Once you go fretless....

[Xanthyon]

...you never go back. lol, or at least I won't I recently defretted my Gsr200 and today was the first day I got to play it with my band. All i can say is wow. It played and sounded great. I couldn't be happier with it! The only downside is i can tell the strings seem to be scratching the fretboard, so ill just pick up a new fretless neck n ill be good to go! Fretless Bass + Heavy Metal make a wonderful combination.

 

[Oric]

If they're messing up the fingerboard, may want to go for flatwounds or halfwounds. Roundwounds will wear your fingerboard faster regardless of whether it's a new neck or not.
Of course, if you really gotta have rounds, you can reduce the wear with technique- make sure never to bend the strings. Or put epoxy or something on it, other people here know more about it than me.

 

[J. Crawford]

Everything Oric said has become Fretless Law. Abide by it... or else.

 

[toomanybasses]

Everything Oric said has become Fretless Law. Abide by it... or else.

+1

 

[1009]

Of course bending strings on a fretless doesn't make a ton of sense, but I imagine it's hard to get used to not doing it.

 

[Xanthyon]

How would Coated strings work? Wanted to get DR Black Beauties

 

[toomanybasses]

Of course bending strings on a fretless doesn't make a ton of sense, but I imagine it's hard to get used to not doing it.

But the BIG slide to a low root note.....

Priceless!


Forget the Black B's... Flat (Chromes) or the GHS Ground Roundwound (Bright sound) work best IMO.

 

[J. Crawford]

Yes. Until they make flatwound Black Beauties, keep with the halfs or flats.

 

[jonathanhughes]

If you like the sounds of roundwounds on your fretless, I'd suggest trying D'Addario Chromes flatwounds.I just put them on my fretless Jazz and I love them. They sound much more like roundwounds than any other flatwound I've tried, and they feel great, and won't eat up the fingerboard.

 

[7StringBassist]

+1 on epoxy I'm not a big fan of flats
and if it starts to scratch off all I need to do is add a coat

 

[broadblik]

I'm sure I've seen black flats somewhere....

Not DR's but yeh...

 

[HogieWan]

How would Coated strings work? Wanted to get DR Black Beauties

I put some LaBella tapes on my fretless. Apparently they are rounds with flat black nylon tape on top, so they sound very bright, but feel great and protect the board. I got them from Carvin.com for $25 for a 5-string set - can't beat that

 

[Xanthyon]

I'm sure I've seen black flats somewhere....

Not DR's but yeh...

Yea I found some Rotosounds. Flat and Black
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[Mikio]

I have a fretless and it bores me to death xD

 

[pepelaici]

Hi
I use Half-Round Strings on my fretless Basses...

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[LAPetrarca]

Everything Oric said has become Fretless Law. Abide by it... or else.

+2

 

[spade2you]

I enjoy the sound of roundwounds, but I'll agree it's a little harsh on the FB. If you like rounds, I think the sound is enhanced with semi-synthetic fingerboards or epoxy. I also use LaBella DTB bass strings on my Rob Allens which have a very nice deep and warm sound.

 

[line6man]

...you never go back.

A huge +1
I got into fretless, and now i am trying to get rid of all my fretted basses.

I hate the dead tone of flatwounds.
I use D'Addario nickel roundwounds on my 2 fretless' and they sound great.

Just play the bass...
If you wear out the fingerboard, have it sanded down.

 

[line6man]

I put some LaBella tapes on my fretless. Apparently they are rounds with flat black nylon tape on top, so they sound very bright, but feel great and protect the board. I got them from Carvin.com for $25 for a 5-string set - can't beat that

I thought that tapewound strings were mellower than flats?

 

[lase]

Fretless is just amazing. I actually run a blog all about them xD. Going to get a new one thats more advanced when the funds support The tax people has my money come today.