Steel rounds (super bright) on a fretless?

[ultimabass]

I want to change my Ibanez SR305's current strings (D'Addario XL flat Chromes) to a set of Smith Master Series steel rounds (super bright), but I don't know if my bass's fingerboard can handle the strings.

I've heard steel rounds give you the best mwah, and I want to use this package but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. My bass's fingerboard is made of maple/rosewood with ebonol on top. I don't know if it's a good idea to use these strings. Please help!

[4-string]

I use ProSteels on my fretless J. It's a bass and a tool, not a toy or exhibition item. I see no reason why I should worry about that stuff, but that's me.

[no4mk1]

I'm sure you'll get a lot of different opinions here, but I really like TI Powerbass strings on my fretless... They are nickel plated steel roundwounds. They have more zing than flats, aren't as abrasive as stainless rounds, and will last a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time on a fretless.

YMMV, etc., etc..

Cheers,
Chris

[JTE]

Use what sounds right to you. Screw fingerboard wear, it's a cost of doing business. Search both here in the string forum, and in the "Basses" forum for the rexurring threads that address this issue ad nauseum. Last month I think there were even two active threads at the same time.

John

[colcifer]

Some people prefer to practice on a fretted bass because of this. If your bass needs rounds though, get rounds.

[theunknowndude]

agreed, there was a picture in the show your fretlesses thread where by they showed the damage done by continual use of rounds on a fretless... and suprisingly, it wasn't that bad...

my ebonol fretless marks easily with rounds but only I can see it, it doesn't affect playability at all and it sounds good with them
(theyre coated elixirs but still mark a bit *shrug* like someone said its the cost of playing)

I like that my gary willis signature is similar to my K5 though, can muck around and both and don't feel like I need to modify my technique much (have learnt to play with a pretty light touch both fretting and plucking hand!)

[wideyes]

I think Pino Palladino is on fretboard #3 or thereabouts of his fretless stingray. And he uses flats! So +1 to the notion of the bass being a tool, and if you play it enough to wear out the fretboard with your rounds, then good for you!

[JTE]

Originally Posted by wideyes

I think Pino Palladino is on fretboard #3 or thereabouts of his fretless stingray. And he uses flats! So +1 to the notion of the bass being a tool, and if you play it enough to wear out the fretboard with your rounds, then good for you!

Actually the pre EB StingRay fretless that's had the fingerboard replaced (at least used to) used Rotosound light stainless steel strings. When he played here with Paul Young (back in the '80s) a friend of mine was on the local stage crew and got the set that was taken off that bass when they restrung it for the gig. VERY light strings, and Pino in all the interviews at the time said he was using Rotosound stainless.

But the bottom line is, use the strings that sound good to you, and deal with wear either on the frets or the fingerboard as part of getting the sound.

John

[darkstorm]

If you fret lightly and dont grind the strings into the fretboard while fretting etc, it shouldnt be a problem to use roundwounds. Though I wouldnt reccomend my fave roundrounds (rotosounds) for this due to them being rougher feeling then most roundrounds. And thus could be expected to cause more wear then most.

[fretlessguy]

Go with a light gauge (something like .40-.100) and develop a lighter touch. Make the vibrato like a cellist would instead of pulling or pushing the string up and down. If it does eventually wear down the fingerboard, then have another put on. Expensive? Yeah, but aren't some sacrifices good to get what we need?