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Slickest/smoothest-feeling rounds for fretless

revlimitbounce

revlimitbounce

Jul 26, 2007
299
30
AZ
#1
Well, I'm coming at this with fresh eyes (and fingers). Looking for recommendations on the slickest-feeling roundwounds (or pressure or "ground" rounds) for a new fretless arriving shortly. I just tried the GHS Pressurewounds and I think they feel like sandpaper. Terrible, unless it's a defective set, perhaps. They also sound super-dull, like flats, and that's not the sound I seek. I want growl and mwah on this one.

I've used sets from D'Addario, Thomastik, LaBella, Dunlop and DR on fretlesses since I bought my first one back when Moses was a baby, but would like some fresh ideas. This particular fretless has a glossy polyester finish and I'm not so worried about marring the finish.

Edumacate me! Thanks!
 
#2
of my 8 fretless axes, i'm using TI jazz rounds on 3 of them. i'd use that set on any/all of them --- but i also like a few other choices (just for fun) that aren't as "smooth" or "slick."

the TI jazz rounds have to be the smoothest rounds i've ever encountered (i only use rounds). string 'em up, play for a few hours to break-in = you're golden!


pricey, but worth it:

 
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#4
JRA said:
of my 8 fretless axes, i'm using TI jazz rounds on 3 of them. i'd use that set on any/all of them --- but i also like a few other choices (just for fun) that aren't as "smooth" or "slick."

the TI jazz rounds have to be the smoothest rounds i've ever encountered (i only use rounds). string 'em up, play for a few hours to break-in = you're golden!


pricey, but worth it:

Click to expand...
Thanks! Can't seem to find a set for a 5-string, but there is a "Powerbass" set of 5. Ever try those?
 
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#5
revlimitbounce said:
Thanks! Can't seem to find a set for a 5-string, but there is a "Powerbass" set of 5. Ever try those?
Click to expand...
JR345 is the 5 string Jazz Round set.

fretnation.com

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Round Wound JR345 Long Scale 5-String Set 43-118

Part Number: JR345 String Gauges: .043 .051 .068 .089 .118 Winding Length: 37" Pure Nickel Round Wound Silk Wrapped Round Core This unique sounding string gas a construction very similar to it's flatwound counterpart butwith slightly more edge. The round outer-wrap is a small diameter nickel...
fretnation.com fretnation.com
 
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#8
trothwell said:
Very surprising that GHS Pressurewound would feel like "sandpaper"! Compared to what, would you say?

Though I do agree that they might offer less "mwah" compared to roundwound strings, so they might to be what you're after in any case.
Click to expand...
Yeah; surprised the hell out of me, too. I'm comparing them to the normal set of nickel rounds I have on most of my other fretted electric basses (not compared to the glorious tapewounds I have on the Rob Allen fretless in my avatar; that'd be totally unfair.)
 
#9
revlimitbounce said:
Thanks! Can't seem to find a set for a 5-string, but there is a "Powerbass" set of 5. Ever try those?
Click to expand...
TI Jazz Rounds and Flats have unique construction involving a silk wrap between the core and outer wrap. Powerbass is more like the rounds you can get from US string companies.

TI does have 5 and 6 string sets of Jazz Rounds. These are about as cheap as I've been able to find them in the US:
gimmesomestrings.com

Thomastik Infeld Round Wound Jazz Bass Strings ; 43-118 (JR345)

These round wound strings have more edge than their flatwound counterpart. FREE shipping on all US orders!
gimmesomestrings.com gimmesomestrings.com

Thomann has really great prices on Thomastik-Infeld strings but you have to buy a few sets to get over the added costs of shipping and tariffs.
 
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#12
revlimitbounce said:
Yeah; surprised the hell out of me, too. I'm comparing them to the normal set of nickel rounds I have on most of my other fretted electric basses (not compared to the glorious tapewounds I have on the Rob Allen fretless in my avatar; that'd be totally unfair.)
Click to expand...
I'm one of the guys like you, who find Pressurewounds abrasive on my fretting fingers. I have them on my Jazz Plus, which is fretted. Once they get really broken in, say 6 months or so of play time, they get much smoother feeling. Takes a long time but they get there and they lose very little of their tone in the journey. So if you have patience, they might work for you in the long run?
 
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#13
TI Jazz Rounds are super smooth but require a very light touch. Same with the Dogal Hellborg Nickel rounds. For the most part I’ve been flip flopping for a few years with Ernie Ball Super Slinky 5’s and Elixir Nickel plated but in a custom gauge buying individual strings to optimize even tension.
 
#15
My fretless now have EB Cobalt Flats. I tried TIs but there wasn't enough tension and while the Cobalt Flats have the needed mid and high freq for That fretless sound, that aren't the smoothest things around, but as a rounds user on fretted instruments, they are plenty smooth for my fingers. The Ti's found a home on my Sterling StingRay5 (MM) a match made in heaven actually.
I suppose my next suggestion would be Labella white tapes that have been discussed here lately.
 
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#17
BassicJazzy said:
I'm one of the guys like you, who find Pressurewounds abrasive on my fretting fingers. I have them on my Jazz Plus, which is fretted. Once they get really broken in, say 6 months or so of play time, they get much smoother feeling. Takes a long time but they get there and they lose very little of their tone in the journey. So if you have patience, they might work for you in the long run?
Click to expand...
Thanks for that perspective. However, I don't have that kind of time to wait for them to come into their own; recording session next week. Just bought a set of those TI rounds mentioned above and will see how they work. They're BONKERS-expensive, but if they do the trick, I can clean 'em off every month or so and be mostly back in business. Just gave the neck a tweak and re-set the saddles a bit for the rounds I have here, until I get the new set.
 
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#20
revlimitbounce said:
Thanks for that perspective. However, I don't have that kind of time to wait for them to come into their own; recording session next week. Just bought a set of those TI rounds mentioned above and will see how they work. They're BONKERS-expensive, but if they do the trick, I can clean 'em off every month or so and be mostly back in business. Just gave the neck a tweak and re-set the saddles a bit for the rounds I have here, until I get the new set.
Click to expand...
People rave about the TI strings, mostly about the flats, but I imagine the rounds are stellar too. Not expensive if they last a very long time. Cheap rounds can go dead in a couple months, per my experience.
 
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