Flatwounds with roundwound sound.

[Miles_ONeal]

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 second this. Haven't played them on a fretless, but I've been super happy with them. They give up a smidge of high end compared to rounds, but the overall tone is there, and they let me slide all I want (I bring some guitar approach to my bass playing).

 

[The Ox I wish]

I use the GHS Pressurewound on both fretted and fretless basses and I'm really happy with the sound and the lack of damage to the fretless fretboard. They're not for everyone, but I would definitely recommend that you try them. I find they evolve quite a lot over the first couple of weeks, initially they're almost too zingy, so perhaps try them on a second bass over about a month to properly evaluate them. Be aware that there are three different gauges, and also a 5 string set.
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I tried the Rotosound Solo pressurewounds too but didn't like them, perhaps it was a bad batch but they felt quite rough

 

[Jscriv]

So talk bassers. I decided to order some cobalt flatwounds after this thread started. Just put them on my stingray tonight. Didn't get a chance to amp up, baby goes to bed WAY to early. But acoustically they had a ton high end. Kind of like a slightly worn in set of regular cobalts. I am a fan for sure. They will be one more of basses going forward that's for sure.

 

[soulshinebass]

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.

 

[soulshinebass]

Hi Mark. There's a way of sanding your rounds to get more of a feel of flats, but the sound of rounds. Kind of like a half round string
I can tell you all about the process.
Jamil

 

[Loring]

Hi Mark. There's a way of sanding your rounds to get more of a feel of flats, but the sound of rounds. Kind of like a half round string
I can tell you all about the process.
Jamil

Wrap them in nylon tape lol

 

[mouthmw]

My vote goes to Cobalt flats. The reason I took them off was they sounded too much like SS roundwounds to me, and lacked that distinct thump.

 

[ampegfuzz]

Chromes followed by ROTO flats. Roto's are nice and smooth IIRC. The cobalts have a bit of thump like labella's but brighter then them. IMHO

 

[morehorn]

Chromes: lows and mids are all flatwound but the highs stay there bright and snappy for a long time like a new round. Still don’t sound “like rounds”

Rotosound: Shy lows like a round wound. Mids are all roundwound which makes them sound like a round wound in a mix (listen to early police, and i’d bet “money” by pink floyd). Highs are there but die and become sterile as fast as they do with roto 66s

Black Tapes: I’ve played rotos, labella, and fender (a decade ago). They are, relatively, the brightest when you pop or use a pick. Dare I say “the slappers flatwound”? Super deep when you play with a light touch and kinda rubber sounding by themselves

 

[TomB]

Ernie Ball trad flatwounds (the "Group" series). These are sleepers; they don't get much attention / love here on TB. They retain a high-mid brightness that cuts, while still sounding like a traditional flat when needed. I can't seem to kill mine, even after 3 years! I think that's a good thing.

 

[Llewellen]

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 use SIT Silencers on my fretless. They are the "flattest" that I have found of all the pressurewound, compression wound, etc. Nickel plated compression wound and they do retain a bit of the bright "wire" sound of a roundwound, even after a few months of playing in.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

If you go with the Ernie Ball Cobalts make sure you follow the installation instructions if not you may end up with a set of dead strings. Other than that I really enjoy playing them .

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Roundwound strings don't chew up fingerboards.

If you want the roundwound sound, get roundwound strings.

On a fretless, yes. On a fretted, no... they chew the frets first and then the fretboard... But I agree, if you want to sound like Jaco, use roundwound strings because that's what he used. And make sure to put epoxy on the fretboard...

 

[Hypercaffium]

If you go with the Ernie Ball Cobalts make sure you follow the installation instructions if not you may end up with a set of dead strings. Other than that I really enjoy playing them .

I'm just curious, what EB says in the instructions? I used them a couple of times and I can't remember reading anything.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

Start as normal down into the post then around once then back through the post and wind as normal. The first set I had I did not follow the instructions and had two dead strings. I have followed the instructions since and have had no Issues.

 

[Hypercaffium]

What? Once the top of the string is placed into the post (I guess it's the hole?) you can't do anything. I'm not sure I'm following you.

 

[mouthmw]

Ernie Ball trad flatwounds (the "Group" series). These are sleepers; they don't get much attention / love here on TB. They retain a high-mid brightness that cuts, while still sounding like a traditional flat when needed. I can't seem to kill mine, even after 3 years! I think that's a good thing.

I switched to those (Group III) from Cobalt flats because Cobalts were too roundwound sounding to me. While EB Traditional flats aren't dead and thuddy sounding like 3 year old set of La Bellas, they definitely have that traditional flats character. I'd go for Cobalt flats before Group flats for that roundwound tone. Cobalts just sounded like smooth rounds to me, Group flats at least thump like flats should.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Group flats are extremely hard to find at local shops in Italy, a little bit less hard to find online. Cobalts are more common but not too much popular here.

 

[JOME77]

Start as normal down into the post then around once then back through the post and wind as normal. The first set I had I did not follow the instructions and had two dead strings. I have followed the instructions since and have had no Issues.

I can see how that might help reduce string slippage but I don't think it would be a factor in producing dead strings. That would be more likely to happen from tightening the string without allowing the ball end to spin as required to maintain alignment with the string windings.

 

[JRA]

roundwounds chewing up the fingerboard? = bad wood or questionable technique, or both!

My first fretless, which I still have, had an untreated rosewood board. I used Rotosound rounds on it and within a couple of years it was shredded so I had it sanded down and then applied tung oil, letting it soak in.

the real truth about roundwounds and any fingerboard material:

I disagree with the notion that any of the flatwounds being recommended (or any flatwound) will sound like a roundwound.

Roundwound strings don't chew up fingerboards. If you want the roundwound sound, get roundwound strings.

I'd agree that if you want the Jaco sound, only rounds will really get you there.

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.

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.

Again? Seriously?

Go for the roundwounds, surface scratches are just cosmetic and shouldn't hurt the fingerboard

Don't sweat roundwounds chewing up the board. In my experience they won't or its really negligible.

I love these threads. Flats are NEVER going to sound like rounds and I don't understand how anyone could ever think that they do or will.

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OP: FWIW: i play fretlesses exclusively (decades) and have never needed fingerboard treatment. my oldest board is 30+ years! if you can "chew up" a fingerboard with round wounds = you need serious lessons for a technique adjustment! good luck getting 'your' sound' while reducing your anxiety over fingerboard marks!