NBD! First Fretless :)

[dgrizzly]

Have been wanting to play around with a fretless for a while. Heard great things about the Squier VM J, saw one with EMG's on CL and had to pull the trigger! Fretting properly is taking some getting used to, but I'm having a blast! Very glad I picked this baby up!

Edit: Any recommendations for flats? I have always played rounds, but figured I should give the flats a try on the fretless

 

[The Chuck]

Nice! Good luck!

 

[basslifter]

D'addario half-rounds have been good to me. Having those new pickups in there should help you be heard. It's a nice bass stock for the most part, except for the pickup voicing. Enjoy!

 

[ScarfFace]

Rounds actually sound great on that bass, but they will eventually tear up the board. The half rounds that basslifter suggests are a good option, as are Chromes, my personal favorite.

 

[Gorn]

Rounds actually sound great on that bass, but they will eventually tear up the board. The half rounds that basslifter suggests are a good option, as are Chromes, my personal favorite.

If you play with improper fretless technique they will. By all means play flats if you like the sound of flats but don't let fingerboard wear prevent you from playing rounds if you like the way they sound.

 

[ScarfFace]

If you play with improper fretless technique they will. By all means play flats if you like the sound of flats but don't let fingerboard wear prevent you from playing rounds if you like the way they sound.

Good point GC. My fretless technique is garbage so I don't even try!

 

[Gorn]

Good point GC. My fretless technique is garbage so I don't even try!

My technique is good. A fretless board is safe in my hands. Unfortunately for anyone listening, my intonation is horrific.

 

[MD]

If you learn/use a classical vibrato technique, FB scaring can be kept to a minimum. Google "cello vibrato". What you want to stay away from is bend the string, perpendicular to the FB, like a guitar player.
I prefer tapes, but if you dig the round sound, then that's the way to go. And, if you have to get your FB worked on every several years, chalk it up to the cost of doing business.

 

[Baird6869]

Rounds actually sound great on that bass, but they will eventually tear up the board.

Not really. That ebanol is amazingly hard. I have had the same bass strung with rounds and in 7 years of fairly regular playing, it very only very light grooves/scratches. Even Ebony is softer IME.

I wouldn't worry about using rounds on that bass.

 

[Gorn]

It's also worth mentioning that visual grooves from rounds are basically inevitable and not really a problem. It's when they really start to dig in after years of bending and playing hard that a fingerboard will need work.

Even flats and tapes will leave an impression on the board, though obviously not as bad as rounds.

 

[Marcury]

If you learn/use a classical vibrato technique, FB scaring can be kept to a minimum. Google "cello vibrato". What you want to stay away from is bend the string, perpendicular to the FB, like a guitar player.
I prefer tapes, but if you dig the round sound, then that's the way to go. And, if you have to get your FB worked on every several years, chalk it up to the cost of doing business.

I second the recommendation of Tapewound strings. Big fan of LaBellas, but may try D'addario's soon.

 

[tangentmusic]

It's also worth mentioning that visual grooves from rounds are basically inevitable and not really a problem. It's when they really start to dig in after years of bending and playing hard that a fingerboard will need work.

Even flats and tapes will leave an impression on the board, though obviously not as bad as rounds.

The board on his Squier is ebonol. Synthetic ebony or "plastic".
I've not known anyone that has gouged theirs to the point of it needing work.
How would it be repaired?
Has anyone had work done on theirs?
BTW - Nice bass OP....

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

i have had a VM fretless for YEARS!

i've owned plenty of the high end stuff: Zon, Sadowsky, Pedulla Buzz (!), Rob Allen...

I think the VM Fretless is absolutely perfect. No mods, ROUND WOUND ALL THE WAY. the truss in mine adjusts with a feather touch to get nearly flat.

I love it... and lately, i record through my GT-100.

I'm nutz, but it works flawlessly!

 

[SteveCS]

If you play with improper fretless technique they will. By all means play flats if you like the sound of flats but don't let fingerboard wear prevent you from playing rounds if you like the way they sound.

Very nice Bass. Pressure-wound strings just take the edge off but still give that round-wound zing which works great on the Jazz. I've been using rounds and pressures on my RW fingerboard for 25 years and only now is it starting to need a little TLC. Tried d'addario half/ground-wound once - never again. Not to say they are no good, just no good for me. My advice to someone new to fretless would be to try everything once (RW, PW, HR, FL), then after a year or so go around again before settling on one thing or another.

Good Luck

 

[Jazzcat]

For flats, try Carvins. I have used them for years on my fretless basses. Very good price and Carvin strings are made by LaBella. They are a traditional sounding flat. Carvin also sells LaBella tapewounds at a good price.

 

[SteveC]

I use nickel rounds (stock strings) on my Roscoe fretless. I like rounds on fretless.

 

[bholder]

Rounds actually sound great on that bass, but they will eventually tear up the board. The half rounds that basslifter suggests are a good option, as are Chromes, my personal favorite.

Or be like Jaco and epoxy that board! I do love the sound of rounds on fretless.

 

[bholder]

Very nice Bass. Pressure-wound strings just take the edge off but still give that round-wound zing which works great on the Jazz. I've been using rounds and pressures on my RW fingerboard for 25 years and only now is it starting to need a little TLC. Tried d'addario half/ground-wound once - never again. Not to say they are no good, just no good for me. My advice to someone new to fretless would be to try everything once (RW, PW, HR, FL), then after a year or so go around again before settling on one thing or another.

Good Luck

I was going to suggest pressure wounds, just got a set of Ken Smith Compressors I'm itching to try on something...

 

[bholder]

The board on his Squier is ebonol. Synthetic ebony or "plastic".
I've not known anyone that has gouged theirs to the point of it needing work.
How would it be repaired?
Has anyone had work done on theirs?
BTW - Nice bass OP....

Ah, well, rounds won't be a problem for a very very long time, then. I think my Carvin LB40 might be ebanol - rounds on it for 15 years, used to gig it, and yeah, I can see scratches, but not very deep at all.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Who cares. Don't baby that bass. It's just a tool.
I use round wounds and don't worry about it. I love the sound of them.

I you like flats...use em.