Fretless Strings

[iankenselaar]

I recently defretted my squier p-bass and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what stings I should put on it.

[fretlessguy]

If you want a very percussive set of strings with a short decay and an upright tone, go flatwound. If you like the swelling, singing "mwah" sound go with rounds. Half rounds are like flats, but a little brighter. Compressed (or pressure rounds) have the tone of a flatwound, but the "mwah" sound of a round.

Here are some of the sets I have used on my fretlesses through the years. It should be noted I use light gauge sets as a general rule. Not all of them worked out, but you might like them.

Roundwounds:
Fender 7250s and 7150s.
GHS Boomers
Carvin Nickels and Stainless
LaBella Slappers

Ground (Half) Round:
D'Addario Half Rounds
GHS Brite Flats

Flatwounds:
GHS Precision
Carvin
LaBella
Thomastic-Infield
Fender
D'Addario Chromes

Tapewounds:
LaBella
Fender

I could say something good about all of them, but there were some sets that, at least for my tastes and needs, were better suited for what I do.

Currently I have Fender 7250s are on my Carvin 5 string fretless, TIs on my Fender Precision bass fretless, GHS Precision Flats on my Carvin AC40 Fretless, and D'Addario Half Rounds on my Essex short scale Jazz fretless (soon to be replaced by D'Addario Chromes).

FG

[iankenselaar]

thanks!

[Dan55]

TI Jazz Flats on a fretless P-bass is a good thing.

Dan

[Kyon`]

DR Sunbeams, great rounds for fretless

[FenderP]

Rotosound flats all the way ... either the RS77 set or the RS88 set. The RS88 are the black nylon tapewound ones.

[Fajah]

I've had a set of LaBella black nylon tape wounds on my fretless for about 8 months now. Good tone and feel. I recently tried a set of R. Cocco nickel wound strings on the same bass and didn't like the feel at all so the LaBella's are back on. I've used chromes and half rounds in the past, but find them to get too muddy over time. The nylon tape wounds seem to hold there tone over the long haul.

I was originally planning to put a set of LaBella tape wounds on my recently acquired P-bass which is fretted. Instead, I decided to try a set GHS black nylon tape wounds strictly because they're allot cheaper than the LaBella's. As far as I'm concerned, they're every bit as nice. Basic tone and feel seem the same to me. I wouldn't hesitate to put the GHS stings on my fretless when it's time to replace the LaBella's.

[odin70]

You should definitely not use Rotosound rs77, they will kill your Squire neck. There are tons of threads on that subject...do a search, or you could just try a couple of brands and use what YOU like.

[JTE]

I keep coming back to DR Sunbeams on my fretless basses. A great warm sound with plenty of bite in highs.

jte

[creeper160]

would roundwounds do anything to mess up an ebanol frettboard

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by odin70

You should definitely not use Rotosound rs77, they will kill your Squire neck. There are tons of threads on that subject...do a search, or you could just try a couple of brands and use what YOU like.

How would they kill your neck? They wont be as bad as rounds, were you thinking of the 66 rounds?

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by creeper160

would roundwounds do anything to mess up an ebanol frettboard

Unfortunately yes, badly! I have seen a couple of Corts with Ebanol necks badly chewed up, and it looks really bad as underneath the black it goes white!

[LilRay]

+1 For the DR Sunbeams. Great strings fretted or fretless.

God Bless,Ray

[creeper160]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Unfortunately yes, badly! I have seen a couple of Corts with Ebanol necks badly chewed up, and it looks really bad as underneath the black it goes white!

damnit what about pressure wounds because i am really looking for some mwah

[Jaco who?]

There are roundwounds and there are roundwounds. To make a blanket statement that they'll all chew the neck up is flat out wrong - D'addario stainless Prosteels, almost certainly, DR Sunbeams, you'll barely see any wear at all.

[sillyfabe]

for me the rotosound trubass 88 are the best in regards to minimal to no fret wear and tear and also for that nice low-end thump that they can make. I've tried Roto 77's 45-105 and Roto 77's Steve Harris 50-110 and while they had a nice tone, little fret wear and a good low-end, im just a fan of the tru bass 88 i guess. I also have my fretless with BEAD so the low-end is just well...mean!

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

There are roundwounds and there are roundwounds. To make a blanket statement that they'll all chew the neck up is flat out wrong - D'addario stainless Prosteels, almost certainly, DR Sunbeams, you'll barely see any wear at all.

It wasn't a blanket statement on rounds really, it was a blanket statement that Ebanol is as soft as ****E.

I saw a brand new fretless Curbow just last week which had been tried out for a maximum of an hour which already had marks with the stock nickels (D'addario I think). Also seen ones where the lines are so deep the strings almost fit inside them!

[Jaco who?]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

It wasn't a blanket statement on rounds really, it was a blanket statement that Ebanol is as soft as ****E.

I saw a brand new fretless Curbow just last week which had been tried out for a maximum of an hour which already had marks with the stock nickels (D'addario I think). Also seen ones where the lines are so deep the strings almost fit inside them!

Fair enough - I always thought Ebonal fingerboards were tougher than rosewood, but I've never tried any, so what do I know. If it really is a soft enough material to get gouged by Sunbeams, it must be pretty worthless.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

Fair enough - I always thought Ebonal fingerboards were tougher than rosewood, but I've never tried any, so what do I know. If it really is a soft enough material to get gouged by Sunbeams, it must be pretty worthless.

Yeagh man made Ebony my ****! I'm not sure about sunbeams, but the D'addarios did mark it quickly. And I personally wouldent take the risk with Ebanol and rounds, as I dont even think you could refinish the board.

That said I do like Corts, so don't feel I'm dissing your bass creeper160 (I'm guessing its a Cort), and groundwounds could be fine, but I have never used them so I don't know.

I can recommend Roto Trubass iankenselaar.

[creeper160]

o dont feel bad i want to change my strings and i have squire jazz frettless