Flatwounds with roundwound sound.

[Nashrakh]

And I have never used TI's because I cannot afford to string all my basses with them.

Afraid of addiction, I see. Well, they ARE the best flatwounds to ever grace our humble existence on this floating patch of dirt.

As to the OPs question, Cobalts come to mind. Though I'd agree that if you want the Jaco sound, only rounds will really get you there.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

Maybe try Ernie Ball Cobalt flats. Very full range string and they don't have the high end 'zing' that Chromes have. Supple under the fingers. Take the time to clean them before installation.

Definitely Ernie Ball cobalt flats. I used to use Chromes, but made the switch and haven’t looked back.

 

[Larry Baldock]

I’m trying to find a string that won’t chew up the fingerboard of my fretless, but sound similar to roundwounds
I've seen recommendations for the GHS Pressure wound, but not sure whether they are fingerboard friendly. A flat wound that comes nearest to a Jaco sound, basically. TIA.

Hi. I use them exclusively on both basses (Jazz & PJ). I don't see any noticeable fret wear. I do wear a glove on my left hand. (Amazon.com/ Musicians Practice Glove/ Tan/small) Love the sound and can EQ to tone need. I go the route of the old Motown sound using a piece of foam back at the bridge to eliminate overtones.

 

[kesslari]

If you really want to avoid wear on your fingerboard, don't play it.
Just hang it on the wall and gaze fondly on that pristine fingerboard.

If, however, you want to play that bass, and you want the roundwound sound, get rounds. I love Pressurewounds myself, and that was after A/Bing them with DR Sunbeams.
If you still have the bass in 20 years (and play it regularly) it *might* need the fingerboard resurfaced - might. And if it were a fretted bass it's just as likely that it *might* need to have the frets dressed.

IMO putting flats on a fretless "to save the board" (rather than "because I like the sound of flats on my fretless") is akin to putting low-performance, long-wearing tires on a sports car. You're losing the performance that (presumably) you bought the car for in order to save money on tires.

 

[matante]

Rotosound monel flats

Roto 77’s sound zingy and work well with OD. Didn’t like them on my P Bass, but put them on the Kramer and they sound great.

Roto 77 are my favorite flats so far, but they sound nothing like rounds. Maybe for the first couple of days. You can't go by the way they sound when you first put them on.

Roundwound strings don't chew up fingerboards.

If you want the roundwound sound, get roundwound strings.

If you like the sound of roundwounds and want something more gentle for the fingerboard, use nickel instead of steel. Also, DRs are not true roundwounds. They're compression wound and feel smoother than other rounds. Sunbeams are great and for me have less finger noise than the GHS Pressurewounds.

 

[Loring]

Tapes...
LaBella whites especially.

 

[Camarillo]

Again? Seriously?

 

[waynobass]

Again? Seriously?

Yes again seriously.

Another vote for Ernie Ball cobalt flats. And I've tried almost all the others.

 

[TemplesOfSyrinx]

Tapes...
LaBella whites especially.

The LaBella Gold white tape wounds are exactly what you're looking for. LaBella 750G to be exact.
La Bella 750G Gold White Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings - Light

 

[JGbassman]

I went through the same quest, where I wanted a flat wound strung bass, but not at the cost of the tone. Being a SSRW guy, I still wanted some briteness and texture that is inherent with SSRW strings. Out of the top three, the rotosound flats came in third, as the started off ok, but died after a while, and lost and top end. They were a little rough feeling as well. I still have a set of Steve Harris sig flats on a p bass thst I tune to C. The high tension mellows a bit and works, but the sound is mostly lackluster.

I settled on Chromes for a long time, and I still have two sets on different basses. They have a very brite sound initially, but the smooth feel are what I just love. They are a little high tension wise, but 95-40 gauge feel pretty good. They will last for a while, but eventually they end up with a thud just like the rest. They have an ok mature tone, but they lose that shimmer I like when they were new.

