Roundwounds wearing fingerboard too fast?

[original name]

I recently purchased my first fretless bass. two weeks ago i changed the strings to eb cobalt rounds, and now there are grooves from the strings on the fingerboard.
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I understand that rounds wear the fingerboard, but should there be this much on a coated fingerboard after two weeks?

 

[michael_t]

I understand that rounds wear the fingerboard, but should there be this much on a coated fingerboard after two weeks?

Not all rounds are created equal... Cobalt alloy can be very abbrasive, even more so than stainless steel. For roundwound, I would suggest you try something less abbrasive, such as nickel-plated steel or Alloy 52 (nickel-iron). Or, Cobalt Flats would be kinder to the fingerboard than rounds.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Those string marks are wider than normal string vibrations.
It looks like you are doing guitar-like sideways string bends.

Try doing vibrato in line with the string.Not across.

 

[Geri O]

I see marks, not indentions.

I have similar marks that haven't become indentions. First on a fretless MIM Jazz, then for the last two years, an ESP LTD fretless. The ESP has seen more use than usual for a fretless in my possession. Still, just marks, no indentions (I just looked).

However, marks and/or indentions doesn't matter to me. I do not get along with flatwounds or half- or ground-wounds of any kind. So it's gonna be roundwounds on my fretless and whatever comes along with that.

As they say...

"You gotta pay the cost to be the Boss"....

 

[nonohmic]

Do you like the sound? If so keep rocking and worry about it later.

I'm playing rounds on my Jaco sig and the wear marks are evident. When it starts to affect sound or intonation ill send it to Pat Wilkins for a refinish. Until then imma keep playing it.

 

[Root 5]

Not all rounds are created equal... Cobalt alloy can be very abbrasive, even more so than stainless steel. For roundwound, I would suggest you try something less abbrasive, such as nickel-plated steel or Alloy 52 (nickel-iron). Or, Cobalt Flats would be kinder to the fingerboard than rounds.

Yes I believe cobalt strings are harder than stainless steel

 

[4StringTheorist]

I'm seconding the comment that when you want vibrato, do it along the string, like a cello or violin player. String bending like we do on a fretted instrument will wear the fingerboard faster.

 

[franklindayala]

I recently purchased my first fretless bass. two weeks ago i changed the strings to eb cobalt rounds, and now there are grooves from the strings on the fingerboard.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I understand that rounds wear the fingerboard, but should there be this much on a coated fingerboard after two weeks?

Dont bend the strings as if it was a fretted bass. Use a light touch. If you want to make expressions, pívot your finger on the fretting hand.

Your fingerboard Is maple. I assume it already has some kind of protection in it. I have my fretless bass since 2005 and never had problems with the fingerboard wear.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

I somehow knew which strings you have before clicking this thread.

I'll put a set of them in the classifieds next week.

 

[Yahboy]

My previous coated board Squier VM fretless P also has similar mark after 3 weeks with EB Cobalt flat 2814 on both E and A string.

I recently purchased my first fretless bass. two weeks ago i changed the strings to eb cobalt rounds, and now there are grooves from the strings on the fingerboard.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I understand that rounds wear the fingerboard, but should there be this much on a coated fingerboard after two weeks?

Problems solve after Labella copper white nylon loaded.

 

[Klangfarbe]

Nothing to worry about. Like you, I had this kind of marks appearing after around 2 weeks on my fretless. Didn't change much since. Just to give you a perspective: When I got the Fretless 8 years ago, it was my only bass for about 2 years.

Stringwise, I change between Steel and Nickel rounds depending on what Sound I'm going for. Can't say that one adds more wear than the other.

That being said, I don't even remember that I ever saw a used Fretless without these kind of marks.

I even had Basses with Ebonol and Phenolic Fretboards with 'em.

 

[Klangfarbe]

One more Pic. This is from a LeFay - Remington Steel sold on Ebay. As the name suggests, it has a steel fretboard.

 

[GTHintz]

Good news is that maple is a very tough wood so don't worry about the surface marks. Even fretted basses develop that over time. Once you feel anything rough or uneven after you clean your fretboard then it might be time to do a light polishing to remove the wear. You can have years of playing before you develop anything that you'd even need to think about. But with cleaning, polishing and eventually refinish it should last you years and years.