Rounds with Fretless step in!

[panaran]

Just bought a fretless that came with flats. I'm not really too fond of the flats. They sound pretty nice, but my band plays such a variety of music that I dont think flats would work with some of it.

What kind of rounds are you guys using on your fretless? I want something full and warm, just not as much as the flats.

[fretlessman71]

Nickel is softer than steel, so won't be as bright as steel PLUS won't be as hard on your fingerboard. If you want "full and warm", D'Addario XLs are a good place to start.

Halfrounds are another option, but I've always found them to be not "roundwound" enough or not "flatwound" enough. You'll just have to experiment and find out what you like best.

[Lowend65]

I use Dean Markley SR2000 Mediums on my Carvin Fretless... nice sound, would like a little more sustain (wouldn't we all). Very fast strings and with the taper wind they allow a very low action.
BUT
beware - these also tear up fretboards pretty bad. Even the Ebony of my Carvin is showing some pretty bad scars.

[fretlessguy]

I have a set of Fender 7250s on one of my fretlesses for that reason. They are nickel plated steel, which gives it a little more warmer sound than a stainless steel one. GHS Pressurewounds are a little more warmer, like a flat, but still have the "mwah" sound.

FG

[claudel]

I use the Maxima/Optima gold roundwound bridge cables on my semi-homemade fretless because they sound best to me.

Yeah, they dig ruts in the ebony...

When I change strings every year or so, I sand out the ruts with a radius block & paper to 800 and then oil it up with bore oil.

If the fingerboard ever gets worn down to the truss rod I'll either get it replaced or toss the neck and get another Warmoth or USACG or whatever.

I've used the same Warmoth neck on a couple of basses with the same strings for 18 years so far
and at the rate it's wearing my great-great-great-great granddaughter will have to deal with it...

[swpyne]

I use Elixirs. They sound great and they're very easy to slide on. Plus they last a really long time.............

[vicenzajay]

I love the Optima's...use them on my custom 5-string fretless.

For standard rounds on fretless, I also LOVE DR Sunbeams.

Jay

[cmewhinney]

Fodera Victor Wootens for me!

[bassteban]

Not sure the brand, but I'm fairly certain they're SS. Bring on the flames.

[cmewhinney]

Solid State strings suck! Tube strings are way warmer!

[HogieWan]

D'Addario Chromes are flats that tend to be much brighter than other flats. I use those on my fretless. Also, LaBella tapes are rounds with a flat nylon tape for an outer wrap. They are surprisingly bright - you can get them for >$20 from carvin.com

[JTE]

I've settled on DR Sunbeams for my fretless roundwounds. Big full sound across the whole specrum, without being clanky nor brittle sounding. They don't wear the ebony much either, which apparently is an issue for some folks (not me- I used stainless rounds on my fretless bass for most of the time beween 1988 and around 1999).

jte

[ShirazBop]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Nickel is softer than steel, so won't be as bright as steel PLUS won't be as hard on your fingerboard. If you want "full and warm", D'Addario XLs are a good place to start.

Halfrounds are another option, but I've always found them to be not "roundwound" enough or not "flatwound" enough. You'll just have to experiment and find out what you like best.

+1 I've got DiAddario's 1/2 rounds on my Jaco Artist Series now...works nicely and not tearing up the board. Plenty of overtones and growl. There is something to be said for for true rounds (I've used DR Hi Beams on my other fretless before) for added growl though.

[TL5]

Elixer

[kesslari]

I like nickel.
Ken Smith Compressors on one fretless bass, DR Sunbeams on the other.
I'm happy with both. The Sunbeams have more "mwah".

[Catdaddy]

I got my fretless P-bass new in 1973, and have had many different kinds of strings on it, but finally settled on D'Addario light-gauge Chromes. As has already been mentioned, they are brighter and more articulate than most others. In all those years as a "weekend warrior", I only had to have the fingerboard dressed once, and I used rounds for a good many years.

My '95 fretless Stingray, on the other hand, had flats on it when I adopted it last year. It seemed to be crying out (mwah-mwahing, if you will,) for rounds, so I put a set of medium-gauge Slinkies on it. We are both very happy now, and given the thick slab of wood the folks at EB graced the fingerboard with, I don't have to worry about wearing it out in my lifetime!

[basspraiser]

Just put a set of D Addario Chromes on mine....I am definately NOT a flat guy but I do not want grooves in my US Lakland ebony neck so I have been searching and searching....had the chromes on for a few hours and like them so far....brighter than a typical set of flats and decent sustain.....(although not as zingy or sustain as rounds but less damage to the neck).....

[yellofury]

I dunno I am at the point of saying screw the fretboard TONE IS KING!!
then again its a 100 dollar SX P Bass ...

Right now I have the D'Addario flats that came on it from Rondo
they're okay sounding if you want a more jazzy uprighty tone
I tried putting on some Fender Nylons tonight and thoroughly destroyed them
when the low E got stuck in the smallish SX bridge hole.
It got stuck with the ball end sticking out about a 1/2 inch so I figured I'd wiggle it in..
nada..so I figured I'd wiggle it out...it came out alright and the whole nylon wrap with it
going thwap thwap thwap ..oh well atleast they we're CHEAP strings...

I just replaced my Rotosound 66LD rounds on my Jazz Bass for some DR Red Devil 40s
and I kept the Rotos for any emergencies and in case i hate the DRs ( I don't in fact i love them).. Rotosounds are notoriously evil on both fingers and frets but I am tempted to slap them on my fretless....

Am i insane for trying it???

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Ken Smith Rock Masters on my frettless smith and jaco relic