Pro usage of fretless and flatwounds

[the low one]

Most pro's use rounds on fretless from what I read. David J and Sting spring to mind but who else uses flatwounds on fretless ?

[seanm]

I thought most pros used flats on fretless? Rounds eat up the fretboard.

Interested to hear other peoples responses.

[scotch]

By "pro's" I take it you mean "famous bassists", right? I know far more full-time professional bass players that use flats on their fretless' than use rounds. Myself included.

[CBgaragebassist]

David Gilmour

[BluesWalker]

Gary Willis uses roundwounds on his fretless.

[TL5]

My two favorite fretless players (Pino and Tony Franklin) both use rounds on fretless.

I don't worry about what the strings do to the fretboard. If/when it needs it, I'll have the fretboard serviced or replaced. So far, there's some minuscule swirl marks that can only be seen when you hold it to the light just so. I've been using nothing but rounds for five years.
If the bass doesn't sound the way I like, then what's the point?

IMHO, YMMV

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by TL5

If the bass doesn't sound the way I like, then what's the point?

IMHO, YMMV

Word up. This is the reason why I switched to rounds on my fretless. So far I'm really digging how the rounds sound on the fretless over the flats. For the longest time I was all hung up on how rounds would eat grooves into the fingerboard and how I didn't want that. But then, after plenty of reading, I finally realized that it's all about how the bass sounds, not so much how it looks. I say bring on the grooves (my fretless is also a $109 SX Jazz)...

[Dan B]

Sounds like John Illsley used a fretless with flats on Why Worry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_03uXQiz6eY

At least that's the vibe I get from it.

[GM60466]

Patitucci - Both
Dean Peer - Both
Stanlty Clarke - Both

[Honk'n_down-low]

Epoxy the neck for $200 and use whatever you want.

[the low one]

Don't worry, this isn't a "why should you use rounds or flats" type thread. I'm happy with flats on my fretless jazz but I don't read about many "working" bassist using flats. Most I read about prefer the clarity of rounds.

[the low one]

Just remembered another, Steve Lawson.

[JohnDavisNYC]

I use rounds on my fretless fodera. Fingerboard is cool (ebony).

[Sartori]

My acoustic fretless came with rounds, which I haven't replaced. Then again, they're bronze, like a lot of acoustic strings. Not sure if this makes a difference or not.

I thought most people used flats on fretless for a more upright sound?

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by Sartori

I thought most people used flats on fretless for a more upright sound?

I use flats on my fretless because:
A) That's what came on there when I got it.
B) They sound good on fretless.
C) My fingerboard isn't epoxied and I don't want to wreck it.

As for sounding like an upright, for me palm muting works best, but the fretless+flats definitely helps in addition (to palm muting).

At least this is what I experienced.

[Tim Skaggs]

All who worship at the alter of Jaco use rounds, but there's such a variety of flats, grounds, and rolled windings, it seems there's a lot of experimentation these days. A set of bright rounds will help with the mwah that everyone seems to be after, but there are lots of options.

[JTE]

Jaco, Pino, Tony Franklin, Freebo, Michael Rhodes, Dave Pomeroy, Mick Karn, Nathan East, Jack Bruce, Boz Burrell, Michael Mannring, Steve Bailey, and Mark Egan are all rounds.

What known bassists use flats on fretless - other than maybe Bill Wyman and Rick Danko, I don't know any.

John

[the low one]

Originally Posted by JTE

Jaco, Pino, Tony Franklin, Freebo, Michael Rhodes, Dave Pomeroy, Mick Karn, Nathan East, Jack Bruce, Boz Burrell, Michael Mannring, Steve Bailey, and Mark Egan are all rounds.

What known bassists use flats on fretless - other than maybe Bill Wyman and Rick Danko, I don't know any.

John

Thanks JTE, you beat me to it, and this is the point of my thread. The majority of working bassist who play fretless don't use flats.

[scotch]

Originally Posted by the low one

Thanks JTE, you beat me to it, and this is the point of my thread. The majority of working bassist who play fretless don't use flats.

I'm still really not sure this is true. I don't think anybody really has a clue (at least, not with any accuracy). Naming off a list of famous bassists that are known to use rounds is no indication of what the "majority of working bassists" uses.

[craigb43]

half rounds for me , easy on the board and have a cool in between sound ,,