d'addario prisms

[jazzyteen]

Hi all, I just got a simple question to ask...

I searched for threads about this and I did'nt find anything so here we go:


Would d'addario prisms have a nice sound on a fender fretless?

thanks

[Ian Perge]

Just so you know, Prisms were replaced last year with the new ProSteel line. Do a search, and you'll find that most people (myself included) actually prefer the new ProSteels. The best I can describe them are Prisms "tweaked" - a bit more low-mids, a touch more chime on the high-end, and longer lasting to boot.

Coming from a player who uses Prisms/ProSteels on all of his fretted basses, I'd imagine that they would work well if you were a) looking for a "rock" fretless tone (Tony Franklin, for example) with the qualities of steels, and b) have a poly-coated board. Steels would chew through just about any untreated wood I can think of in fairly short order, and even mark up a coated wood pretty quickly. That's why I compromised and go with XL Nickels for my fretless - even with Teak Oil "stabilized" rosewood, I don't find the tone vs. harm ratio to be worth it. I imagine it's all about how much that ratio is worth to you

Hope this was of some

[bassman314]

D'Adarrio also has the Chromes, which are Stainless Steel Flatwound strings. The ribbon winding isn't has harsh on fretless basses, and from what I have heard they give a good tone.

Also look at the half-rounds. IIRC, they are XL Nickels that are ground to flatten the surfaces.