Mwah and harmonics on fretless - DR Sunbeams or Smith Compressors?

[kesslari]

I'm getting a new-to-me Zon sonus fretless.
I've currently got (and am keeping) an Ibanez Gary Willis.

I've been using Ken Smith Compressors on all my basses for a while - it's been a long time since I've checked out anything else. I like nickle rather than stainless windings, and like the low-wear combined with roundwound-tone of the compressors, but lately I've been wondering if I've been missing out. In particular the harmonics on the Willis aren't super bright, and with the pickup placement I think they ought to be brighter.

I've been hearing good things about DR Sunbeams and TI Jazz Flats (though I like a roundwound sound, not a flat sound, so I'm hesitant to spring for those).

Suggestions?
Keep with the Smiths?
Try the DR's?
Carrots?

[tasty sweeps]

definitely try dr strings. i think they're the bees knees most of the time.

[fretlessman71]

Agreed. And double check that Willis to see if it's in need of a setup or battery change while you're at it - give the DRs every opportunity to sound their best.

[ausf]

I've had the Sunbeams on my P for about 2 weeks now. Best I've tried so far, great tone and flex. Beat the pants off of everything I've used before them.

[Jerry J]

I put a set of DR sunbeams on my Zon Sonus 5 fretless and was fairly happy with them for awhile. They were highly recommended. But now I'm not so sure that I'm happy with them. I liked the feel and the lower tension than the strings that were on the bass when I got it. But the tone just seemed to get strange. I can't explain it. Of all the DR strings these seem to be the most expensive and a bit harder to find. Also all I was able to find was a medium gauge and would have liked to have gone a bit lighter on the B string.

I have a set of Joe's house brand nickel strings that I'm just about to try out. Then I have a set of the DR Fat Beams that have been recommended.

I've never paid too much attention to Ken Smith's strings but when I got my FBass BN6 Brad Johnson had said that he used Ken's Taper Wounds. So I gave them a try on the BN6 and just love them. I'm kinda thinking that I might like to get a set my my Zon.

Oh, and a big congrats on the Zon fretless. What a wonderful bass it is.

[kesslari]

Got a set of Sunbeams today. Gonna try them out tonight.

[Jerry J]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Got a set of Sunbeams today. Gonna try them out tonight.

Cool! I'm curious to hear your thoughts the the S-beams.

[kesslari]

Put the Sunbeams on last night.
I like them, but thus far I'm not overwhelmed (though I'll know more after recording this weekend, and after playing at higher volume today).
The mwah and harmonics are about the same as the strings that were on (the package in the gig bag was for D'Addario half rounds, but they don't feel like half-rounds to me - do D'Addario half-rounds have unwrapped ends?).

[Buskman]

Don't forget the age old saying: It's in the hands.

Technique definitely plays a part, especially when it comes to 'mwah' and harmonics. Any nickel rounds are going to give you similar results, IMO... it's how you attack the strings.

That being said, I too love Sunbeams - to me they have a nice overall feel (tension-wise & smooth feel) and they sit in a band setting mix nicely. My favorite rounds!

[kesslari]

Don't forget the age old saying: It's in the hands.

Understood. Which is why, when I change strings, I expect that I might hear some difference between string brands/types - it's me and my hands in both cases.
In this case, I put on the strings one at a time, and compared how the new string sounded next to the old string(s) still on the bass. And surprisingly, there wasn't as much difference as I expected to hear.

Just to be clear, I'm not looking for strings to "fix" my sound. Just looking for the right set of strings to get the most out of this instrument, and out of my playing.

[Jerry J]

Strings can definitly make-or-break a basses tone. Typically it is not a night and day difference. But I know that set up is very critical on a bass and especially on a fretless. You should be able to lower the strings to where they buzz if you play too hard. This is where technique comes into play. The Zon neck, being composite won't shift due to weather changes so once it is set up will always be like that.

To get an idea of the how the Zon fretless should sound I listen to Michael Manring. (Of course I chuckle in the thought that it would take me two lifetimes to even approach the talent of that man..) But listening to his tone I can find out if my lowly little Sonus fretless is in the same ballpark. And I think that it is.

