Daddario Chromes on Fretless

[Malachi71]

For those of you that use these strings on fretless, can you describe the kind of tone you get?

Do these strings produce a nice "mwah" sound?

Also, indicate what gauge you use.

[Mojo-Man]

Less mwah than rounds.

But they are smooth, fat, with a quick decay.

[JehuJava]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Less mwah than rounds.

But they are smooth, fat, with a quick decay.

+1

They are on the bright side initially, but chill out pretty quickly. To me they sound more Motown than mwah to me. I had some DR Sunbeams on a fretless that was pretty sick. Maybe consider nylon wrapped?

[thumpbass1]

I recommend trying some ground or pressure wounds for getting some mwah factor
along with being easier on the fingerboard. I'm using GHS pressure wounds on my
fretless J-bass and they feel and sound great.

[Malachi71]

How about Daddario XL Nickel Roundwounds instead of Chromes on fretless? Would the nickel be a little gentler on the ebonol fingerboard and still produce a good mwah sound?

[fretlessguy]

As a general rule, XL rounds will give you more of the classic mwah sound than Chrome flats. Flats will have more of an upright sound with punchy attack and quick decay.
Chromes are some of my favorite strings for fretless, and being flats they won't have the gradual gnawing away effect on your fretless rounds have. But having an ebonal board, I wouldn't be as concerened about that. I mean, like ebonal is the same stuff bowling balls are made of, so it is probably durable enough to handle the rounds.
My three fretlesses have different strings. My ABG has GHS Precision Flats (.45-.95, I think). My Carvin 5 string bass sports a set of Fender 7250 (.40-.115). My Fender Precision fretless has on it GHS Compressed strings (.45-.102).
I Use lighter gauge strings because of my small weak arthritic fingers do much better with them. Also, the mwah factor seems to really sing out with the lighter gauges more clearly.

[tallboybass]

I've got Chromes on a StingRay FL and it mwahs like crazy. Set-up is very important, the strings are almost laying ON the fingerboard. Then I tuned it down one step.........

[Beta]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Less mwah than rounds.

But they are smooth, fat, with a quick decay.

Another +1.

I used the standard 5-string set (.45-.65-.80-.100-.132), but switched back to EXL165s with a .135 B. They weren't awful, but it was the quick decay that made me go back to rounds.