Flatwounds with roundwound sound.

[NKBassman]

I'm a big fan of GHS Pressurewounds, but I've never tried them on a fretless. I believe they'd sound great though.

However, I just "discovered" Fender Black Nylon tapes and they might fit the bill? I haven't actually played them, but apparently they are a round-wound string with a final wrap of nylon tape. So round-ish tone, but fingerboard friendly.

 

[Barton Lee]

I've used Chromes and Fender 9050L flats on my fretless Jazz, but only for a short while. I like both strings and prefer the 9050s slightly, and have a set on my fretted 66 P bass. They work perfectly with that bass. I like flatwounds and have used and enjoyed TI flats too. I just find flats on a fretless doesn't work for me, especially in a live situation with a large group. Rounds give me the growl that I'm looking for with the fretless. If I want a warm tone that sits in the mix nicely, I bring the old P with flats.

I too question this idea that rounds will ruin your fingerboard. I bought a new fretless MIJ Jazz in 1992 and immediately put Rotosound 66 stainless steel rounds on it and used those strings on it exclusively for the next 25 years and yes, I played it/gigged it/recorded it a lot over that time. I've never had the rosewood fingerboard refinished and when it was at the luthier a few months ago, I asked for an opinion on the condition of the board and the response was "no issues." Not that I thought there were any to begin with, other than lots of tiny marks from years of playing.

I now use and highly recommend DR Sunbeams for fretless bass. They were on my new Tony Franklin fretless P bass and are perfect for that bass - and I can't say enough about the awesomeness of the TF fretless. The Sunbeams are nickel and not as abrasive as the Roto 66s, though I would not hesitate to use those if I didn't love the Sunbeams. Are there tiny marks already on the ebony fingerboard? Of course! The bass is getting played a lot. Am I worried about long term damage? No at all. It does a smashing job of getting that "detestable" Jaco tone when I want it, or it sounds like a ballsy P bass when I want that, which is what gets used onstage mostly.

 

[Mark Ambler]

Wow. So many replies, many thanks to all of you.

I will address the replies properly when I have some free time, but I will make a few points for now, (using my phone).

Regarding roundwounds chewing up the fingerboard, I had read that Jaco only used his fretless for gigs and practiced on a fretted bass which meant he didn't have to epoxy the fretboard so much.

This bass is my son's, (wish I'd had a USA fender when I was 16!), so getting the ultimate roundwound sound isn't the criteria. He likes the way flatwounds feel (Doesn't everyone?), so that appears to rule out pressure wounds, unfortunately. The TI Jazz flats I use on my fretted bass have great clarity, and work pretty good at getting a Jacoesque' tone', just wanted to consult the wonderful pool of knowledge that is talkbass. I'll reread the thread as some as I get some time. Many thanks, again.

 

[mmbass21]

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.

+1 on EB Cobalt flats, I bought a used bass on here that came with them on and I'm very impressed with their tonal response. Brighter than any other flatwound that I've ever tried.

 

[john_g]

I really like the tone of Chromes, but the tension is too high for me. I occasionally throw them on for a while, but it seems like one of the only things I am "sensitive" to is string tension. I really like Pressurewounds too...OP, these, or even Brite Flats from GHS might be worth exploring.

 

[74hc]

I went from Superbrights to Pressurewounds, then to Fender flats, and now EB Cobalt flats. The superbrights where horrendously bright for me. Looked to Pressurewounds to tame the zing, and give some flatwound feel and sound.

As it turned out, the Pressurewounds didn't tame enough zine and give enough flatwound sound for me. I switched to Fender flatwounds. Then I switch to EB Cobalt flats on my 5-string.

In my view, all three... Fender flats, Chromes, and Cobalt, will give you a smooth feel and be easy on the fingers. All three are in the same ballpark to where a little EQ will match any of them.

One disadvantage of the flats for me compared to the Pressurewounds, is that if you have a roundwound as a backup, switching to it from playing the flats for awhile will make your fingers sore. The Pressurewounds didn't for me.

Modern flatwounds are so good nowadays, I don't see that big of a market for compression wound strings.

