Good Stings for Fender fretless precision bass?

[fender099]

So my 40 year old fretless p bass needs new strings badly. Can anyone recommend good strings that will last?
Thanks!

[Nashrakh]

I love TI flats on fretless Ps, but ymmv. Depends on the sound you're after.

[bassmeknik]

My choice for my 75' P fretless is Rotosound RS66 or more recently D'Addario nickle rounds.

[ExaltBass]

I've had the best luck with Sadowsky Flats, D'Addario Chromes and LaBella Deep Talking Bass.

[bigsnaketex]

I would highly recommend Rotosound 77's

[tsverrir]

+1 for the TI Flats.

[Deaky]

I'd go for Fender flatwounds 9050cl. I have them on 2 fretted precisions and they're amazing.

[meatwad]

Chromes! Earlier this afternoon, I put a new set on my fretted Precision Bass, and my fretless Tobias also got some a couple of weeks ago. My StingRay is next.

[bherman]

I'd add another idea to the mix. I use nylon tapewounds on my fretless and now my fretted P-bass. On my fretless I have LaBella tapewounds, and GHS on my fretted. They are a tad heavier than chromes and TI's, feel great and sound great. They look really cool too :-)

[Laurent]

Ernie Ball Flatwound Group II - my favorite.
I like the Thomastik as well but can't see paying $69 for a set of strings, particularly when I like the feel of the Ernie Ball strings better.

[CapnSev]

I second the tapes. D'Addario tapes are awesome on fretless!

[The Nameless]

An now for a differing perspective... I use rounds on my Fender fretless basses. I appreciate the guys usin flats. And believe I understand the reasoning. But I cannot agree wit it. My fave 4 f'less players; Jaco, Tony Franklin, Gary Willis an Pino use rounds. The best rounds I've used are nickel wrapped steel, LaBellas or Fender strings. They last forever, not too bright or harsh, nice tension... (in that respect, feel, Fenders RULE). Wit honorable mention to D'addario Pro Steels an DR Fat Beams, the fendr nickel wrapped steels my fave. Inexpensive, too, should ya decide ta change them more often than every thirty years or so.

[Brendan5]

Are the balls on fender strings gold now? They were colored like dadario now I think they're gold but still no silks, correct?

[The Nameless]

Yeah. I just stung up a bass wit them. Brass ball ends. No colored. Darn, I liked the colored ends. Still great strings. I like them for fretless. Relatively smooth feelin, tension perfect. And lively, but not harsh, tone.

[bassist4dalord]

Another recommendation for D'Addario Tapewounds. Had them on my fretted P, and now on my fretted 5-string Squier Standard Precision (Jazz pickups.) Highly impressed with these strings.

I can only imagine they'd sound delicious on a fretless P!

[garmenteros]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I second the tapes. D'Addario tapes are awesome on fretless!

This is what I have no my fretless p and am happy with the results.

[zagnut]

Originally Posted by Deaky

I'd go for Fender flatwounds 9050cl. I have them on 2 fretted precisions and they're amazing.

+1 on Fender strings. Got 9050S on my Washburn fretted P. Love 'em.

From another thread, sums them up pretty well -

Originally Posted by Sammy Camden

Fender 9050s are my absolute favorite flatwound. They have the most thump per inch of any flat out there. They are smooth as glass and easy to play. They are also very taught in feel. You will find absolutely no floppiness or loose feeling with these strings. There aren't a lot of highs, but I don't buy and use flats for highs.

For a 4-string, the Fenders are the best for the old style thump that I like. And if your 4-string is a P-Bass, or equivalent, you've got a marriage made in Bass Heaven.

Use a felt plectrum to play, and oh man...p-bass thump heaven.

[gary m]

GHS Precision Flats. Simply the smoothest flatwounds out there.