Best flatwounds for fretless Sandberg?

[Garth Moore]

Hey Everyone,
I just picked up a really nice fretless Sandberg bass. But it came with roundwounds, I'd like to try flats on it. Does anybody have a particular brand for a really lightweight Sandberg that would work best?

Thanks.

 

[J_Bass]

I never played a fretless Sandberg, but I'm gonna recommend you my favorite strings, after trying a lot of flatwound strings on my basses.

TI Jazz Flats.

 

[Garth Moore]

Oh, should have added: 34" scale. It's lightweight bass and the neck is thin and light.

 

[srayb]

I really liked LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on my Ibanez fretless before I switched to coated roundwounds. The LaBellas had good low-mid punch to them, and nice rounded top-end (to my subjective ears - YMMV ).

 

[michael_t]

Oh, should have added: 34" scale. It's lightweight bass and the neck is thin and light.

If you're concerned about the overall tension, I would suggest the La Bella Low Tension Flats. All the classic La Bella tone in a lighter package. As they say, "all the taste with less calories".

 

[michael_t]

For something a little more "modern" than the La Bella, you can try the Dunlop Flats 40-100, which are also relatively low in tension and flexible.

 

[Garth Moore]

I really liked LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on my Ibanez fretless before I switched to coated roundwounds. The LaBellas had good low-mid punch to them, and nice rounded top-end (to my subjective ears - YMMV ).

Interesting, do you like the coated strings better than flats?

 

[srayb]

Interesting, do you like the coated strings better than flats?

Yes, I like to be able to get a bit of mwah at times, which flats don't provide. But with regular rounds, I found they were a bit too sticky and produced a lot of finger squeak. The coated rounds are an acceptable compromise (less squeak, with still ability for some mwah). Another benefit (for me) of using rounds or coated rounds is chording ability on fretless - I found with flats, they are too slippery and often my fingers would slip out of proper-intonation when playing chords. Also the coated rounds that I use (DR Black Beauties) have a "darker" tone than regular rounds which also seems to suit the fretless tone I like. Hope that helps!

 

[Gizmot]

Here we go again - - read all the reviews for yourself, TI Jazz Flats are simply in a league by themselves. They sound incredible and are both low tension and smooth as silk. Yes - they're expensive, but when you consider the fact that they last for years, their value is undeniable. I've played with several different brands of flats and in my opinion (and that of others too), nothing comes close.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Flats on fretless = no mwah. IMHO

 

[Pocket4]

Try the DA Cobalt and Sadowski Blue Label. Like these particularly.

 

[michael_t]

Try the DA Cobalt...

You mean Ernie Ball Cobalt?

 

[dave hope]

When I switched back to flats a little while back. I didn't want to go as "thud and dark" as the 60s sounded. And I wanted a string that gave me more versitility.
They are to pricey, but worked for me:

 

[Pocket4]

Yes indeed on the Ernie Ball Cobalt. That would be first choice for a flatwound full range response from my limited experience.

 

[Aidil]

Flats on fretless = no mwah. IMHO

It's a matter of setup. Plenty of mwah on my fretlesses with flats. Even the one with tapes has mwah.

 

[el murdoque]

TI Jazz flats are something you should give a go. They feel a bit like boiled spaghetti when you start out, but once you're used to the feeling, they are very comfortable. They sing with a beautiful midrange and have a religious followers group here on TB.

Another set worth looking at is the LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. Their surface is so smooth, they look solid and not wound at all. They feel a bit stiffer than one might be used to, and they thump with a bit more bass once they are settled in (as in: dead).

If you want to retain some of the higher end, D'addario Chromes might be worth looking at.

 

[KevinDBassist]

I just put a set of LaBella 760fl flats on my fretless jazz and love the tone and feel . I get plenty of mwua if I want it and can play cleanly also . I do believe you would love them . They are my first go to flats with Ernie Ball Group ll (not the cobalt flats) being my second . The Ernie Balls are on my fretted p bass . Both fantastic flats that fit well in their sonic applications for me .

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Another vote for TI Jazz Flats.

 

[Killing Floor]

I have TI Jazz flats on 4 basses but my favorite fretless wears LaBella DTF, I like the mellowness and the tension better on fretless. But it's a very subjective thing.

 

[BarfanyShart]

TI Jazz flats, which I think still only come in one, fairly-slinky variety, and are the only expensive BG string that is actually worth the money. Then LaBella, which can be had in many gauges from .096 to .110. I got a mixed up set of Labella's on my bass, love them to death.