Fretless Strings HELP!

fulltimebassist · #1 10-20-2007, 05:12 PM

I just bought my first fretless, Yamaha TRB-1105f , and it looks like the guy before me put roundwounds on it, and Im concerned about the rosewood neck. Should I put flatwounds on? Any suggestions? Thanks!

Darkstrike · #2 10-20-2007, 05:45 PM

I'd go with the flats, and for bright tone Steve Harris Rotosounds.

Chasarms · #3 10-20-2007, 06:06 PM

IMO, you should select flats because you like the sound of flats, not to save a fingerboard. If you like them, great.

If could only play flats on a fretless, I would not own one. I don't care for flats at all on any bass.

If you are concerned about fingerboard erosion but like the clarity of rounds, you may want to try a set of Ken Smith compressors. They sound like roundwounds, but are considerably less abrasive, as the outer windings are compressed to an oval shape before being wound.

Puru · #4 10-21-2007, 03:31 PM

D'Addario Half-Rounds create minimal wear with a round wound vibe. Do a search, has been discussed many times.

jasper383 · #5 10-21-2007, 06:37 PM

If you don't slap, the board will last a long time with rounds. It will wear, but it takes lots of wear to actually affect playability. Then it can be repaired.

If you want flats, get flats.

But life is too short to have a bass with strings you don't like on it.

MaxZolt · #6 10-21-2007, 06:41 PM

I just got a fretless that came from the factory with rounds on it, and was beginning to see signs of string wear on it (even though it was an ebony board). I didn't want to have a tone that was too dead, though, so I decided to try GHS Brite Flats, which are actually groundwounds. They've been bashed several times here on Talkbass, but I really like how they sound as well as how they feel.