What strings for my 5 strings fretless bass...

FractalUniverse · #1 01-28-2002, 11:56 AM

I must choose between rotosound, thomastik, d'addario, fender and la bella. help, please.

zombywoof5050 · #2 02-01-2002, 10:25 AM

I don't know about the 5-string set but I put a set of the TI Jazz Flats on my 4-string Wal and they are totally awesome.

eli · #3 02-08-2002, 04:01 PM

First question: What tone are you after? If it's the Jaco/Mark Egan/Alain Caroin thing (have i exposed my bias?), then may I add Elixirs to your short list?

Almost same tone as D'Addario XL's and they last forever. Really, like a year, without any appreciable brightness loss. And way less fretboard wear than anything but flats.

Best price I've found is at www.juststrings.com who also has stunning service.

alembicbones · #4 02-08-2002, 05:45 PM

I'm right there with Eli. For the tone I look to achieve on a fretless, Elixirs are my string of choice.

When I purchased a J-Retro for my Jazz bass, Steve Barr threw in a set of TI Jazz flats for my trouble (very cool move on his part). I was in the market for a fretless and I thought I'd when I found one, I'd give them a try. I've never been much of a fan of flatwounds, but since many bassists gave them high marks, I thought I should expand my horizons.

I just bought a Stingray 5 fretless, immediately took off the factory roundwounds and put the TI jazz flats on it. IMO, they are kind off "woody" sounding. After trying a bunch of eq settings, I just couldn't dial in the tone that worked for me.

On a previous fretless, I used Elixirs, and really liked there performance. Therefore, I bought a 5 string set, put them on the Stingray, and found the tone I was looking for.

Best Wishes,
Bones

snyderz · #5 02-08-2002, 05:50 PM

I use Lakland Joe Osborn flats on my fretless fiver. I get them directly from www.lakland.com
Doc

chucko58 · #6 02-09-2002, 11:22 AM

Try D'Addario Half-Rounds. I put a set on my fretless 5 just before I sold it, and they dramatically transformed its tone compared to the roundwounds I had been using. I may not have sold it had I done that sooner!

steamboat · #7 02-09-2002, 03:49 PM

I like the Rotosound Tapewounds I've had on my fretless Ray 5. I've had them on for a good 6 months and they still sound big and powerful.