Strings for a Fretless

Bean Bunny · #1 05-10-2007, 09:04 AM

Well, flatwounds, obviously. Duh.

But I was hoping someone could recommend their favorite string for a Fender Jazz fretless bass. I'm a jazz musician, if that makes a difference (and I'm sure it does). I usually just get the standard Fender flatwounds, but I'd like to try something new.

the low one · #2 05-11-2007, 01:51 AM

There's been alot of chat about this recently. TI flats are very popular if you don't mind the low tension. I tried them but now I prefer Rotosound 77 flats on my MIM fretless Jazz . They just feel right to me. I've had them on for 16 months and they sound great. I don't play jazz but do play some acoustic sets with the fretless and I think they work well.

blowfly · #3 05-11-2007, 01:58 AM

I have La Bella tapewounds on my old Yamaha fretless. I like the sound - just a little brighter than most flatwounds. They are roundwounds covered in black nylon tape. Real smooooth!

uethanian · #4 05-11-2007, 09:06 PM

try out BOTH flats and rounds. right now im using Darco nickel rounds on my fretless warwick and they sound better than any flatwound i've used. if u have a coated/epoxied fretboard, don't worry about wear. heck my bass has a uncovered ebony board and wear isnt a pressing issue. it can be easily remedied by a visit to a luthier. believe me when i say that the sound u get from rounds outweighs the wear u get on your fingerboard.

chris_nairn · #5 05-11-2007, 11:15 PM

I use rounds but I play hard and it wears on the fingerboard on my fretless basses. I deal with it because I prefer the sound. I do however go w/ nickel strings because they are slightly less harmful. And recently, I put some Thomastik-Infield strings on that are an alloy of some sort and I do like them. They have a bit more give than the Rotosound nickels that I am used to but they are pricey at $30 per set. The good news is that I don't change strings often at all.

Most important to me is that they are the same gauge as the Rotos that I use. Because I have used Rotosounds since I was a kid, I am used to the "A" string being .80.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ale?sku=101388

JimmyM · #6 05-11-2007, 11:34 PM

I use D'addario XL's on my (extremely modded) fretless 76 Precision with an unfinished maple neck. Admittedly I don't play it often, but after 3 years it still has no gouges.

the low one · #7 05-12-2007, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uethanian

try out BOTH flats and rounds. right now im using Darco nickel rounds on my fretless warwick and they sound better than any flatwound i've used. if u have a coated/epoxied fretboard, don't worry about wear. heck my bass has a uncovered ebony board and wear isnt a pressing issue. it can be easily remedied by a visit to a luthier. believe me when i say that the sound u get from rounds outweighs the wear u get on your fingerboard.

Quite right, you won't know what suits you best until you try. I tried a set of nickel rounds recently on my MIM fretless Jazz but soon realized I prefer the smooth sound and less attack of flats, so the old flats went back on.

Gintaras · #8 05-12-2007, 05:04 AM

I have a maple fretboard on my FrankenJazz and use SIT Silencers. This was strictly because of the sound that I was looking for. I did not like flats for that reason but have TI flats on my Kelly Fretless and get a more upright thumpy sound. On that bass I tried some rounds and did not like the sound that I got. Depends on the bass on what you want...

thebige · #9 05-12-2007, 06:03 AM

I've been using GHS pressure wounds. They are almost as bright as rounds, a lot smoother to play and a bit easier on the fretboard.

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Nighttrain1127 · #10 05-12-2007, 06:24 AM

+1 For the GHS pressure wound strings they do sound almost like rounds but are much nicer to your fretboard.

robertoleyte · #11 05-14-2007, 10:40 PM

After 4 years using Fender Flats (.50), I´ve just strung my Fender Precision 78 (with J-bridge pick-up)with La Bellas 760FM, and I´m very happy with the sound. It is richer than Fender´s and it is very balanced. It is bright but it is normal with new sets, so I just rolled off half the tone knob and got a beautiful and rich sound with a nice sustain. I don´t agree with someone who said in another post that it has the same tension and quality of the Fender Flats. The La Bella´s gauge is just a little over Fender´s but the tension is actually lower a bit. Well just the opinion of someone who has played the same bass for 20 years and with the same string set for the past 4 years. I have an extra set of Fender Flats but don´t plan to use it soon!