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Roundwounds for Fretless...Yay or Nay?

soong

soong

May 10, 2007
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Sydney
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#1
Yo guys.

So i'm about to accquire a 5 string fretless i intend on tuning EADGC. Prob is, i don't know anybody selling flatwounds for 6 string bass locally (i'd really rather not order/ship from overseas - i like the over the counter purchase).

Now i DO own a 6 string set, though Roundwound.

Does anyone have any experience with playing fretless with Roundwounds before i start restringing? How does it sound? Just thought it may save me a bit of hassle in case i find out that Roundwound for fretless is a complete no go zone...

Thanks in advance.
Daniel
 
#2
All I've ever used for fretless is roundwounds - of course, that's the sound I'm going for. You haven't said anything about the tone you're seeking in rounds vs flats (that's a personal decision and I can't tell you which one you want), so that leads me to think you might be worried about rounds damaging your fingerboard.

Long story short, rounds will wear your board more than flats. And it's no secret steel rounds will wear the board more than nickel rounds. But it's my experience that it will take a LOT of heavy gigging before you need to worry about the damage rounds will do - to a wooden fingerboard, that is. Eventually, a lot of playing will put grooves in the wood that have to be planed out. I avoid the worry altogether by using graphite and a phenolic board. ;)

So it comes down to personal taste in tone vs maintenance. Personally, I couldn't play flats and be happy. But don't let anybody force you into playing one or the other. It's all opinion.
 
#3
bigcatJC said:
All I've ever used for fretless is roundwounds - of course, that's the sound I'm going for. You haven't said anything about the tone you're seeking in rounds vs flats (that's a personal decision and I can't tell you which one you want), so that leads me to think you might be worried about rounds damaging your fingerboard.

Long story short, rounds will wear your board more than flats. And it's no secret steel rounds will wear the board more than nickel rounds. But it's my experience that it will take a LOT of heavy gigging before you need to worry about the damage rounds will do - to a wooden fingerboard, that is. Eventually, a lot of playing will put grooves in the wood that have to be planed out. I avoid the worry altogether by using graphite and a phenolic board. ;)

So it comes down to personal taste in tone vs maintenance. Personally, I couldn't play flats and be happy. But don't let anybody force you into playing one or the other. It's all opinion.
Click to expand...

+1 - this should be a sticky..
 
#4
I use both on my fretlesses. I like the rounds on my five string for a more "Jaco" type tone, or otherwise the classic "mwah" sound. Good for ballads and slower type sounds, and pop or jazz/fusion. My other fretlesses wear flats for a more upright tone. Harder hitting with less sustain. Good for roots music like folk, country, and blues.
It all depends on what you play and what your own personal preference is. Try them both. Record a song with one type string, then the other and see what you like the best.

FG
 
#5
Bah... Use the strings that sound right, and chalk fingerboard wear up to the cost of doing business! I've pretty much always used rounds, including stainless on my fretless. The original rosewood lasted at least seven years (I don't recall exactly when I replaced it), and that included gigging regularly using D'Addario EXL-165 (nickle) or XLS-570 (stainless) as well as being overly aggressive with dressing the board. After I had the rosewood board replaced with ebony, I've only had to buff it out with a fine hardware sponge (like using 0000 steel wool) about once a year. And that's with DR Sunbeams and Hi-Beams.

Go ahead and use the Rotos. See if you like the sound. If not, try some other strings, but get over trying to be precious about the fingerboard. That's like not driving your car because the tires might get some wear.

jte
 
#6
JTE said:
Bah... Use the strings that sound right, and chalk fingerboard wear up to the cost of doing business! I've pretty much always used rounds, including stainless on my fretless. The original rosewood lasted at least seven years (I don't recall exactly when I replaced it), and that included gigging regularly using D'Addario EXL-165 (nickle) or XLS-570 (stainless) as well as being overly aggressive with dressing the board. After I had the rosewood board replaced with ebony, I've only had to buff it out with a fine hardware sponge (like using 0000 steel wool) about once a year. And that's with DR Sunbeams and Hi-Beams.

Go ahead and use the Rotos. See if you like the sound. If not, try some other strings, but get over trying to be precious about the fingerboard. That's like not driving your car because the tires might get some wear.

jte
Click to expand...

+1
 

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