Need advice on Rickenbacker 4001 Fretless

[pringlw]

I've got a 1980 Ric 4001 fretless. I've used roundwounds on it for years but I'm getting the fingerboard re-finished and I hate to chew it up again right away. Also, since its a 4001 I really shouldn't be using rounds on it anyway (neck strength of a 4001 isn't really designed for rounds).

You get the picture, I still want to be able to pull that Rickenbacker growl out of this thing. Fretless or not I've still pulled that sound out of the bass for years.

Any advice on which flats I should be thinking about?

[lmfreeman9]

Flats with good highs: DR Hi-Beam Flats (medium tension), Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats (Low tension)both expensive. If you'd like to save money D'Addario Chromes but the tension is higher.

[EthanTheHeathen]

I have a '75 fretted Ric. I started with rounds but had similar concerns, so I tried TI flats (still too dull for me), some nylon tapewounds (not sure what brand, but still slightly too muddy to pull out the Ric growl/twang, although they sounded pretty good), and now Fender nylon filament roundwounds. These sound awesome! They are much brighter than standard tapewounds. I highly recommend them for a Ric. Plus they're wrapped in nylon, so they'll be very easy on your fingerboard.