Ordered a fretless, need help on flatwound reviews

[Big Joe]

I really liked the hugeness and the punch of the SIT's and they are not a string that should be discounted although theyt don't respond like your typical flat.

My favorite more "typical" flat is the Sadowsky.

TI's are neat but to me a flat is something you dig into and I just couldn't with them. That said they do sound cool and are very playable but need a touch more finesse for what that's worth.

[grace & groove]

Originally Posted by Big Joe

The SIT's will have the most MWAH of everything you've listed up there since I believe they are more of a ground wound. Very high tension. Lots of tight bottom and mids. Not a lot of top end... Not even much of the chunky top you'd expect from flats.

Chromes are bright as previously stated. Pretty responsive MWAH. Not a lot of bottom. Above average definition moreso due to the upper end of things.

TI's are an interesting animal as far as flats go... Loose tension to the touch but they maintain a tight even sound across the spectrum at least on the 35" scale 5'ers I had them on. Excellent definition overall with tame but usable top end and only moderate boom in the bottom as far as flats go. Not a lot of MWAH but not completely missing either. These are more reflective of the way you handle them and IME, they do better with a lighter touch. Very responsive as far as flats go.

Sadowsky Flats have the best B-string I've come across on flatwounds. (edit: I believe they were tapered) Big bottom with classic top end. Good smooth definition without overwhelming midrange. Never tried them on a fretless.

LaBella DTF's are IMO the classic flatwound sound. Big booty bottom chunky top. Not a heck ofa lot in between. Sound right at home on a p-bass or a hollow body. Good on a jazz.

Lakland Joe Osborn flats have a big tight bottom with higher tension and are smooth from top through midrange. Pretty even sounding overall but were tight tight tight. Nothing huge about this string. Never had them on a fretless.

I had some well worn in GHS flats with purple wraps that were similar to TI's in the spongy feel but with slightly more typical flat wound response: bigger booty, no definition to speak of and chunky high mid-treble response. Don't go by this because I think they were pretty dead when I tried them (on a used bass). FWIW I really liked them.

Best bet is to get a couple different sets and try them out. Flats are easier to move used than any other string.

YMMV.

Originally Posted by Big Joe

I really liked the hugeness and the punch of the SIT's and they are not a string that should be discounted although theyt don't respond like your typical flat.

My favorite more "typical" flat is the Sadowsky.

TI's are neat but to me a flat is something you dig into and I just couldn't with them. That said they do sound cool and are very playable but need a touch more finesse for what that's worth.

Out of all the ones you mentioned it seems like the Sadowsky flats or the La Bella DTB would be closest to what I want. Thanks alot for the help.=)

[Freddels]

If you like LaBella, then also look at the Black tape wounds.

[grace & groove]

Tapewounds... those are more like upright strings, right? How they differ from the DTB?

[grace & groove]

bump...

[Big Joe]

Tape wounds have a lot of bottom, sport a very round sounding top end (less top end than your typical flat), more MWAH, are very warm and big sounding.

They are similar to flats in feel on your fingers and lack of damage to the fretboard and their overall roundness but they have a lot more life to them tonally than your typical dead-sounding flatwound. You can get a pretty convinging URB sound out of them on an EB more so than with flats. To me, they are a completely different animal than flats. Think of the similarities btw. nickel and stainless rounds and there's your difference btw. tapes and flats.

Personally, I like them on woody sounding fretless basses but they are an acquired taste that may or may not work for everyone.

[Mojo-Man]

I've tried all the flats on your list.

My favs.

1-TI-flats- tone, feel. tension. ( I like these the best.)

2-GHS flats- Similar to TI-flats. a little tighter tension.
I like these string on Hollow body basses.
Good, retro-tone.
3-Sadowsky flats- I use these on my 5-string.
Good B-string.

Don't like.

1-Fender flats- The do not age well. lose of tone.

2-SIT-flats- Did not like feel, or tone of these strings.

3-Jamerson flats- Good tone, tension to tight.
Tuff, on thin necks.

[grace & groove]

Thanks guys for the replies, I really appreciate it.

[lokolp]

Usually i prefer chromes, but for fretless go for TI jazz

[dewbass4]

Originally Posted by Bazzist

...... I like d'addario chromes because they're a bit brighter while still being smooth and lower tension.

I've used them for years, love them and currently have them on Squier VM Fretless Jazz and 51 ri P bass.

[Nighttrain1127]

If you like the sound of rounds on a fretless that Jaco tone but want a smoother feeling string Try GHS Pressure wounds they feel smoother than rounds but still maintain that round wound tone.