Fretless players...strings

[bassmonkeee]

Okay, I did a search and the last thread on "What kind of strings do you use?" hasn't had a comment since the beginning of December.

And, I'm specifically interested in the fretless players.

I just put a set of Sadowsky flats on my fretless Bongo, and I feel like I'm hearing it for the first time. The TI Superalloys seemed a little muffled for rounds, and the TI Jazz Rounds simply didn't have enough tension--the trussrod was completely loose, and I swear it was even rattling and creating strange overtones at F# on the B string.

The Sadowsky flats have plenty of tension to make the neck happy (almost straight with just a teensy bit of relief at the 9th fret location). And, they still provide enough mwah when I dig in. A warm, ringing bell tone, and no finger squeaks. My quest for fretless strings has ended with the Sadowskys. With a little added treble, I can get an edgier "roundwound"ish tone if I am looking for it. The piezos love these strings, too.


As a result of putting the flats on my fretless, I am now in a search for some rounds for the HHP Black Sapphire Bongo. I moved the Sadowsky flats from this bass, so I put the set of EB Slinkys that came from the factory on the fretless on there for the time being. They were taken off the same day I opened the box, so they are brand new strings for all intents and purposes.

I am thinking of trying the Sadowsky rounds , or perhaps the D'Addario Half Rounds next on the fretted.

So--fretless players--rounds? Flats? What are ya putting on your toothless wonders?

 

[Joshua]

My fave strings for my fretless (not a MM though!) are D'addario XL nickel rounds. For some reason, they just speak to me with just the right blend of roundwound bite and nickel warmth (as opposed to say steel).

Arguably it's been awhile since I experimented though because I like my strings well worn...

 

[StingRayzor]

I use Elixir Nanowebs (45-100) on my Sterling fretless. The coating makes the strings pretty smooth, so I am guessing they will preserve the fingerboard longer than regular roundwounds. They do not sound exactly like what I would want in a string, so I will not use them to record. But for day to day playing, the tone lasts forever and they have saved me a considerable sum of money. My last set was on for 4 months. I tried flats, and while I liked the feel, I was just not hooked on the tone.

 

[Freddy-G.]

I just put a set of Sadowsky flats on my fretless Bongo, and I feel like I'm hearing it for the first time.

Hey bassmonkee, where'd you pick up the Sadowsky's and the TI's? At a local shop or online? I'd like to try both. The DR Hi-Beams I'm using now are fine, but I don't think stainless steel has the sound I'm after.

 

[AnthonyD]

I've had success with Just Strings on-line.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Hey bassmonkee, where'd you pick up the Sadowsky's and the TI's? At a local shop or online? I'd like to try both. The DR Hi-Beams I'm using now are fine, but I don't think stainless steel has the sound I'm after.

I got the Sadowsky strings from the Sadowsky shop when I was in NY over the holidays.

The TIs I got online.

Locally, Jim at the Atlanta Bass Gallery has all of the Sadowsky strings for sale, and he is also a TI dealer.

However, if you want to try this set of basically new TI Jazz Rounds (they have less than 1 hour of playing time on them with no fret indentations & no frets=no fretwear). I'd let them go for $25, which is less than half price of a new set of 5 string JRs. A bargain way to find out if the Jazz Rounds work for you, or not. We could even meet up at the Duluth GC, so there'd be no shipping, either. They are about as far from stainless steel strings as you can get.

 

[bassmonkeee]

My fave strings for my fretless (not a MM though!) are D'addario XL nickel rounds. For some reason, they just speak to me with just the right blend of roundwound bite and nickel warmth (as opposed to say steel).

Arguably it's been awhile since I experimented though because I like my strings well worn...

I was really impressed with the tone and feel of the D'Addario 1/2 Rounds that I heard on a fretless Jazz Bass. These were in the cards for the fretless until I tried the Sadowsky flats "just in case."

I like the D'Addario nickels and you can't beat the price, but they aren't the string for me.

 

[bassplayer7770]

I've had success with Just Strings on-line.

