Flatwound like strings for my headless bass?

[emjazz]

I’ve just received a headless bass, with a Hipshot bridge and separate pieces at the other end with a single screw to clamp each string down. I’ve read over and over that flats won’t work, and flats happen to be my preferred string. Is there a string that you could suggest that will get me close that will work for headless. I’ll probably start with GHS Pressurewounds….but was wondering what else is out there that’s flatwound adjacent. Thanks so much

 

[Passinwind]

I’ve just received a headless bass, with a Hipshot bridge and separate pieces at the other end with a single screw to clamp each string down. I’ve read over and over that flats won’t work, and flats happen to be my preferred string. Is there a string that you could suggest that will get me close that will work for headless. I’ll probably start with GHS Pressurewounds….but was wondering what else is out there that’s flatwound adjacent. Thanks so much

I like the Pressurewounds on one of my fretless fours a lot, but the SIT Silencers on the other one even better. The SIT are brighter, and a little stickier feeling, which I actually prefer for fretless, so you may easily swing the other way between those two if flats are your thing, I guess.

 

[ardgedee]

I’ve just received a headless bass, with a Hipshot bridge and separate pieces at the other end with a single screw to clamp each string down. I’ve read over and over that flats won’t work, and flats happen to be my preferred string. Is there a string that you could suggest that will get me close that will work for headless. I’ll probably start with GHS Pressurewounds….but was wondering what else is out there that’s flatwound adjacent. Thanks so much

Which model? I recall that some are better than others for this. It's mostly the ones with grub screws clamping down one end that have the most problems.

 

[emjazz]

Which model? I recall that some are better than others for this. It's mostly the ones with grub screws clamping down one end that have the most problems.

My bass was made by Martin Keith. It’s a miraculous instrument, but it does have the acres that you’ve mentioned.

 

[emjazz]

My bass was made by Martin Keith. It’s a miraculous instrument, but it does have the acres that you’ve mentioned.

“The screws that you mentioned”

 

[emjazz]

“The screws that you mentioned”

My phone hates me…hahahaha

 

[Just Wrong]

Beautiful bass. I’ve spoken to Martin about having a bass built once this whole trade war is over… is this the Elfin or the Elfin Plus?

Anyway, I’m in a similar situation as you. I have a six string headless (and short scale) and prefer flats tone-wise.

I suppose an important question is: are you looking for similar tension, tone and/or feeling as flats, and which flats? Modern like Fender or old school like La Bella?

After much research (reading online, contacting string manufacturers, string retailers, my bass’s bridge manufacturer), I came to the same conclusion as you: GHS Pressurewound or Ken Smith Compression Wounds (same strings). I spoke to GHS and they said they’re fine on a headless.

Another thing to keep in mind is I’ve heard round-core strings are apparently prone to slip too.

The TI Jazz rounds could be an option (if you’re not looking for the tension of La Bella’s Original 1954). They have a round core, but the TI customer support agent I emailed told me he had them on his headless without any issues.

 

[emjazz]

Beautiful bass. I’ve spoken to Martin about having a bass built once this whole trade war is over… is this the Elfin or the Elfin Plus?

Anyway, I’m in a similar situation as you. I have a six string headless (and short scale) and prefer flats tone-wise.

I suppose an important question is: are you looking for similar tension, tone and/or feeling as flats, and which flats? Modern like Fender or old school like La Bella?

After much research (reading online, contacting string manufacturers, string retailers, my bass’s bridge manufacturer), I came to the same conclusion as you: GHS Pressurewound or Ken Smith Compression Wounds (same strings). I spoke to GHS and they said they’re fine on a headless.

Another thing to keep in mind is I’ve heard round-core strings are apparently prone to slip too.

The TI Jazz rounds could be an option (if you’re not looking for the tension of La Bella’s Original 1954). They have a round core, but the TI customer support agent I emailed told me he had them on his headless without any issues.

Oh man…thank you so much for taking the time to comment. This is really helpful!

This is Martin’s new medium size Elfin. Highly recommended. My bass has a 33” scale. I have an early semi hollow from him as well. I can’t suggest Martin enough.

Martin has mentioned possibly moving to pieces at the head that use two screws instead of one. I believe that Strandberg uses that, and I recently saw a Strandberg artist with tapewounds on his headless…so maybe the two screw pieces could allow us to use flats or tapes? Not sure yet, but that would be amazing.

I had wondered about the TI jazz rounds but I haven’t played them before. I prefer round core strings in general. I usually use LaBella low tension flats or Sunbeams. I actually have Sunbeams on my headless from Martin, so round core strings will definitely work. They sound great, but I would love flats or similar on this bass…something with that LaBella LTF midrange that I love so much

 

[emjazz]

Beautiful bass. I’ve spoken to Martin about having a bass built once this whole trade war is over… is this the Elfin or the Elfin Plus?

Anyway, I’m in a similar situation as you. I have a six string headless (and short scale) and prefer flats tone-wise.

I suppose an important question is: are you looking for similar tension, tone and/or feeling as flats, and which flats? Modern like Fender or old school like La Bella?

After much research (reading online, contacting string manufacturers, string retailers, my bass’s bridge manufacturer), I came to the same conclusion as you: GHS Pressurewound or Ken Smith Compression Wounds (same strings). I spoke to GHS and they said they’re fine on a headless.

