Fretless bass: any way to slicken the strings?

Lowpro · #1 09-16-2010, 01:18 AM

Hey guys, I snagged my first fretless from DaveonBass (great TBer here) and put some Roto flats on (only flats my GC carries other than chromes and I've personally swore od D'addario)

However in the case of the roundswounds but even so with the flats my fingers keep snagging more on the neck than with my fretted basses which results in more friction, which makes my playing a bit slow; it's like dragging my finger across molasses. The neck is nice and glossy and I've played much worse, but I was hoping there'd be a way to slicken it up and keep my fingers from snagging like they are. Admittedly I don't have dry-as-hell calloused fingertips but I think it's because after years or trying I just don't build callouses well.

rewopnayr · #2 09-16-2010, 01:58 AM

this stuff maybe?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fingerea...24-i1133493.gc

JohnnyB53 · #3 09-16-2010, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Any way to slicken the strings?

Yeah, don't use Rotosounds.

IME compared to many other brands the Rotos just aren't as finely finished and therefore snag more. If you refuse to use D'Addario and you want a good sounding, well-made string at a decent price, try GHS. Right now I'm using some GHS Tapewound flats and at $22 they're about as lively and responsive as the $50 La Bella tapes.

GHS makes kajillions of strings. I also have their Pressurewounds, which give a roundwound sound, but the compression of the wrap makes them easier on the fingerboard and your fingers.

Everybody else wants $30-50 for their flatwounds. You can get the GHS flats for under $22, and you can bet they'll feel as good, sound as good, and last as long as the more expensive ones.

With many flats it helps to wipe them down after every hour or so of play.

Lowpro · #4 09-16-2010, 02:13 AM

Yea I don't think I can really point to the strings as the main cause; I just come into much more contact with the neck than with my fretted bass which just means more friction so I guess I need to slicken the neck up AND the strings. I've seen the FingerEASE before but have never used it; as long as it doesn't get any gunky buildup on my neck or strings I'm game for it.

Thanks for the GHS tip; i'll check em out when I need to replace the strings =D

EDIT: I read some of the Amazon reviews and they were promising but some people say they're kinda particular to an upright sound and their dynamic is so-so. I really like having good beaty metallic strings. So far the Roto's sound fine (I've used em before actually which is why I got em again) so i figure I'll just burn through em; Thomastik is a name that seems to be comin up a LOT here lately and I wonder if I should check em out more.

Fender32 · #5 09-16-2010, 02:15 AM

Agreed, I've found that Rotosounds seem to offer a lot more resistance to finger slides than the other brands that I've tried (La Bella, Fender and Thomastik). I also think that they have a very 'lifeless' tone

.

My suggestion would be to buy (via mail order) a different brand of string - not only will you probably find the bass easier to play, but it could well sound better too

.

Lowpro · #6 09-16-2010, 02:17 AM

Lotta Rotosound hate XD

Alright I'll try another source for my strings next time, but again i'm saying I don't think i'm snaggin on the strings (happened with the Alchemys too) but the whole neck but if that Fingerease doesn't goof up my neck it may well be worth the try.

BassChuck · #7 09-16-2010, 04:42 AM

www.juststrings.com

**Mark Wilson** · #8 09-16-2010, 07:37 AM

Moved to Strings

Lackey · #9 09-16-2010, 08:07 AM

Wait, I don't understand your problem. You're snagging your fingers, but not on the strings? On the fingerboard then? But there's no frets on it ("speedbumps"), so nothing should exist to snag you.

I'm with everyone else: It's the RotoSounds. I've only used their roundwounds and those are super rough and sticky as is, I can only imagine that with the extra surface area of the flats they're absolute friction magnets. Personally I can't stand playing flats for the sticky feel alone, so I recommend trying some Elixirs, or maybe some tapewounds.

FunkMetalBass · #10 09-16-2010, 08:30 AM

At first, I was going to fault your technique, but then I remembered a Warwick fretless that I played in GC once, and the strings caused the same issue.

+3 for switching away from the Rotos.

AndGabrielFell · #11 09-16-2010, 08:35 AM

I highly recommend this:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/GHS-Fast...02-i1133494.gc

bassicg · #12 09-16-2010, 08:37 AM

Nylons maybe?

heb9_28 · #13 09-16-2010, 08:39 AM

Yeah, just eat fried chicken every time before you play.

Lowpro · #14 09-16-2010, 10:16 AM

From a practical standpoint with a fretless my fingers come much more into contact with the fingerboard than they do with my fretted; more contact = more friction.

Bollenator · #15 09-16-2010, 10:21 AM

I'm a little confused as to the actual issue here, but if part of it is that the strings don't feel super-smooth, you can just use some 000 steel wool to smooth them out (for the love of Pete, remove them from the bass first

).

As for smoothing the neck, I'm not sure if you need a refinish or what. Probably start with the strings, though.

JohnnyB53 · #16 09-16-2010, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowpro

Thanks for the GHS tip; i'll check em out when I need to replace the strings =D

Life's too short. Ditch the Roto's now.

Quote:

EDIT: I read some of the Amazon reviews and they were promising but some people say they're kinda particular to an upright sound and their dynamic is so-so. I really like having good beaty metallic strings. So far the Roto's sound fine (I've used em before actually which is why I got em again) so i figure I'll just burn through em; Thomastik is a name that seems to be comin up a LOT here lately and I wonder if I should check em out more.

Two of the three "reviewers" really liked the strings. The other didn't mention any number of other factors, like what bass he uses, string gauge, and bass and amp settings, or types of music he plays. For that matter, neither have you, and more info would be helpful.

The Thomastik flats sound more like an upright than just about any other flat out there. They do have decent treble, but they're also very low tension and more difficult to play fast than a higher tension string. Also, even though they're extremely well finished and smooth, the TI's have a pure nickel wrap and need to be wiped down about every hour of play or they get very sticky.

If you want a more metallic, snarly sound than most flats will give you, have something that's slick under the fingers, and won't gouge out your fretless fingerboard, get some GHS Pressurewounds, coated Strings by Aurora or another maker (GHS, DR, and many others make'em), or some Elixirs. The Strings by Aurora particularly maintain a snarly roundwound sound. They're kind of expensive on their website but if you shop around you can sometimes find them cheaper.

Oh, and wipe down your fingerboard and neck with lemon oil.

FunkMetalBass · #17 09-16-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bollenator

I'm a little confused as to the actual issue here, but if part of it is that the strings don't feel super-smooth, you can just use some 000 steel wool to smooth them out (for the love of Pete, remove them from the bass first

).

As for smoothing the neck, I'm not sure if you need a refinish or what. Probably start with the strings, though.

It wouldn't hurt to clean and oil the fretboard while he's at it.