hello, i just purchased a fretless bass (fender jazz usa) and i`m looking for the best string that will give me that great mwah fretless tone. i`m running a sadowsky preamp through a GK 2x10. i thought you guys could help me. Thanks! david
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Best flatwound strings for fretless
- Thread starter ddsjjlannom
- Start date
The best strings for mwah IME have been rounds. That said, I know it's possible w/flats- at least for Norm Stockton & Steve Lawson- but I couldn't really get it. I use D'Addario half-rounds on all my smoothies; great mwah, low wear factor(again- IME).
I'm using Rotosound Jazz flats on my Jazz fretless and they are great. Long lasting and still plenty of tone left after nearly 3 years.
+1.
I have Chromes for 5 of my 6 strings on the fretless. The other is a Nickel wound. Far more mwah on the nickel. Great fretless tones out of the Chromes...
Just played on my Jazz 77's for the 2nd time at a gig last night. They have been on my fretless for about 6 weeks and I thought they were deader than disco...but with a little EQ, I could brighten them up or thud them out. Great strings, low finger wear, and the slides are beautiful. I like the higher tension too.
Have some La Bella 760's that I slapping on my Carvin 5. Hear good things about them too.
IMO, the fretless is very different that any fretted bass and it takes a while to be able to fully utilize its attributes.
Have some La Bella 760's that I slapping on my Carvin 5. Hear good things about them too.
IMO, the fretless is very different that any fretted bass and it takes a while to be able to fully utilize its attributes.
In my experience as well. I prefer a very lively, sizzly tone for fretless, and flatwounds just don't deliver. Way too dead and thuddy...
So invest in some nice roundwounds, or at least some compression-wounds or groundwounds. And if you're concerned about fingerboard wear and/or really want to maximize your mwah, just get the board epoxied...
MM
The best flats I've found for a Fender fretless jazz are nickle roundwound DR sunbeams. Very gentle on the fretboard, low tension but very quick in response, and mwhaaaa for days.
Has anyone tried Elites flats? I know Steve Lawson uses them. What is the tension like? How bright are they?
+1 for roundwound Sunbeams.
I also tried TI flats, but it was too dead for my taste with mwah nowhere nearing the mwaah that Sunbeams can deliver.
I have ebony fretboard and no damage incurred after couple of years with Sunbeams.
Learn to avoid bending strings perpendicularly to neck (in the direction of "fret lines") but lateraly instead (in the direction of string). This will preserve the fretboard as well.
hey Mystic Michael, about how much does it cost to get a board epoxied? Thanks!
DR Hi Beams seem to me to help coax out a little more mwah than Sunbeams, but both good choices.
I just put a set of Ernie Ball medium Cobalt Flats on a Fender Jazz Fretless. I've got a set of D'Addario Chrome Flats waiting in the wings... but I think I like the EB's for now.
I had a set of EB cobalt flats on my fretless Jazz for a year or so and they were brighrer but after the A string snapped I put the Chrome flats back on which I took off previously and they are still there 2 years later. The Chromes just have a full round tone and despite being over 6 years old now still have some mids and growl.
I'd like to try some newer Fender flats but can't bring myself to take the Crones off for now.