I eventually tried earnie ball cobalt flats, and that was the sound I was looking for. The sound of a nice nickel wound in a flat. After about three months of heavy play, they mellowed a bit, but the texture is still there, which is what I was looking for. They are a touch rougher than the chromes, but I got used to them, and they do get smoother after the break in it seems. Going with the 95 gauge will feel like a 105 gauge SSRW.

Six months in they still sound great on my precision. They are the last stop for me looking for a lively flatwound.

I'd highly suggest you try them.

 

[Cutter8]

I also really like the Ernie Ball cobalt flats. Along those same lines, you might want to check out a set of Ken Smith Slick Rounds. I do not care for sound of the Smith Compressors at all (although they feel nice), but the Slick Rounds sound fantastic. Here’s a pic borrowed from BassStringsOnline.com

 

[leftyjohn]

Ernie Ball cobalts are my new favorite. Like the feel and the sound. Used to like "ground rounds" as in the Half Round mentioned in the preceding post. But the don't sound like rounders.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I’m trying to find a string that won’t chew up the fingerboard of my fretless, but sound similar to roundwounds
I've seen recommendations for the GHS Pressure wound, but not sure whether they are fingerboard friendly. A flat wound that comes nearest to a Jaco sound, basically. TIA.

I started out playing flatwounds in 1966 on my 1965 Jazz. That's all I played until that bass was stolen in 1976. In 1985 I finally found a 1982-83 Jazz with the same shape to the neck and it had Dean Markley Blue Steel round wound strings. I continued to play with round wounds from 1985 through 2018. I replaced the strings with the same Blue Steel strings a couple of times and then put on a set of DR Black Beauties.

I saw a video of Scott from Scott's Bass Lessons in 2018 comparing various round wound and flat wound strings. He was surprised at the sound of the LaBella tape wound flats and kept them on one of his basses. When it came time for new strings again I went to the Talkbass store and bought a set of LaBella Deep Talking Bass White Tape Wound strings to try out with my white Jazz Bass.

I love these strings! Not only are they easier on your fingers but they are not as "dark sounding" as other flats I've used. They still have plenty of high end in them and they have the best balanced sound string to string of any I've used. The Blue Steel's got a bit whimpy on the G string and the DR's were definitely better sounding on the upper strings. But the La Bella Tape Wounds have a really nicely balanced sound across the whole spectrum of the strings. VERY HAPPY with these.

Give them a try. The also come in gold, copper and black tape wound.

TalkBass.com > Deep Talkin' Bass > White Nylon Tape

 

[MCF]

Maybe try Ernie Ball Cobalt flats. Very full range string and they don't have the high end 'zing' that Chromes have. Supple under the fingers. Take the time to clean them before installation.

I’m a Chromes fanatic. For P basses. I play TBirds too. Chromes are ok on them, but the Cobalts sound closer to rounds, to my ear. My suggestion is try both for about four months each, then decide on a keeper.

 

[Rickter]

Chromes are good. Punchy mids, rounded off top end, fair amount of zing for flats. If you're wanting flats that sound like rounds, then look into the EB Cobalt Flats. You might even consider the D'Addario Half Wounds or Rotosound RS55 sets, since you mentioned the GHS Pressure Wounds.

 

[Chrisk-K]

D'Addario Chromes.

10 year old Hi-Beams sound brighter than shiny new Chromes.

 

[Bodeanly]

10 year old Hi-Beams sound brighter than shiny new Chromes.

Hi-Beams are also roundwounds, which is exactly the opposite of what the OP was asking.

 

[CryingBass]

D'Addario Chromes.

But keep in mind that no one will ever find that Jaco tone without copping his technique on a Jazz (or Jazz style) bass.

And roto 66’s and expoxy and whatever he was having

 

[matante]

Hi-Beams are also roundwounds, which is exactly the opposite of what the OP was asking.

He's correctly pointing out Chromes aren't going to sound like rounds.

 

[Stumbo]

"D'Addario Half Round bass strings are wound with pure nickel, then precision ground, leaving the outer surface smooth and semi-flat while retaining the flexibility of round wound strings. D'Addario's exclusive heat treating process ensures that Half Rounds retain their round wound brightness and sustain."

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