Fretless slap strings?

[Lazarus12]

Well, I was thinking about purchasing a fretless bass, I plan to do a lot of slapping with it. I just really like the fretless slap sound. I am afraid of the strings ripping the fretboard to shreds though. So what I am asking is what are the best strings for fretless slapping?

[kesslari]

You're in a quandry. If you like the sound of slap, you probably like the sound of roundwounds. If you like the sound of slap on a fretless, you'll probably want that sound. Slapping is damaging on fretless fingerboards - no way around that.
Thing is, fingerboards can be planed, or necks replaced. If you love that sound and want to do it, go in with your eyes open and know that you'll eventually need to do some work on your fingerboard.

[Lazarus12]

How often would I need to have work done?

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by Lazarus12

How often would I need to have work done?

IMO, too often to justify the sound desired. What you could do is buy and SX bass, mod it, and beat the crap out of it slapping and whatnot. Then, when the fingerboard is beaten to crap, buy a new one and throw the mods from the first onto it, and repeat. Don't destroy your pretty bass.

[perfektspace6]

Well if you really want to slap a lot, as you say, on a fretless go for it but it doesn't make any sense to me. A big part of the slap sound is promoted by that metal on metal pop. Have you tried slapping on a fretless in a store? It sounds like crap and I don't mean that subjectively (yes I know some famous guys do it).

I have a fretless graphite neck which is about as hard a surface as it gets and slapping sounds terrible even with nickel rounds. Maybe you have some purpose beyond what I am capable of understanding but I would reconsider if I were you.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

IMO, too often to justify the sound desired.

I completely disagree.

The time between board conditioning should be not that much more frequent than fret leveling with proper fingering techniques (covered in endless threads over the years here... but I'll recap a couple points)....

1.) Use a light touch... no need to white knuckle the fingerboard to make it sing.
2.) NO guitar vibrato (bending across the board instead of with the length of the strings).

All metal strings will wear out wood fingerboards... ALL OF THEM whether round or flat wounds! Rounds may do it a little sooner that it all.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by perfektspace6

and I don't mean that subjectively

Yes you do mean subjectively. You don't speak the opinions of a lot of bassists I know and listen to... myself included.

Subjective (adjective):
1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought.
2. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.

[cmewhinney]

You could go for a bass with a composite fingerboard, such as a Zon.

[BZadlo]

I have a rosewood board on my fretless and find that it needs to be leveled every 5 years or so.
I go back and forth between round and flat wound strings. I don't really slap but, have a pretty heavy hand.
I don't think that slapping will be the problem but, how hard you do it.

[blowabs]

Get a Squier VM J Fl like me and you wont have to worry about killing an expensive fb....;_)>

[Jefenator]

I've got TI flats on my fretless. Can't say I do a ton of slapping but IMO they work fine for that and they should be somewhat easier on your board than rounds.

[Lazarus12]

Well thanks for all the replies, it seems that arguements on both sides are....pretty even so far. I don't know how much it costs for the leveling of the fretboard, I don't slap really hard, I mean, its not like im ripping the strings out.

[groooooove]

i doubt youll need work too often, if its a half decent fingerboard.

[bassbrad]

There is a certain character to a slapped fretless that I like as well in the vein of Bakhiti, Tony L and early Pino. It's one of the reasons I am using a Squire VM Fretless Jazz, well worth checking out on your shopping. BTW on my older fretless about 18 years old I use a coated round wound and have never had to plane the board but it is getting groovy but I like the sound.

[Lazarus12]

I was actually planning on building my own fretless but thanks for the coated round wound ideas

[drnknmstr]

Yeah, I Bakhiti KILLED with the fretless slapping. Les Claypool has a unique sound, and my personal fav Michael Manring really makes it musical in particular.

Follow your gut.

[drnknmstr]

Oh and I've been using compression wound strings for fretless. Still has enough roundwound growl to it, but a little softer on the board. Sings really well, too. Ken Smith Compressors are great to try.

[Lazarus12]

Thanks a bunch and to be honest Les Claypool is what is really driving me to pursue this