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6 string flatwounds for fretless

cujodos

cujodos

Feb 17, 2008
124
78
Great State of Texas
#1
hi just purchased a carvin 6 string fretless with the piezo bridge and want to put flats on it to protect the board and get the most out of the sound. i also play upright and think this bass will fit in with that sound if i get it right. welcoming any suggestions for what you use.:confused:
 
#2
TI Jazz flats.

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Yeah, I know, they cost $$$. They also last forever and sound sublime. Great woody, upright like tone. Solid punch. Wonderful feel.

The jump from .100 to .130 E to B is pretty big. These strings are not tapered, so you might have a problem getting the B string saddle low enough. Check the length if you have a through body bass.

What came on the bass?
 
#3
I personally use the above strings mentioned on my Fretless 6. They are pretty great and well worth the $. They feel very balanced which is why there is the large jump in gauges.

What kind of Piezo bridge do you have? You want the strings to seat properly and the .136 B string may be too large for it.

They will give you a very mid-rangey tone and are very flexible.

Flatwounds are easier on your fingerboard but will still wear it. Any vibrating metal against wood is going to wear it one way or another.


La Bella flats have a tapered B string so this string may seat better in your bridge. The La Bella strings will give you a more rounded tone while the Thomastik's are very mid-range punchy.


If you want more brightness out of the flats you can look at D'Addario Chromes or Rotosound Jazz 77's. GHS has 6 string FlatWounds as well.


If you are Thru-Body you may need to measure to get the best fitment for your instrument. Measure from the Back of the ball end to just past the Nut.
 
#6
DiabolusInMusic said:
I have an lb76, I ran a .135 B on it before without a problem, so .136 should be fine.

The piezo bridge is a hipshot, and it is absolutely killer.

The bridge is top load and through body, I only top load.

I usually run a .125 or .13 for my B.
Click to expand...

On top load you should be fine with the standard T-I set or any of the other sets...

Most flats are higher in gauge... La Bella are .128, GHS are .126
Chromes are .132
 
#7
SLaPiNFuNK said:
I personally use the above strings mentioned on my Fretless 6. They are pretty great and well worth the $. They feel very balanced which is why there is the large jump in gauges.

What kind of Piezo bridge do you have? You want the strings to seat properly and the .136 B string may be too large for it.

They will give you a very mid-rangey tone and are very flexible.

Flatwounds are easier on your fingerboard but will still wear it. Any vibrating metal against wood is going to wear it one way or another.


La Bella flats have a tapered B string so this string may seat better in your bridge. The La Bella strings will give you a more rounded tone while the Thomastik's are very mid-range punchy.


If you want more brightness out of the flats you can look at D'Addario Chromes or Rotosound Jazz 77's. GHS has 6 string FlatWounds as well.


If you are Thru-Body you may need to measure to get the best fitment for your instrument. Measure from the Back of the ball end to just past the Nut.
Click to expand...

I remember you stating that you've had TI flats wear fingerboards faster than some rounds. Just sayin'. :P
 
#8
tylerwylie said:
I remember you stating that you've had TI flats wear fingerboards faster than some rounds. Just sayin'. :P
Click to expand...

Yeah... The spacing of the windings are wider on the T-I's than La Bella's for example... They did "mark" my ebony fingerboard more rapidly than my "Pressurewounds" that I was using previously...
 
#10
If you know the distance from Ball End to just past the nut I can tell you what strings will fit best...

T-I's are 37" Ball to Silk / Extra Long are 40"
La Bella 37" Ball to Silk / Extra Long are 38"
Rotosound 37" / Extra Long 39"
D'Addario Long Scale 36.25" / Extra Long 38"
GHS Long Scale 36.5" / Extra Long 38"
 
#11
cujodos said:
hi just purchased a carvin 6 string fretless with the piezo bridge and want to put flats on it to protect the board and get the most out of the sound. i also play upright and think this bass will fit in with that sound if i get it right. welcoming any suggestions for what you use.:confused:
Click to expand...

GHS Precision Flats are on my sixes. I got mine through Carvin's website. Nice, woody tone with a very smooth surface.
 
#13
I will have to wait until it arrives to measure for length dit sounds like ghs la bella and ti's are best three choices i will post again when it arrives then i gotta practice. the upright was gettin' heavy around my neck and strap length was tough to find:D:rollno: thanks for all the input and help i will order from bso when i'm sure.thanks man!
 
#17
ok got it in by the looks of the e string and how high it sits on the bridge the tapered b would be the best choice. that puts me on to ghs or la bella. which would be the best of these two for a very smooth tone and should i want to string thru the body? to bad the ti's are so big on the b but wadda ya do.
 
#19
GHS Flatwound B strings are not Tapered...

The only Tapered B string flat wounds are from La Bella and Sadowsky. Sadowsky does not make a 5 string set so that basically leaves you with La Bella.

La Bella makes two types of flats, for standard top load instruments and then for thru-body instruments. You need the flats for Thru-Body instruments which still have a tapered B.
 

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