NBD!!! Beautiful Elrick e-volution Fretless 5-string w/ video (and a question about strings)

[tb-player]

I've been looking at this bass for a long while, trying to get to the day where it can be mine. Well, today is that day!!

This is my new Elrick e-volution fretless 5-string. Swamp ash body with a holly top. The neck is maple and the fingerboard is pink ivory with maple lines. This is a ridiculously cool sounding and playing bass. Rob Elrick definitely knows how to build a bass. Right out of the box, the bass played and sounded great (even though it's been a while since I've played fretless). Plus, it's super lightweight at 7.74lb.

Question: I purchased a set of TI Jazz Flats to put on this beauty. But when I unboxed it and plugged it in, the nickel Elrick Fundamental rounds sound REALLY good. Rounds on a fretless? Flats on a fretless? Curious to get the perspective of more experienced fretless players. TIA!

Here's the pics and a quick video of me noodling...

The Elrick girls. Such nice basses!

 

[BurningSkies]

I prefer the tension and sounds of rounds on fretless...Though the smoothness of flats makes some of the technique/style of playing fretless easier. I ended up deciding I would work my way through the technique stuff to overcome rather than be less happy about the tone and feel and use flats.

 

[tb-player]

I prefer the tension and sounds of rounds on fretless...Though the smoothness of flats makes some of the technique/style of playing fretless easier. I ended up deciding I would work my way through the technique stuff to overcome rather than be less happy about the tone and feel and use flats.

That makes sense. I considered restringing with the flats just to do a side-by-side comparison. But with TIs costing $130+ a pop, that's an expensive roll of the dice.

I'm also curious how rounds will affect that fretless neck. Seems like they might increase the wear over the years. I guess time will tell.

 

[BurningSkies]

That makes sense. I considered restringing with the flats just to do a side-by-side comparison. But with TIs costing $130+ a pop, that's an expensive roll of the dice.

I'm also curious how rounds will affect that fretless neck. Seems like they might increase the wear over the years. I guess time will tell.

Over the years, probably, but then you have years where you love your bass tone before you have to have it trued. The good news is that a quick look up of pink ivory puts it at close to the top of the hardness scale, so it should wear very very well...which is probably why Elrick uses it for fretless basses. I know that Steve Lawson gets really beautiful tone with his.

 

[nonohmic]

Duuuude, good choice! That's a beautiful axe.

 

[tb-player]

Over the years, probably, but then you have years where you love your bass tone before you have to have it trued. The good news is that a quick look up of pink ivory puts it at close to the top of the hardness scale, so it should wear very very well...which is probably why Elrick uses it for fretless basses. I know that Steve Lawson gets really beautiful tone with his.

Ahhh... Steve Lawson. I forgot about him. He does have great tone with his Elrick. Now if I can just figure out all those pedals he uses.

 

[PockySteve]

Wow - That bass is awesome, and the fretboard is Beautiful! Congratulations!
I became a little familiar with Elrick after starting to watch Daric Bennett's Bass Lessons on YouTube some time ago. He plays an Elrick (and is a Great player and teacher too).

 

[tb-player]

Duuuude, good choice! That's a beautiful axe.

Thanks man. It was definitely worth the wait!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Rounds on a fretless?

This question comes up on TB fairly regularly, and the general consensus -- not the only consensus, but the one that seems to be shared by the majority (including myself) -- is that you use whatever string gets you the sound you want, and don't worry about them chewing up your fingerboard ...because A) that happens far less often (or far less egregiously) than folks fear, and B) ultimately the fingerboard on a fretless instrument is a consumable: like strings, batteries, and other wear&tear items, it will need to be replaced or at least serviced from time to time.

fwiw I attended a webinar on Fretless Bass Pioneers hosted by the Berklee College of Music's bass department just a few weeks ago. The participants included
- Steve Bailey
- Victor Wooten
- Michael Manring
- Percy Jones
- Bakhiti Kumalo
- Tony Franklin
- Gary Willis
- Alain Caron
- Steve DiGiorgio
and out of all those esteemed players, only one of them didn't use roundwound strings on their fretless basses! (And I can't remember which one it was!)


That's a gorgeous bass you've got there, the pink ivorywood fingerboard is stunning. Rob definitely makes an excellent instrument.

 

[tb-player]

This question comes up on TB fairly regularly, and the general consensus -- not the only consensus, but the one that seems to be shared by the majority (including myself) -- is that you use whatever string gets you the sound you want, and don't worry about them chewing up your fingerboard ...because A) that happens far less often (or far less egregiously) than folks fear, and B) ultimately the fingerboard on a fretless instrument is a consumable: like strings, batteries, and other wear&tear items, it will need to be replaced or at least serviced from time to time.

fwiw I attended a webinar on Fretless Bass Pioneers hosted by the Berklee College of Music's bass department just a few weeks ago. The participants included
- Steve Bailey
- Victor Wooten
- Michael Manring
- Percy Jones
- Bakhiti Kumalo
- Tony Franklin
- Gary Willis
- Alain Caron
- Steve DiGiorgio
and out of all those esteemed players, only one of them didn't use roundwound strings on their fretless basses! (And I can't remember which one it was!)

