Just got a fretless, what strings to get?

[ireidt]

Just ordered an SX Fretless bass..specifically this one

http://www.rondomusic.net/bg180tmftls.html

Anyway, it has a rosewood fingerboard. What is the best strings to put on it that doesnt eat up the fingerboard?

[lonote]

I use D'Addario Chrome (flatwounds) on my fretless MIJ Fender Jazz. They are relatively high tension strings, though. TI flats are a very popular choice here for people who like a looser feeling string.

[Jumbotron]

I like the flats that Carvin sells. Good price, and they're LaBella's in a different wrapper.

[barthanatos]

Originally Posted by ireidt

Anyway, it has a rosewood fingerboard. What is the best strings to put on it that doesnt eat up the fingerboard?

By the time you wear out that fingerboard, you'll have spent more money on strings than you have on the bass. I wouldn't even worry about that (and I don't).

So far my favorite strings are the SIT Conklin Signatures that I have on my Cirrus now. Wonderful tone. I didn't much care for the Cirrus strings that it came with, or Elixirs (great for acoustic guitar though) - I was pretty happy with my Rotosound 77 flats for awhile, but not for long. I guess that's about all I've tried, excepting the LaBella tapewounds which are just so different as to not be comparable.

[dave64o]

I have an SX fretless (SJB-62 4+1) and bought a set of D'Addario Chrome Flats for it. Unfortunately it's still at a luthier's shop getting some work done on it so I still haven't played it with the new strings yet.

I know that they're supposed to come from Rondo with a set of D'Addarios alread on it but whatever strings were on mine when my wife bought it (a Christmas present) were completely lifeless. I hope I'm not putting the same strings on it.

I tried ordering a set of DR Hi Beam Flats from JustStrings.com but they were backordered with no expected arrival date. I waited for about a month and a half and finally just cancelled the order. Based on what I've been reading here I decided to give the Chrome Flats a try.

Can't wait to finally get the bass back so I can see how it sounds.

[ireidt]

the strings mine came with were dead and were all dirty so getting a new pair today <_<

[the low one]

I use Rotosound 77 flats as well and I’m happy with them. They’ve been on for 16 months now and still sound good.

I tried Rotosound Solo pressure wound as they were supposed to be kind to a fretless neck but they started to leave lines immediately.

I’ve not tried the D'Addario Chrome flats, how do these compare to Rotosound 77 flats?

I’ve thought about trying some D'Addario half wounds or nickel rounds just to see what they’re like but not yet got round to it. I’m interested to see what wear the nickel caused to my MIM Fender Jazz fretless.

[richnota]

I use labella tapes on Rob Allen/Turner/Veillette piezo basses but opted for Elixir Nano's on my R-Bass. They're round, but the coating adds just the right smoothness.

On the topic of D'Addario Chromes, I just installed them on a 5 string Veillette singlecut with mags/piezos--they sound fantastic. Super feel and sound. Can't say how they compare to rotos, but they really juiced the sound of the bass.

[funkalicious101]

sorry for bringing up an old thread but my topic seems to fit aswell.

i am going to buy new strings for my fretless today but i unfortunately hate flatwounds. i prefer a brighter high tension string.

does anyone have any suggestions of something i can use that wont tear up my fingerboard?

[bgavin]

The GHS Brite Flats and Pressurewounds are getting a lot of positive feedback from TB members.

I have a fresh set of DA Chrome Flats on my fretless. Feel is very nice, mwah is good. They are bright enough to sound like a J, but this is my first experience, and they are brand new.

If I change fretless strings again, I will try the GHS Brite Flats next. I don't care for the Fender 9050 stainless flats at all.

[funkalicious101]

ghs pressurewounds eh? i think ill give those a shot

thanks.

[Nighttrain1127]

I have GHS Prtessure wounds on my fretless they have been on there for 6 months and have yet to scratch the board. They sound almost as brite as rounds but kinder to the boare and fingers. Plus with pressure wounds over flats you get more Mwahhhh.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by barthanatos

<SNIP>So far my favorite strings are the SIT Conklin Signatures that I have on my Cirrus now. Wonderful tone. <SNIP>

Can you provide a more concrete description of the sound?

In all sincerity, without some basis for comparison, I have no way of knowing if the sound you find Wonderful would be anything like the sound I might describe as wonderful.

[htharp]

About 2 months ago and the strings that came on it seem quite serviceable. I have had a set of Chromes on another bass and I can't tell any difference. Don't chunk them before you try them. I was much quicker to change my pickups than the strings.

[Asa Samuel]

rotosound solo bass 55, without a doubt.