Fretless Strings?

[prickly_pete]

Well my new fretless SR4 will be here soon, so I want to have some strings on hand when it arrives. I have been considering TI Jazz Flats, GHS Bright Flats, D'Addario flats, or half rounds, EB flats, and Sadowsky flats. I know others here love the TIs, so those are getting serious consideration, but what about the others?

btw, this might be a better topic for the string forum, but I really only want input from the bass players anyway, and this is a slow posting night, so I hope this is ok.

 

[prickly_pete]

For Mark: you have a lovely old fretless SR. What strings are you using on that? Any sound clips? Thanks.

 

[TSanders]

My fretless isnt a MM, its my only Fender left. My first bass ever. A Mexican Jazz Bass, which might I add sounds better than any American Jazz Ive ever played. It started out fretted, but I had it converted to fretless.

Anyway. I had it strung with rounds and was satisfied with the tone. Just out of curiosity I threw some TI Jazz flats on it and now Im more than satisfied with the tone. I get great mwah with the flats and the tension is just right. I wish I could post sound clips, but currently cant.

I would recommend trying flats. Theyre easy on the fingers, and the TIs really are a great sounding string IMO.

 

[Psychicpet]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!! you guys and your flats on fretless!!! get a bloomin' upright for cryin' out loud!!!



I'd have to say at the very least use NORMAL nickel ROUND WOUNDS on it and if you really want to sing like a cello put some stainless steels and let them break in a bit.
Seriously though, on all of my fretless basses I've only ever used round wounds and if you're playin' it like it should be played, they won't eat your fingerboard.
You get a much more singing tone with rounds....

seriously though, if you want it to sound like an upright, get an upright, your soul will thank you for it!

 

[Jazzbassman23]

I played a 77 Ibanez fretless P/clone w/a maple board through the late 70's into the 90's. Since the board was coated, I used rounds exclusively, and the wear was minimal. But then two years ago, I assembled a Franken P and put D'Addario Chromes on it. Really liked the feel and the sound and would recommend you trying flats. I didn't know EB made flats until recently, and though I don't have either fretless anymore, I'd like to have one bass with flats. HOWEVER, you'll never see flats on my SR4, SR5, Sterling or incoming Bongo. You hear that, Jack? No flats

 

[bassmonkeee]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!! you guys and your flats on fretless!!! get a bloomin' upright for cryin' out loud!!!



I'd have to say at the very least use NORMAL nickel ROUND WOUNDS on it and if you really want to sing like a cello put some stainless steels and let them break in a bit.
Seriously though, on all of my fretless basses I've only ever used round wounds and if you're playin' it like it should be played, they won't eat your fingerboard.
You get a much more singing tone with rounds....

seriously though, if you want it to sound like an upright, get an upright, your soul will thank you for it!

Relax, Beavis.

I like the sounds of both flats and rounds on a fretless. If you are only using flatwounds "to save the fretboard," then don't. Use the strings that get the tone that you are looking for.

That said, I really love the TI Superalloys on my fretless Bongo. A great nickel roundwound with small windings, which helps with fingersqueak. Beautiul mwah when wanted, and a great, open sounding, warm string.

I have played the Sadowsky flats on my fretted Bongo and they are darker and have less tension than D'Addario Chromes. And, they don't have the mid bump that Jazz Flats have. I have been playing that bass with a rubber pick and get a great old school tone that I love. I've toyed with putting some on my fretless Bongo as they sound amazing with the piezos, but the Superalloys are too good to remove. I guess I need to get another Bongo so I can have fretlesses with both flats and rounds.

I haven't played many of the others you mentioned.


Oh, and I have an upright, and I still like the sound of flats on a fretless.

 

[Morrow]

I also play upright and like the sound of TIflats on my electric. It does not sound like my upright.

 

[prickly_pete]

Seriously though, on all of my fretless basses I've only ever used round wounds and if you're playin' it like it should be played, they won't eat your fingerboard.
You get a much more singing tone with rounds....

I actually am a bit concerned about fingerboard wear. btw, I have an upright, but it is in several pieces at the moment

 

[bassmonkeee]

I actually am a bit concerned about fingerboard wear. btw, I have an upright, but it is in several pieces at the moment

Don't be. Think of your fretboard like the tires on your car. If you actually intend to use the thing, there is going to be wear. To actively alter your expectations of the instrument for something like "wear and tear" that results in a $125 fretboard planing every 5-10 years is silly.

If you want rounds, I suggest the TI Superalloys. Good nickel strings. Plenty of mwah. Small windings that will be a bit more gentle on your fretboard than most rounds.

 

[MingusBASS]

I look at it this way. Of course for a Jazz gig where you might want an upright sound I would just bring my upright. But if I'm only needing an "uprightish" sound on a handful of tunes(in a four hour set) for a variety band the flats will give me a similar sound w/o having to haul my DB to the gig. That being said, I'll still be putting rounds on my fretless because I want an agressive fusion tone. There is something to be said about a live upright though...


Andrew

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

Well my new fretless SR4 will be here soon, so I want to have some strings on hand when it arrives. I have been considering TI Jazz Flats, GHS Bright Flats, D'Addario flats, or half rounds, EB flats, and Sadowsky flats. I know others here love the TIs, so those are getting serious consideration, but what about the others?

I recently switched to flats, and started with the EB flats, and I'm happy with them. I'm not inclined to try anything else at the moment, because they're working for me.

 

[Aussie Mark]

For Mark: you have a lovely old fretless SR. What strings are you using on that? Any sound clips? Thanks.

TI flats. No sounds clips of that bass, sorry.

 

[Psychicpet]

I actually am a bit concerned about fingerboard wear. btw, I have an upright, but it is in several pieces at the moment

sorry to hear about the pieces and please do understand that the "get an upright" comment probably reads alot more harsh and snobby than intended

pd

 

[prickly_pete]

sorry to hear about the pieces and please do understand that the "get an upright" comment probably reads alot more harsh and snobby than intended

pd

That's ok, I didn't take it as being snobbish I really want to get the upright back together. I ordered a set of GHS bright flats because they were cheap. I'll play the stock Slinkys for a while, then try the GHSs.

 

[prickly_pete]

Thanks for all the replys everybody. I suppose half the fun is trying new strings, so I'll just go through a varity of them over the next few months/years.

 

[tkarter]

As I have played but little fretless. I wish to only add TI Flats have more mids than the other flats IMHO and will sound as good as most rounds on a fretless.

my .02

tk

 

[prickly_pete]

As I have played but little fretless. I wish to only add TI Flats have more mids than the other flats IMHO and will sound as good as most rounds on a fretless.

my .02

tk

That sounds about right. I guess I am going to have to shell out the fifty bucks for a set. Its only money, right

 

[Aussie Mark]

That sounds about right. I guess I am going to have to shell out the fifty bucks for a set. Its only money, right

$38 from the Dude ...... Dude's TI string store on ebay

 

[spectorbassguy]

.....I really love the TI Superalloys on my fretless Bongo. A great nickel roundwound with small windings, which helps with fingersqueak. Beautiul mwah when wanted, and a great, open sounding, warm string....

+1
Just changed to T-I Superalloys (I learn slowly Mr. Monkeeeee) on my fretless SR5 and it does indeed sing sweetly. I have another set of Superalloys to go on my GrapeRay but I'm not sure how slapping will sound compared to Powerbass 345's. Any thoughts???