Mixed flatwound and roundwound on fretless

[Riccardo90]

Hi everybody.
Probably this is just about me being picky, but here is the thing. I recently built a fretless (4 strings) that sounds amazing (thanks to the pick ups of my luthier instructor). So I am thinking of changing strings on my old fretless (6 strings) to get a different sound. I kinda want to go towards flats or even tapewounds, to get a warm tone for high register chords keeping the mwah effect, but especilly cause I don't always like the high C roundwound on fretless (I find it kinda squeaky and highlights my intonation sloppiness). However, I am irritated by the low B and E on flats/tapes as they usually have too little sustain and character. Also most tapewound companies have balanced E to G string but the low B and high C seem produced completely differently.

So why not a mixed set up? Has anybody ever tried that on a fretles 6er? Does anybody knows a good combo that plays balanced withouth jumping too much from super bright rounds on the low strings, to the flats sound on the trebles? How would you go about it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MIMike]

Why not? It’s not unheard of for upright players to mix and match string types (steel, gut etc) to get the sound and feel they like…
and they’re fretless!

 

[Thumpin6string]

I've never had your issue with my 6 string fretless no matter what brand rounds All strings sound balanced. I use. Sounds like you may have an electronics issue or setup issue.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I would be concerned about differences in tension but I guess if you matched that, or at least got close, it might not be an issue. I don't see the comparison to uprights though in earlier post. Uprights are substantial beasts, not built light like EBs, which have thin, relatively unsupported necks.

I guess you could experiment a bit, see what results you get. there are some pretty strange things out there that look weird but work, like the Ibanez that has both frets and fretless areas of the board?

 

[Riccardo90]

Why not? It’s not unheard of for upright players to mix and match string types (steel, gut etc) to get the sound and feel they like…
and they’re fretless!

Indeed I heard that...but I always thought that for upright it is like having separate instruments (more like rhythmic in low E and A, and melodic in D and G strings)... I was afraid with bass I might play a line over two strings and suddenly the tone jumps a lot, but maybe I should just try as you say!

 

[Riccardo90]

I've never had your issue with my 6 string fretless no matter what brand rounds All strings sound balanced. I use. Sounds like you may have an electronics issue or setup issue.

Could be partially a setup thing indeed, but I guess in general I just like the super bright sound on lower register rather then the higher. Also I don't use much the high C for fast lines but mostly for chord extensions... So I was just wondering if anybody knows a good combination of strings that work well together..

 

[Geogio]

Interesting.
I'm Wondering if StringJoy might be able to hook you up with a custom assembled set?

I don't know a lot about String Joy but I have 2 friends who are also a very accomplished stringed instrumentalists and they both highly recommend String Joy products.

Shameless plug? I don't use them, but they offer customized set options.

 

[Riccardo90]

I would be concerned about differences in tension but I guess if you matched that, or at least got close, it might not be an issue. I don't see the comparison to uprights though in earlier post. Uprights are substantial beasts, not built light like EBs, which have thin, relatively unsupported necks.

I guess you could experiment a bit, see what results you get. there are some pretty strange things out there that look weird but work, like the Ibanez that has both frets and fretless areas of the board?

You are right! I have the feeling that flats have higher tension for the same gauge. That could be annoying for both a set up and just to play smoothly...

 

[Riccardo90]

Interesting.
I'm Wondering if StringJoy might be able to hook you up with a custom assembled set?

I don't know a lot about String Joy but I have 2 friends who are also a very accomplished stringed instrumentalists and they both highly recommend String Joy products.

Shameless plug? I don't use them, but they offer customized set options.

Thanks, I'll check them out! I had never heard of them!!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

You might look at ground wounds or some mellow nickel rounds that will settle in well.

Upright bass players mix strings all the time. I use DR Sunbeams for the E - G and a Dunlop Super Brite B string on my 5 to get the right tone and tension.