Another thing to keep in mind is I’ve heard round-core strings are apparently prone to slip too.

The TI Jazz rounds could be an option (if you’re not looking for the tension of La Bella’s Original 1954). They have a round core, but the TI customer support agent I emailed told me he had them on his headless without any issues.

 

[klattman]

I have a similar headstock. I tried to make labella flats work. Don’t do that. I ruined a set trying that. I was able to get their super polished ground wounds to work but it’s tricky. Too much force on the screw and the string breaks. Too little force on the screw and it slips, then catches, then breaks. I broke one string but had a spare of those.

I did get a set on there and they have been fine for months now. Try ground wounds at your own risk. I would not try flats again.

 

[Just Wrong]

Oh man…thank you so much for taking the time to comment. This is really helpful!

This is Martin’s new medium size Elfin. Highly recommended. My bass has a 33” scale. I have an early semi hollow from him as well. I can’t suggest Martin enough.

Martin has mentioned possibly moving to pieces at the head that use two screws instead of one. I believe that Strandberg uses that, and I recently saw a Strandberg artist with tapewounds on his headless…so maybe the two screw pieces could allow us to use flats or tapes? Not sure yet, but that would be amazing.

I had wondered about the TI jazz rounds but I haven’t played them before. I prefer round core strings in general. I usually use LaBella low tension flats or Sunbeams. I actually have Sunbeams on my headless from Martin, so round core strings will definitely work. They sound great, but I would love flats or similar on this bass…something with that LaBella LTF midrange that I love so much

You're the second person this month who's told me Sunbeams work on a headless. I asked DR about it, but got no response from them. DR also makes round-core strings for Fodera that are supposed to work on a headless, according to Fodera customer support.

I'm starting to think there might be more to the story about round-core strings not working with headless basses. For what it's worth, if I recall correctly, it was something I read on TalkBass and was confirmed by a string retailer and a guitar tech.

I was actually more interested in using tapes than flats on my bass. Bubby Lewis uses La Bella tapes on his headless. In my case, the issue was having to cut them before the silk since it's a short scale. I tried and the nylon unwrapped.

 

[emjazz]

You're the second person this month who's told me Sunbeams work on a headless. I asked DR about it, but got no response from them. DR also makes round-core strings for Fodera that are supposed to work on a headless, according to Fodera customer support.

I'm starting to think there might be more to the story about round-core strings not working with headless basses. For what it's worth, if I recall correctly, it was something I read on TalkBass and was confirmed by a string retailer and a guitar tech.

I was actually more interested in using tapes than flats on my bass. Bubby Lewis uses La Bella tapes on his headless. In my case, the issue was having to cut them before the silk since it's a short scale. I tried and the nylon unwrapped.

I’ll have to see if I can get the nylon strings to work…I just usually don’t care for the B string with Tapes

 

[NickyBass]

Beautiful bass and beautiful playing (as always).
Does someone make a 6 string double ball flat that would fit?

 

[emjazz]

Beautiful bass and beautiful playing (as always).
Does someone make a 6 string double ball flat that would fit?

Hey Nicky!! I don’t believe double ball will work for this….but now that you mention it, maybe one ball side could attach to the screws on the head side?

 

[ardgedee]

Hey Nicky!! I don’t believe double ball will work for this….but now that you mention it, maybe one ball side could attach to the screws on the head side?

Some head ends are designed for both single-ball and double-ball strings. For example, I believe Hipshot's are -- you can see how they're slotted.

Without slots cut to fit, I'm not sure you can get it to work.

 

[emjazz]

Some head ends are designed for both single-ball and double-ball strings. For example, I believe Hipshot's are -- you can see how they're slotted.
View attachment 7174468

Without slots cut to fit, I'm not sure you can get it to work.

We couldn’t use the Hipshot headpiece because they don’t offer the right string spacing that we needed…also with my bass being a 33” scale I don’t believe double end strings would have worked anyhow

 

[Casual Bassist]

I’ve just received a headless bass, with a Hipshot bridge and separate pieces at the other end with a single screw to clamp each string down. I’ve read over and over that flats won’t work, and flats happen to be my preferred string. Is there a string that you could suggest that will get me close that will work for headless. I’ll probably start with GHS Pressurewounds….but was wondering what else is out there that’s flatwound adjacent. Thanks so much

I have an Ibanez EHB that has Ernie ball cobalt flats and it sounds great. Not all flats will like the pinch at the headless end, but I had zero issues with the EB Cobalts.

 

[evs]

I have rounds on my EHB, but have had Dunlop Flats, Chrome's and Cobalts on it too.
All have worked fine.

 

[emjazz]

very, very interesting to hear…definitely an expensive experiment, but I’ll give it a shot at some point. I feel like the only downside of headless, other than not being able to use any old string, is that once you take the strings off they’re donezo….no swapping between strings to try different sets…beyond that I’m over the moon

 

[Casual Bassist]

very, very interesting to hear…definitely an expensive experiment, but I’ll give it a shot at some point. I feel like the only downside of headless, other than not being able to use any old string, is that once you take the strings off they’re donezo….no swapping between strings to try different sets…beyond that I’m over the moon

I switch out sets on the EHB to previously used sets. It’s doable