theyre incredible!

 

[lonote049]

I voted for flats but I use flats on all my basses.

 

[muggsy]

Flats on my fretless Sterling. They sound great and I haven't had to change them in the four years I've owned the bass.

 

[bassmonkeee]

If you prefer the sound of roundwounds, use roundwounds. If you've never tried flats, give them a shot, but change to roundwounds if you decide that you prefer the sound of rounds.

Don't ever worry about fretboard wear. It'll take years and years to do anything that will require a fretboard dress. It's all about tone--use the one you like best.

If you didn't drive on your tires, you wouldn't have to replace those, either.

That said, I've currently got flats on my fretless Bongo--primarily because I prefer the way the piezos sound with flats.

 

[Bill]

If I had a fretless, I'd probably use flats. I love flats! Weirdly enough, I have rounds on my Stingray since I love the sound too much to change it. I do have flats on my off-brand bass, though.

 

[brooklynfall]

If I had a fretless ... flatwounds. Definitely. Try the Thomastik-Infeld ones - pricey but worth every penny.

 

[midopa]

PsychicPet has often recommended rounds for lots o "mwah".

 

[ProgHead]

[...] I haven't had to change them in the four years I've owned the bass.

I change the strings on my fretted one about every 30 hours (playing)....



Andy

 

[ProgHead]

PsychicPet has often recommended rounds for lots o "mwah".

Looks like I have to try rounds on mine now...

Andy

 

[Aussie Mark]

TI Jazz Flats are on all 3 of my fretli .....

 

[muggsy]

I change the strings on my fretted one about every 30 hours (playing)....



Andy

Wow. I have flats on three of my basses, and the oldest sets are 4-5 years old. They just get better with age.

If you didn't drive on your tires, you wouldn't have to replace those, either.

True. Since the birth of my daughter in April, the basses get a lot less attention than they used to. I don't think I'm going to be changing strings any time soon. I have changed a few diapers, though.

 

[mrpackerguy]

I've had a couple fretless'es. While I prefer the enhanced mwah factor of roundwounds, I love the feel and can dig the sound of flats on a fretless. Flats go on all my basses.

 

[KennethB]

I use roundwounds and epoxy-coated fingerboard.

 

[cdb]

I use rounds, but they are coated DR black beauties. Not quite the full round sound, but not as dull as flats, a nice compromise IMHO. I voted roundwound.

 

[bass&cookies]

i don't use either exclusively on my fretless. right now i have some flats on there, but i really like the sound of roundwounds on it.

but i have et to try eb flats. they are next on the list!

 

[kevsatthebeach]

Does anyone have any lengthy experience using rounds on an unprotected fretboard? It would seem so likely that the rounds would start gouging the neck pretty quickly?

 

[philthygeezer]

I just put flats on my new SUB5 FL. Yum!

 

[bass&cookies]

Does anyone have any lengthy experience using rounds on an unprotected fretboard? It would seem so likely that the rounds would start gouging the neck pretty quickly?

they do make sligt indentions, but it will take a long time for it to make any real difference. i had some on there for about 6 months, and it did fine

 

[kaaikop]

EB flats group II