That's a gorgeous bass you've got there, the pink ivorywood fingerboard is stunning. Rob definitely makes an excellent instrument.

Oh cool. I'll search the TB archives when I have some time. I definitely like the sound I'm getting right now (not sure it comes through on that video which is just using my iPhone 12's mic). I may also reach out to Rob Elrick and get his thoughts. Either way, you're correct. He makes excellent basses.

 

[tb-player]

Wow - That bass is awesome, and the fretboard is Beautiful! Congratulations!
I became a little familiar with Elrick after starting to watch Daric Bennett's Bass Lessons on YouTube some time ago. He plays an Elrick (and is a Great player and teacher too).

Thanks man. That last photo with the two basses shows my NJS. It's basically the same bass Daric plays. I've never played a better playing fretted bass than that one. Literally, the nicest playing bass I've ever put my hands on.

 

[BurningSkies]

Ahhh... Steve Lawson. I forgot about him. He does have great tone with his Elrick. Now if I can just figure out all those pedals he uses.

I gleaned some of his looping setup which involves two parallel signal chains mixed back down before the amp/modeler. I actually have what I need to mess with it but haven't had the psychological will to put it together.

 

[BurningSkies]

Oh cool. I'll search the TB archives when I have some time. I definitely like the sound I'm getting right now (not sure it comes through on that video which is just using my iPhone 12's mic). I may also reach out to Rob Elrick and get his thoughts. Either way, you're correct. He makes excellent basses.

After poking around a good while looking for something that might be closest to sounding 'roundwound' but have the smoothness of flat, I had a few people suggest that the La Bella Gold White Tape Wound strings should do it. I ordered a custom set in January but am still waiting for them...I would assume that if you wanted to try, you could find an off-the-shelf version that would work.

 

[tb-player]

haven't had the psychological will to put it together.

I have a couple of pedals that require some 'psychological will' to achieve their purposes. The struggle is real!

After poking around a good while looking for something that might be closest to sounding 'roundwound' but have the smoothness of flat, I had a few people suggest that the La Bella Gold White Tape Wound strings should do it. I ordered a custom set in January but am still waiting for them...I would assume that if you wanted to try, you could find an off-the-shelf version that would work.

That's a good idea. I know LaBella occasionally offers some sweet Bubby Lewis signature strings that would look amazing on this bass. I'll have to keep an eye out.

 

[Killing Floor]

Beautiful. Love the fingerboard.

If you're worried about wear it is certainly valid that rounds can mark the wood more quickly than flats. But it's relative.

My thought is that Elrick is recommending the strings they sent on the bass. At that level it is not a price point decision, right? That's the level of build where you could expect only the best. Yes, I play flats on my fretlesses. But I have also played rounds on fretlesses. If Erick was worried about performance or wear from those strings you know they wouldn't recommend them on their build. Play it. If you want to change you know the TI are great too. You can't lose, this is a great problem to have. Congrats.

 

[Koog]

I use black tapes on all my fretless basses. To my ears they are more organic and woody sounding. When I play them out, I get compliments on both tone and playing, especially from other players.

My favorite brands are D'Addario and La Bella. I have a slight preference for D'Addario. They have a bit more string tension. All very subjective, of course.

Very nice bass. Enjoy!

Hope this is helpful.

Koog

 

[tb-player]

Beautiful. Love the fingerboard.

If you're worried about wear it is certainly valid that rounds can mark the wood more quickly than flats. But it's relative.

My thought is that Elrick is recommending the strings they sent on the bass. At that level it is not a price point decision, right? That's the level of build where you could expect only the best. Yes, I play flats on my fretlesses. But I have also played rounds on fretlesses. If Erick was worried about performance or wear from those strings you know they wouldn't recommend them on their build. Play it. If you want to change you know the TI are great too. You can't lose, this is a great problem to have. Congrats.

Thanks man. I reached out to Rob Elrick to get his take. I figure he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t do anything by accident. It’ll be nice to hear his intention behind his creation. You’re right though. It’s not a bad problem to have.

 

[RocknRay]

If they’re nickel (plated) rounds you don’t have to worry about wear. Those sound pretty darn good!

 

[JRA]

beautiful ax, OP! it's gorgeous --- and it sounds great! congratulations on your new instrument!

Rounds on a fretless? Flats on a fretless?

the strings you like (no rules!).

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That pink ebony is awesome. I thought it was purple heart.