They're a great resource for bass strings online. Plus, they have great customer service. One time I ordered SIT Power Wounds, but they sent me SIT Silencers. They let me keep the Silencers, and they shipped the Power Wounds immediately at no cost (to me)!

 

[word]

i use slinkies on all of my basses. i just like the way they feel and sound. plus, they boil up nice and good.

 

[Freddy-G.]

However, if you want to try this set of basically new TI Jazz Rounds (they have less than 1 hour of playing time on them with no fret indentations & no frets=no fretwear). I'd let them go for $25, which is less than half price of a new set of 5 string JRs. A bargain way to find out if the Jazz Rounds work for you, or not. We could even meet up at the Duluth GC, so there'd be no shipping, either. They are about as far from stainless steel strings as you can get.

Hey, thanks for the offer. It sounds like one I can't refuse. Even though the TI Powerbass strings are probably more my style. This will at least satisfy some curiosity. Just let me know when you'd like to meet at GC.

 

[stretch80]

I've really liked D'Addario Chromes on my Epi El Capitan fretless 5 abg.
I'm going to try them on my fretted SR5 next. They seem pretty bright for flats, but I've never tried the Sadowski flats, and I don't have a sense of how they'd compare.

 

[Aussie Mark]

All my fretless basses - pre EB Stingray, G&L L2000, Ampeg scroll copy - all wear TI Flats.

 

[apollo11]

TI jazz flats on my Sterling. They are the best flats I've ever used.
Due to all the praise about the Chromes, I'm going to give them a whirl on a fretted bass.

Andrew

 

[Aussie Mark]

Due to all the praise about the Chromes, I'm going to give them a whirl on a fretted bass.

You won't be disappointed. My fretted Stingray, Bongo, and several other of my basses wear Chromes. Chromes are a great flatwound string for "rock" in my opinion.

 

[bassmonkeee]

You won't be disappointed. My fretted Stingray, Bongo, and several other of my basses wear Chromes. Chromes are a great flatwound string for "rock" in my opinion.

Didn't you once say that you prefer TI Flats on passive instruments, and D'Addario Chromes on active basses?

I really need to try some Jazz Flats on one of my Bongos at some point. I've loved them on pretty much every other bass I've tried them on. On the Bongos, I've had Powerbass, Superalloys and Jazz Rounds....

The Sadowskys' tension is between the Chromes and the Jazz Flats with a smoother finish than either. If you get a chance, I recommend them highly.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Didn't you once say that you prefer TI Flats on passive instruments, and D'Addario Chromes on active basses?

I can't remember saying something that specific, but I've always been a proponent of TI Flats on my fretless basses, both passive and active. I also have TI Flats on my P and J type basses (although the Tokai P wears Fender Flats, since I had a set sitting around doing nothing). Basses I use for full on "rock" situations, including my fretted Stingray, Bongo, assorted Thunderbirds, and Les Paul bass all wear Chromes. Granted, the Thunderbirds are passive, but a passive dual humbucker bass feels a lot like an active bass in terms of output and sheer grunt, so the Chromes suit them perfectly.

 

[apollo11]

You won't be disappointed. My fretted Stingray, Bongo, and several other of my basses wear Chromes. Chromes are a great flatwound string for "rock" in my opinion.

I'm going to try the Chromes on my P bass, which should be a nice match since they are slightly more bright and aggressive than a normal flat. I am thinking they will maintain the aggressiveness of the P bass more than other flats would.

 

[roballanson]

strings

I use Flea boomers on all my fretlesses and after trying flats and stainless steel these are the best I have found so far......

 

[muggsy]

TI flats on my Sterling fretless. Three out of four basses surveyed in my basement prefer TI flats to all other strings on the market. If they ever wear out, though, I'll have to give the Sadowsky flats a try.

 

[Freddy-G.]

Here's an interesting and informative interview with Kevin Reynolds at Thomastik Infeld Strings:
http://www.bunnybass.com/e-zine/interviews/kevinreynolds_TIstrings/kevinreynolds.shtml