 

[Mannishboy]

I have flats on all my basses, and I've tried them all (except LaBella Gold and Low Tension.)
To my ears, Ernie Ball Cobalt is the brightest flatwound string out there. Definitely closest to the "roundwound sound."

 

[Brad Johnson]

I'm a recent convert to flats on a couple of fretted basses because of Dunlop light gauge flats. Surprisingly full range. Seems like they'd port over to fretless pretty well.

I play alot of fretless, mine are almost all strung with DR Sunbeams Nickel rounds, one with extra long scale DR Highbeams Stainless Steel. I doubt that'll change anytime soon, I get the exact tone I'm after with no wear.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I tried Rotosound77's on my P-Bass before the tension was too high Put quite the bend in the neck and yes I could get it back to where I liked it by adjusting the truss rod but why put that much pressure on the neck when there are a lot of other flats that don't do that. They did sound good and this is just IMHO YMMV

 

[JOME77]

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.

+1 on the EB Cobalt flats. I tried both the Chromes and the Cobalts and IMO the Cobalts had better mwah on my poly-coated ebony board.

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

+1 for D'Addario Half Rounds, aka ground wounds.

I use them on my unfinished rosewood fretless. No marks. I like the feel and the sound.

Rounds won't hurt it either. He'd have to play to the moon and back several times.

 

[The mind train]

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.

Try D'Addario black nylon tape wound strings. They are rounds covered in nylon tape. So fingerboard and finger friendly without losing the roundwound growl.

Got mine on a Jaco lookalike bass and love the feel and tone

 

[Frank Miller]

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 have had very good luck with D'Addario Half Rounds, especially their Medium gauge, for an untreated fretless fingerboard. As an upright player, I always found the transition from a DB's Spirocore flatwounds to an electric bass' roundwounds a bit disconcerting.

Putting flatwounds on an electric bass just didn't deliver the sound I was looking for.

The Half Wounds are round wound strings that have had the outer portion of the windings ground nearly flat. They are still round wound strings around the core.

Do they sound bright - like Roto Sound round wounds? Absolutely not! Do they sound like flat wounds? Equally not! But they DO deliver a nice harmonic content and will not chew up an untreated rosewood fingerboard.

The "Regular Light" gauge is a bit floppy for fretless bass but the Medium gauge's tension has a nice, almost-Spirocore feel about it, which is perfect for an upright player.

 

[GroovyBassist]

I like these (long scale though)...

They are smooth to the touch but still bright like round wounds.
However, I noticed that they do sound better on my Ibanez than they do on my G&L. They sound good on my G&L but they sound killer on my Ibanez.

 

[TH63]

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.

Have you tried GHS briteflats? They're actually ground round wound

 

[ryco]

I use D'addario Half Rounds on my fretless Gibson Ripper, ebony board.
Tried Chromes, which I do use on my fretted Fender P, but were way too thumpy - was pulling way too hard trying to get any attack = slowed down my playing, compromised tone, and was worried about hand injury. GHS Groundwounds were a little better, but the D'addario Halfies work for me. Have had the current set on my bass going on ten years - still bright enough to have presence and clarity, and no chewed up board.

 

[Stugilliam]

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 had the same problem, years ago, long story short, try the pressure wounds! The last wind on each is just flattened enough not to hurt your frets, they are also easier on your fingers. These strings are actually made out of all roundwound components and do sound very good. JUST MY OPINION. you might love them or not, we are all looking for that sound in our head and these work for me.

 

[Aladinsane1969]

"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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I just put a set of those on my Mustang bass, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I use GHS Brite Flats for this purpose. They're ground wound rather than flat but they haven't done much to the fingerboard over the years.

Problem is there is nothing bright about GHS Brite Flats. EB Cobalt Flats are much brighter. Heck, Labella tapewounds are even brighter than Brite Flats, and I've used both on fretless basses for years.

 

[Malak the Mad]

My two-cents worth...

• Another vote for the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. They seem to fill that void between roundwounds and conventional flats.
• As for pressurewounds, I’m really diggin’ Rotosound Solo 55’s. Great sound and a little easier on the fingertips.
• Chromes are quite nice. Their .100-gauge strings have served me well. Very clear, as opposed to DR Legends, with plenty of “thump”, but just a little “growl” when I dig in.