Good luck on your search!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I used to regularly swap between TI Jazz Flats and Super Alloys (roundwound) and only had to adjust the intonation. The tension (or stiffness) of both sets was close enough i probably could have mixed them.
If you need low tension (or low stiffness) flats, the TI Jazz Flats or LaBella Low Tension Flats are you best bet.

You are right! I have the feeling that flats have higher tension for the same gauge. That could be annoying for both a set up and just to play smoothly...

 

[Thumpin6string]

Could be partially a setup thing indeed, but I guess in general I just like the super bright sound on lower register rather then the higher. Also I don't use much the high C for fast lines but mostly for chord extensions... So I was just wondering if anybody knows a good combination of strings that work well together..

No matter if you like bright or not, I can't see having to mix strings. A good set of rounds or even flats should be consistent across the board.

 

[BassicJazzy]

No matter if you like bright or not, I can't see having to mix strings. A good set of rounds or even flats should be consistent across the board.

I agree with you, based on getting a consistent "feel" from the fretting hand. It's more than just matching tension. LTFs have an entirely different feel than chromes, or Pressure wounds, or rounds. I want all my fingers to have the same tactile feedback from the strings, same degree of abrasion or stickiness, same stiffness, etc.

 

[Riccardo90]

I agree with you, based on getting a consistent "feel" from the fretting hand. It's more than just matching tension. LTFs have an entirely different feel than chromes, or Pressure wounds, or rounds. I want all my fingers to have the same tactile feedback from the strings, same degree of abrasion or stickiness, same stiffness, etc.

Yes I kinda see the point, but on the other hand there is no way to really match the feel of a low B and a high C... I guess there should be a way to interpolate between those nicely even with a round wound low B and a flat high C...

 

[Riccardo90]

No matter if you like bright or not, I can't see having to mix strings. A good set of rounds or even flats should be consistent across the board.

Yes but I think we are talking about different things here... Physically, due to the smaller size of the string, you can get a very nice tone and mwah with flats on the trebles (say D to C and often on the A as well)...But low B and E flats are usually not great on fretless IMHO. Usually they just sound like fretted basses. They might be consistent in volume and tension, but you lose a lot of expression.

Or at least with the flats I always tried which were either Galli or D'Addario...

 

[burgerdj]

I’m a broken record on this, but I would really encourage you to try out Ernie Ball cobalt flats. They are smooth, articulate, and maintain a consistent voicing across registers.

 

[logdrum]

I've done that. I used a La Bella Nylon on the high C

 

[Thumpin6string]

Yes but I think we are talking about different things here... Physically, due to the smaller size of the string, you can get a very nice tone and mwah with flats on the trebles (say D to C and often on the A as well)...But low B and E flats are usually not great on fretless IMHO. Usually they just sound like fretted basses. They might be consistent in volume and tension, but you lose a lot of expression.

Or at least with the flats I always tried which were either Galli or D'Addario...

I can't say much about flats. I despise the feel and the dead sound they produce. I really don't know what your objective is, but I wish you luck.

 

[SunByrne]

Interesting.
I'm Wondering if StringJoy might be able to hook you up with a custom assembled set?

I don't know a lot about String Joy but I have 2 friends who are also a very accomplished stringed instrumentalists and they both highly recommend String Joy products.

Shameless plug? I don't use them, but they offer customized set options.

Not anymore they don't. I used to have StringJoys on several of my basses but because they stopped doing custom sets (and they don't sell singles anymore, either), I stopped. I use Curt Mangan now on those basses. More expensive (though they do 20% off sales every once in a while , which helps) but still do custom sets.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Try it out, other than setup differences it would be easy to go back if it fails.

Personally I love my 6 string fretless high C in rounds.
That said, I don't care for flats whatsoever.

I believe there will be a huge disparity in tone and perhaps even volume across the strings if you mix and match.

And I'm sure DR would be happy to sell you custom sets.
Also strings by mail does individual strings no problem.
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