What kind of strings on your EB?

[Father Gino]

tomastic infield jazz flats - no likee
tonight out of desperation i just fitted chrome flats !!! IMHO

Not trying to dis your choice of chromes and the string tension is very different, but put the TI flats on and leave them on for a year or more. I bet you'd like them better then.

I've got TI flats on a fretless Sabre & SR5. My fretless Sterling keeps being re-strung between TI flats & Jazz rounds. The flats are about 2 years old and sound real neat in a flat kinda way now. But the rounds sound... well, roundy and that's neat too. I just ordered a set each of DR nickel Sunbeams & LoRiders as an attempted compromise. I've gotten used to that TI low tension thing though.

 

[tkarter]

Maybe it is just my lack of feeling in my hands from 20 years of factory abuse to them.

I can't for the life of me figure out what anyone is saying when they talk of tension.
I can go from TI flats to 9050s. Yes they feel different but don't finger different after a truss rod adjustment. They both strum the same too.


Go ahead and call me crazy. If you can tell me why I am crazy


tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

Not trying to dis your choice of chromes and the string tension is very different, but put the TI flats on and leave them on for a year or more. I bet you'd like them better then.

I've got TI flats on a fretless Sabre & SR5. My fretless Sterling keeps being re-strung between TI flats & Jazz rounds.

Agreed, IMO TI flats sound great on fretless basses, and all of my fretless basses, EBMM or otherwise, wear TI flats. Then again, so do all of my fretted F***** basses. I am a confirmed TI fan.

However, for active (and high output passive) fretted basses, I still say Chromes are the shiznit for rock. That's why my fretted Stingray, Bongo, Thunderbirds and long scale Les Paul all wear Chromes. Of course, YMMV.

 

[Oldtoe]

I've got Roto RS66LD's on my Bongo 4HH right now. I thought I'd switch back to DR Hi-Beams until I heard a recording of my Bongo from a couple of weeks ago. I think I'll leave these on a little while longer. Heh heh.

I kept the set of D'Addario Chromes that were on a Jazz Fretless I parted with. I think I'll be putting them on the new Buttery-creamy SR4 when it gets here.

 

[tkarter]

Me I am sticking to the TI flats on the SR5. The groove is there the tone is there.

Some times I am even there.





tk

 

[AnthonyD]

Agreed, IMO TI flats sound great on fretless basses, and all of my fretless basses, EBMM or otherwise, wear TI flats. Then again, so do all of my fretted F***** basses. I am a confirmed TI fan.

However, for active (and high output passive) fretted basses, I still say Chromes are the shiznit for rock. That's why my fretted Stingray, Bongo, Thunderbirds and long scale Les Paul all wear Chromes. Of course, YMMV.

+1

 

[tkarter]

Guess you big boys thump harder than us skinny blokes.


tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

Guess you big boys thump harder than us skinny blokes.

You could say that

 

[tkarter]

I did say that.

Being the bottom is being just that. We all find our own way to accomplish that. EB just makes it easier to get there. For all of us.

And Sir Mark your technique is better with the bongo. No thumb over the neck

IMHO


tk

 

[bovinehost]

I had some Chromes and liked them a lot, and there are not many strings I like at all anymore.

They're in third place behind TI Flats and LaBella DT Flats.

Has anyone else tried the DR Fat Beams? I had those on the black Bongo for a while and thought they sounded and played right nice for rounds.

 

[tkarter]

Lord Bongo asking about rounds? Jack you go full out salesman on us?



tk jk

 

[AnthonyD]

Lord Bongo asking about rounds? Jack you go full out salesman on us?



tk jk

Now that's funny!

 

[bovinehost]

I......wait, no!

Actually, Scott (BarmyAss) sent me some DR Fat Beams a while back - a year and a half, maybe - just for fun. My tax dollars may have paid for them anyway, but that's just rumour.

I actually played a Christmas gig with them.

Plus, I don't sell DR strings - do I?

 

[AnthonyD]

Guess you big boys thump harder than us skinny blokes.

tk

I play with my fingers and do tend to "dig in" a bit. I really like the response of the Chromes. I play lots of crowd-pleaser rock-n-roll and these strings give me the chest-thump I was looking for.

First practive session after making the switch my guitarist-cousin tells me it's the best sounding bass he's ever played along side with!

Now, I expect I'll be playing my fretless a little more sweetly. I have yet to actually experience the TI lust that's so prevalant around here, but I have every expectation that their lighter tension and softer feel will provide the expressive quality I'll be looking for.

 

[Aussie Mark]

And Sir Mark your technique is better with the bongo. No thumb over the neck

Haven't had a lesson all my life, so I know zip about proper technique. I use my thumb to mute the E string a lot of the time. It's a little thing I've been doing for 25 years or so, and it works for me

 

[tkarter]

touche I din't put the symbol on that cuz I am just a bass player.

I hope one day to be able to be the bass player I know you to be Mark.

I was being a noobie smartass there me thinks.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

I tend to hang my thumb over the board, too, so I'm learning to play without the fretting hand.

No, really - I think I'm on to something.

 

[Father Gino]

I can't for the life of me figure out what anyone is saying when they talk of tension.
I can go from TI flats to 9050s. Yes they feel different but don't finger different after a truss rod adjustment. They both strum the same too.

tk

I don't know nuthin 'bout strummin, but… I can't see how you wouldn't notice tension differences between strings. You must be f**king crazy!!!

Since this whole thread seems to be about flats, like the difference between TIs and Chromes. Chromes are like steel rods in comparison. To me, you can't finese them on a fretless bass as well. They have that classic thump, but that's about it. The TIs can thump nicely too, but you can make them talk more. The thing you can't do so well with loose strings is dig in real hard. I think that's been good for me. It took twenty something years to figure out how to use the volume knob on my amp. I still like to dig in a little bit sometimes right over that sweet spot humbucker though. But when I want fat, smoothness, I use a little of that 1200 watts under my command.

All this talk about flats on a fretless. I agree that they sound nifty but… Put some bright rounds on that blank plank, turn down the treble, kick up the mids around 700 hz or so and try some vibrato & m'wah on a low G. I don't see how anyone can resist that sound. Like the sound I heard from Heavy Weather all those years ago. The thing I really like about flats OTOH, is the heavy fundamental on higher notes.

BTW, I certainly ain't no Jaco. Far from it. I'm just an igerant Blues Dude. But rounds are cool. Flats are cool too. All good, just different. That's maybe even true of Bongos

 

[midopa]

I tend to hang my thumb over the board, too, so I'm learning to play without the fretting hand.

But, Lord {{BoNgo}}, where are you putting your thumb in that pic?

 

[barkatozz]

I have Super Slinkys on all 4 Sterlings & regular Slinkys on the Bongo.
I hate playing outdoor shows.