Strings for a fretless P

[nik1093]

I have a fretless p and this is my first time replacing the strings on it. It's got the Fender original pickups in it. I'm just wondering if I should use flats or rounds? And what brand. What sounds good.

[bassist4dalord]

D'Addario Chromes Flatwounds. Saves the "fretboard" (fingerboard I guess) and sounds nice and thumpy. Well, they start out pretty bright and slowly but surely turn into thump machines. They're really great! Any pics of this fretless P? Don't forget to show it off in the P-Bass club!!

[fretlessguy]

I have a '96 lipstick red P Bass fretless. Lovely she is.
I have used D'Addario round XLs, GHS Brite Flats, GHS Pressurewounds, and GHS Precision Flatwounds. The last two sets I have used are a set of Fender Tapewounds (the really big .55-.110 ones) and it now has on a set of TI Jazz Flats. After using the D'Addario XL rounds I came to the conclusion that the rosewood neck would not have a long life using those rounds, so I have stuck to flats and groundwounds (with the execption of the Pressurewouds).
I would have to say my favorite set is the TIs, but the Fender tapes and the GHS Brite Flats also sounded really good on the bass.
If you decide to go the TI Flat route, order the set that has the .43-.100 gauges. Even though the bass is a body through (at least mine does) the extra long set is actually too long for the bass on the E string and it wraps around the post! Since the strings are so low tension it probably won't break, but I am going to contact the good folks at their distributor to see if I can get an E string from the shorter set.
I wish you well with your fretless P.

[ric426]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

I would have to say my favorite set is the TIs

I agree completely. I bought a Tony Franklin fretless P a few weeks ago and have been trying all sorts of strings on it to see what I like best. Fortunately, I've amassed a pretty good assortment of strings over the past few years, so I only bought of couple of other sets to try. Until today my favorite has been D'Addario Half Rounds, but they were still a little darker sounding than I wanted and didn't have the punch I was looking for. I was trying everything I could before laying down the $50 for TI Jazz Flats, but I got a set today and yep, they're as good as everyone says and worth the extra bucks. Good solid low end without being muddy, nice growl when wanted and good punch and clarity. The lighter tension will take a little getting used to, but not as much as I expected.
An added benefit was that, unlike most of the other strings I tried, they minimize the typical G string dead spot on this bass. That will vary from one bass to another, but it worked out well for this one.

[GeneralElectric]

I've been loving DR Black Beauties on one of my Fretless P-Basses.

[FenderP]

On all but one of my fretless basses I use the Rotosound nylong tapewound set (RS88) which is thicker than the Fender. On my fretless P ('76, maple neck), I use my standard RS77LE set which is just stainless.

[bassteban]

This likely won't help, but the P in my avatar came w/a set of ancient flats; they're now on a cheap fretless P-copy, & sound and feel AWESOME. Very low tension, lots of bloom- bordering on full-on roundwound-sounding *mwaaah*. I have no idea what brand they are, but they have red silk warapping at both ends.

[Philbiker]

I like Fender Nylon Tapewound strings on my Franken-PJ fretless.

[FretlessMonster]

Try the DR Sunbeams - 45 - 105. :-)

Tony F