Upright sounding flats for fretless

[Coward Of Reali]

I know no string will make me sound exactly like an upright but I'm trying to get something similar. I'm rehearsing with a violinist and a drummer, kind of a folk group. I play a squire modified fretless with Dimarzio model J's. I was thinking of getting those rotosound True 88 nylon strings but I thought I'd ask your opinions first. Would the nylon wrap sound 'off' on the ebanol board? I know I like chromes but there a little bright and I'd like to try something new and a little more old school for this certain ensemble I'm playing with.

[Twocan]

Try some nylon tapewound flats.

[Lo-E]

You could try TI Jazz Flats, too. They've been making UB strings for 80 years.

While you're at it, try lowering your pickup hight a little bit to achieve more of an upright kind of sound, and play right over the end of the fingerboard.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I own two electrics and two uprights and they all use TI strings. Jazz flats are good strings.

[JehuJava]

+1 for TI Flats

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by JehuJava

+1 for TI Flats

What he said....and the guys before him.

[fretlessguy]

I would recommend LaBella Tapes, GHS Precision flats, or TI Jazz Flats. By the way, stick some foam like what comes in camera cases (or even better, a disposable diaper) between the strings and body next to the bridge and retune. Helps give it that upright thud and quick decay. A little reverb doesn't hurt either.

[john-boro]

Jazz flats are usually a good bet, although they can also go towards a more middy and growly sound. For tapewounds, I found the LaBellas much too zingy - the trubass 88s had a more upright kind of sound.

[screaminglucy]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

I would recommend LaBella Tapes, GHS Precision flats, or TI Jazz Flats. By the way, stick some foam like what comes in camera cases (or even better, a disposable diaper) between the strings and body next to the bridge and retune. Helps give it that upright thud and quick decay. A little reverb doesn't hurt either.

a diaper? really?

[fretlessguy]

Yep. No joke.I'd like to claim credit for it, but I stole the idea some years ago when I was reading an article about Tony Levin in Bass Player. He was doing sessions on Peter Gabriel's SO CD when he needed a certain bass tone with short decay, so he took one of his daughter's pampers and stuck it under the strings by the bridge. I cannot remember the name of the particular track, but it was the duet he did with Kate bush as I recall. Granted, I wouldn't want to use the trick playing live, but I have done it in some studio work and it sounded really...upright-ish.