Which strings to make your fretless e-bass sound like a double bass ...

TheBass · #1 02-13-2010, 04:10 AM

I mainly play jazz standards on my Alembic Orion fretless 5 and would like to sound it a bit more like double bass. It's currently strung with Thomastik JF345 which sounds good. Any other string type / brand recommendations to tweak it more towards double bass ?

CBgaragebassist · #2 02-13-2010, 05:39 AM

Maybe tapewounds?

mongo2 · #3 02-13-2010, 05:48 AM

Labella 760N tapes get closest for me.

There are some techniques that help too such as playing at the end of the neck (up on the fingerboard can be even better) and using more of the side of your fingers to pluck. Using a mute can help though I usually avoid them.

I find it also helps to think like an upright player in regards to note selection and position.

Meatrus · #4 02-13-2010, 06:48 AM

Rotosound Trubass, tape flats.

Bassmickeyd · #5 02-13-2010, 06:57 AM

Have you experimented with string height?

TheBass · #6 02-13-2010, 07:31 AM

I already increased the string action to reduce the mwahh singing and pick the strings on top of the fret board end near the neck PU.

Tapewounds might be a good idea. I guess either La Bellas Black Nylon or Rotosound RS885LD. Despite that in Germany La Bellas are approx. 40% more expensive than Rotosound what is the difference in sound and playability ?

Meatrus · #7 02-13-2010, 07:35 AM

I havent actually tried the Labellas (maybe for the same reason as you...cost!) but they are roundwounds under the tape, whereas the Rotosounds are flats under the tape. If you do a search for the Rotosounds you will see a lot of people loving them.

Hope this helps a bit.

mongo2 · #8 02-13-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBass

Tapewounds might be a good idea. I guess either La Bellas Black Nylon or Rotosound RS885LD. Despite that in Germany La Bellas are approx. 40% more expensive than Rotosound what is the difference in sound and playability ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

I havent actually tried the Labellas (maybe for the same reason as you...cost!) but they are roundwounds under the tape, whereas the Rotosounds are flats under the tape.

That could explain why I prefer the Labellas. I find the Labellas have a musical "hollowness" to the tone when plucked up by or over the end of the neck that's more reminiscent of the upright that the Rotos don't have.

IME, Labella tone is more of a "thump" and Roto tone is more of a "thud" and I think the Labellas feel a bit more flexible.

Bassmickeyd · #9 02-13-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

IME, Labella tone is more of a "thump" and Roto tone is more of a "thud" and I think the Labellas feel a bit more flexible.

What is interesting is those are two "tones", 'Thump & Thud', are two sounds I don't want my upright bass to make.

mongo2 · #10 02-13-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmickeyd

What is interesting is those are two "tones", 'Thump & Thud', are two sounds I don't want my upright bass to make.

To each their own but I like the "thump" of my upright. Don't want no thud.

lowfreq33 · #11 02-13-2010, 12:20 PM

Flats and a piece of foam under the strings by the bridge.

mongo2 · #12 02-13-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

Flats and a piece of foam under the strings by the bridge.

I tried a mute for a while, I didn't really take to the tone.

Fajah · #13 02-14-2010, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBass

Tapewounds might be a good idea. I guess either La Bellas Black Nylon or Rotosound RS885LD. Despite that in Germany La Bellas are approx. 40% more expensive than Rotosound what is the difference in sound and playability ?

GHS also make a black nylon tape wound string. Compare to the LaBella's, the E and A strings sound similar, but the the GHS D and G strings are a bit brighter. This will give you some idea of what the GHS strings sound like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noxejf1ZF2o

TheBass · #14 02-14-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fajah

GHS also make a black nylon tape wound string. Compare to the LaBella's, the E and A strings sound similar, but the the GHS D and G strings are a bit brighter. This will give you some idea of what the GHS strings sound like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noxejf1ZF2o

I checked your YT video and like your sound. Compared to the rather dead RS88 sound sample on the Rotosound website it's rather what I am looking for. I don't want a completely dead string. A short but full bass attack plus mellow harmonics but no scooped mids is what I want. I guess I'll give GHS a try.

flyman · #15 02-17-2010, 08:12 AM

I've tried several different sets on my old Peavey fretless (but not the Labella's), and the best I've found for copping the upright vibe are D'Addario Half-Rounds, especially for what you're doing. There are others that would give you more versatility, but I think these are a good fit for what you're doing. They let the fretless sound come through without being too modern-sounding.They're a little sticky when you first put them on, but that goes away.

Regards,
flyman