mwah tone

[mwhite89]

Please forgive me if this has been asked before. I have checked the fretless club posts, and the "string" forum to no avail. I have a newly converted fretless made of maple with maple and mahogany neck and ebony fretboard covered with epoxy. The sound is very bright! The question: can substantial mwah only be achieved with round wounds, or can this sound be achieved with flats? If yes, can you recommend a certain brand of flats that's better than other for the mwah tone.

Thank you
Maurice

 

[bassteban]

I need rounds & a strong low-mid boost to get it, but I've heard Norm Stockton & Steve Lawson do it w/flats.

 

[mwhite89]

thank you bassteban.
anyone else?

 

[J.D.B.]

I'd try stainless flats, medium lights(.40 or .45 to no more than .100) and get the relief as little as possible and the action low as well. MWAHH nirvana!
Josh

 

[mwhite89]

Thank you Josh. Does anyone else agree that stainless medium flats is the best choice?
thanks

 

[Dr Illing]

I'd say you get more 'mwahh' with roundwounds, but stainless steel-flats are probably the best option if you want to run flatwounds.

 

[Davo-London]

More mwah and growl come from roundwounds. I was astonished when I heard Steve Lawson uses flats, I had always assumed he used rounds but he does have graphite necks on his Modulus basses.

Davo

 

[billbern]

These are TI Jazz Flats, Rosewood board

BTB 1005 fretless TI Flats Direct
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Bill

 

[Rickett Customs]

I use DR low riders on my 6, however too much mwah sounds like a trombone (IMO). Brightness for days with rounds.

 

[gre107]

I use D'adario Nickel rounds (190 XL ?) 40 - 100 and find they great for my fretless.

I have also used "Half round" nickel strings before and found them to be great as well.

The nickel is a little less damaging to your fretboard but really I've never been to concerned with hurting a fretboard. It would take many many years to do that.

I'm not in favor of flats ever. The response is just never the same as rounds.

Peace,

Gerry

 

[mwhite89]

Hi,
Thanks for all the responses. Billbern, the TI flats sound like what I am looking for; thanks for posting the clip. I wish they were not so expensive. Is there a "poor man's" equivalent string, or are the TIs just in a class by themselves?
Thanks
Maurice

 

[Rickett Customs]

Hi,
Thanks for all the responses. Billbern, the TI flats sound like what I am looking for; thanks for posting the clip. I wish they were not so expensive. Is there a "poor man's" equivalent string, or are the TIs just in a class by themselves?
Thanks
Maurice

That would be carvin. Can recall off hand what brand those are right offhand, La bella maybe?

$21.99
Link Removed

 

[billbern]

That would be carvin. Can recall off hand what brand those are right offhand, La bella maybe?

$21.99
Link Removed

The Carvin flats (LaBella) are a fine product, I have a set. But, IMHO they are nothing like the TI Flats.
The TI Flats have MUCH less tension, less thump and more pronounced mid range.
I know they are pricey, but I've had the same set for 4-5 years, on and off different basses. They still sound great.

Bill

 

[bassteban]

+1 on TI's uniqueness, though I haven't tried them on a fretless.
Also agreed on the concept of too much mwah- I have a hack-defretted Hohnberger that is just way too growly. I think I'll put a good preamp in it to see if I can tame it a bit.