On my Sonus 5 I can get a nice deep mwah with the E string. It is tough with the B due to the size of the string. I've got 4 or 5 sets of strings I want to try out on my Sonus. But I like the Sunbeams in that they have a nice low tension but they aren't floppy. This seems to help with intonation.

I'd say check your setup and stick with the S-beams for a week or so to get a feel of the bass overall. I love my Zon fretless.

[mr sprocket]

I have used the sunbeams for awhile now. I really like the feel and sound of the strings. They play pretty well right out of the package but I think they shine after a few days of playing.

I have a set of compressors on bass now and I they are good but I am used to the feel of the sunbeams now. They are similar in some ways to the D'addario nickels string but play smoother.

I have a set on a five string and get good sound from the "B". I also have them on a 32" four string. It is like playing butter tey are so soft and smooth on that bass.

[kesslari]

I'd say check your setup and stick with the S-beams for a week or so to get a feel of the bass overall. I love my Zon fretless.

Good post. I love my Zon fretless, too... And it sounds great.
And I'm getting good tone and good mmwah from these strings. The strings that were on it also had good tone and good mwah.

Typically it is not a night and day difference.

That's the key, I guess. I think I was expectiing more based on the hype I read.
These strings sound good on this bass, but I was expecting to hear more of a difference.
That's why I said "I'm not overwhelmed" rather than "where's the mwah?" The tone is there, but I was expecting (perhaps mistakenly) to hear a bigger difference. As I said originally, perhaps the original strings were about an equally good match for this bass - they sounded great, too.

So I'm digging the sound, but I'm not ready to say "WOW These are amazing strings, totally better than anything else I've heard or played!". At least not yet...

Anyway, the Sunbeams were 2 for 1, so I may try them on my GWB1 in direct replacement of the Smith Compressors and get another data point. But I won't do that until after recording this weekend.

Meanwhile, no worries - I'm really enjoying the Zon and the way she sounds.

[Jerry J]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Good post. I love my Zon fretless, too... And it sounds great.
And I'm getting good tone and good mmwah from these strings. The strings that were on it also had good tone and good mwah.



That's the key, I guess. I think I was expectiing more based on the hype I read.
These strings sound good on this bass, but I was expecting to hear more of a difference.
That's why I said "I'm not overwhelmed" rather than "where's the mwah?" The tone is there, but I was expecting (perhaps mistakenly) to hear a bigger difference. As I said originally, perhaps the original strings were about an equally good match for this bass - they sounded great, too.

So I'm digging the sound, but I'm not ready to say "WOW These are amazing strings, totally better than anything else I've heard or played!". At least not yet...

Anyway, the Sunbeams were 2 for 1, so I may try them on my GWB1 in direct replacement of the Smith Compressors and get another data point. But I won't do that until after recording this weekend.

Meanwhile, no worries - I'm really enjoying the Zon and the way she sounds.

2 fer 1 on sunbeams? Sweet deal!

[perfektspace6]

I play D'Addario XL Nickels on my fretless and the harmonics ring for days. The piezo's also help a bit but otherwise I don't have a lot of boost on my preamp in the high frequencies.

[kesslari]

Sunbeams on a Zon - I think I'm pretty happy with the sound, actually.
From today's recording session - Wisdom of a Kiss and Broken Hearts Rescue Society

http://www.folkina.com/mp3/wisdom_of_a_kiss.mp3

http://www.folkina.com/mp3/broken_hearts.mp3

[bcolins]

Originally Posted by kesslari

.......Anyway, the Sunbeams were 2 for 1, so I may try them on my GWB1 in direct replacement of the Smith Compressors and get another data point. But I won't do that until after recording this weekend.

Where did you find the 2-fer deal?

Brian

[kesslari]

Local music store - Guitar Showcase in San Jose.

[VroomVroom]

The bass sounds incredible. I ran the Sunbeams on my Zon (after trying many others...nickel and stainless) and I really loved the sound.

[Jerry J]

I went straight to Sunbeams after I bought my Zon f-less. So I haven't had much chance to experiment. I've got several sets lined up to try out.