Hi all,just bought a fretless [ string thru body] and was wondering if anyone could recommend a good string to use.I use Rotosound 66 rounds on my fretted basses but dont have a clue for the fretless. Thanks.
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Strings for a fretless
- Thread starter carsbybigd
- Start date
I've been using DR Low Riders Nickel Round Wounds for the most part. Also use D'Addario XL170 Nickel Round Wounds. I get good tone with both, but lean a bit more towards the DR strings. If you used round wounds, the nickel is less abusive then steel strings. Be it DR or D'Addario, I use 45/65/80/100 gauge.
You might check out these previous threads on the topic:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fave-strings-for-fretless.1044054/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/so-i-bought-a-fretless.1019701/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/suggestions-on-fretless-bass-strings.599292/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/fave-strings-for-fretless.1044054/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/so-i-bought-a-fretless.1019701/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/suggestions-on-fretless-bass-strings.599292/
I prefer slightly higher tension rounds. Higher tension lets the strings be set lower. Nickels means the strings are a little more fingerboard friendly than steels. D'Addario XL's work for me plus they are cheap and easily available.
I have DR low-rides on my two fretless, but if I get the bass I'm saving for (rob allen deep 4) I'll actually put flats on it - my buddy nonstatic's bass sounds as close to upright as I can imagine... so that's what I want.
Try the tapes that Rob Allens come with first before switching to flats. I think those tapes are a reasonably large part of their tone.
Perhaps that was what he was running - whatever it was, it was pretty great for that one woody tone.
What are your goals with fretless? Do you want a deep, thumpy and uprightish kind of sound? Do you want Jaco-type mwah? Do you want to play really expressive solo kind of stuff? Or do you want to use it for the same kind of stuff you play on your fretted?
I haven't decided yet , I play a Jazz and a Modulus and always wanted a Fretless so I pulled the trigger . Oh yeah it has an ebony fingerboard , not a maple or rosewood .
Edited: Since it's an ebony board, round wounds will be mostly okay, but I recommend nickel over steel. I wouldn't use steel strings on any fretless fingerboard that isn't coated or composite (like on Zon fretlesses).
I think Tony Franklin uses DR Sunbeams, which are great strings on any bass.
Technique is the important factor when it comes to strings wearing down your board. Don't apply too much pressure and never bend the strings. Use vibrato. I've used DR Hi-Beams exclusively on my ebony board for 7 years and the wear is negligible.
Stainless rounds will eat ebony(some frets too) , I love round wounds for fretless, if they still make them Elixer Polyweb roundwounds are great , I was lucky enough toseethe proto type elixer strings (i was 13, friend family helped develop them, it's the same crud Gore tex is made from , they were trying to find uses for it) , the coating was so thick the strings were yellowish white. Cool, cool ,cool. Too bad there were no camera phones then, and no one kept them for posterity. I had them on a peavy foundation. Double thud.
Oh, my point was poly web is thicker coating, over the entire string,not just the creases so it helps protect the fretboard.
Oh, my point was poly web is thicker coating, over the entire string,not just the creases so it helps protect the fretboard.
