Help me pick my Flatwounds

[Fretlessthrash]

I've been playing fretless bass for awhile now and I need some new string but have ABSOLUTLY no idea which strings I should pick. I want something that has great punch and a LOT of sound. I play in a punk/thrash/death metal band and I need some strings that really cut through the drums and guitar.

 

[tylerwylie]

Probably should go with rounds then.

 

[Fretlessthrash]

I really don't want to mess up my fret board though, that's the problem. I was looking at Steve Harris signature flatwounds but no one I know has tried them out so I'm not sure yet.

 

[Gorn]

Labella white tapes are super smooth and brighter than black tapes and most flatwounds.

Also, you play fretless for punk/thrash/death metal? Any clips?

 

[cv115505]

Sadowsky

 

[Fretlessthrash]

What are tape wounds exactly? I've heard about them I have no idea what the aspects pros/cons are of them.

 

[Gorn]

They're (usually) roundwound strings wrapped with nylon ribbon. They're generally thumpier than flatwounds, but the white tapewounds (they're actually clear) from labella are very bright.

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Not fretless but here's a good example of how the white tapes sound:

 

[StevieMac]

La Bella White Nylon Bass Strings Demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNdiB2gAUSA

 

[Fretlessthrash]

Will tape wounds mess up my fretboard?

 

[SturmUndDrang]

Chromes or Ernie Ball flats, similar if not identical strings. They are bright and aggressive for a flat. Best choice for a flat if you want to rock out.
Check out this vid at 1:50 when Garth turns up his tone knob.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS4-tiHkQ2A

 

[lakefx]

All strings will leave marks on the fingerboard of a fretless, but unless it is a very soft fingerboard, none of them will damage it for a very long time.

 

[Jon Moody]

All strings will leave marks on the fingerboard of a fretless, but unless it is a very soft fingerboard, none of them will damage it for a very long time.

This.

I've been using steel rounds on my fretlesses for years, and nothing but superficial wear.

 

[rob_thebassman]

La Bella 760 FL, they have alot of thump to them, dial it up nicely its got a nice bit of treble to it

 

[OzzyGreg]

.
Looking at the type of music you play it seems you'd need the brightest flats you could find that still have a strong bottom end.

D'Addario Chrome Flatwounds are perfect for this IMO.

 

[mokkat]

I bought a fretless used once, it came with tapewounds. Personally I did not enjoy those at all, neither the feel nor tone I got with em.

On the other hand I recently caught on to the flatwound craze, and after using a set of Chromes for a month, I highly doubt I will be buying roundwounds again for years. Thump and definition. You'll probably lose out on some overtones that rounds have, but that hardly matters unless you want to rehearse Jaco in your bedroom in between your metal gigs

 

[vin*tone]

Will tape wounds mess up my fretboard?

Nope. D'addarios are good.

 

[shrimpflea]

I prefer La Bella flats and GHS Precisions...there both more old school, otherwise Chromes or Fenders for a more modern flatwound sound.

Flatwound String Reviews

 

[fjadams]

Have flats or tapes on every one of mine.

It sounds like the LaBella White tapes would be the best choice, second being Chromes, third being GHS Brites.

The Chromes and the Brites are pretty close to the same sound to me.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Again for the LaBella White Nylon Tapewounds. The wear is very minimal and you can get a really bright attack out of them (I can almost replicate a fretted slap tone with them on my fretless). Maybe try Thomastik Infeld flats. I've never played them, but I have used the upright bass strings these flats are based off of and they have a poweful growl to them. I've heard tension is low, so that might be a problem for what you're playing.

 

[Jungy]

New Fenders are really bright.