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Strings on Fretless Squier Jazz Bass

B

BoyaFromNagoya

Aug 26, 2008
26
0
Istanbul
#1
Hello everyone,
I've just ordered a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. Actually it's my first fretless so I don't have any experiences on the string choices.
Altough its ebonol fingerboard is extra coated, I have some worries if strings can eat the fretboard. Which strings do you suggest on there? Tone is not the most important issue for now, because first I have to do some practicing to get used to playing without the frets :)
Thanks a lot.
 
#2
BoyaFromNagoya said:
Hello everyone,
I've just ordered a Squier Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz Bass. Actually it's my first fretless so I don't have any experiences on the string choices.
Altough its ebonol fingerboard is extra coated, I have some worries if strings can eat the fretboard. Which strings do you suggest on there? Tone is not the most important issue for now, because first I have to do some practicing to get used to playing without the frets :)
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...

Yes, the fretboard will quickly show marks with rounds as it comes from the factory. In fact, it might have marks already when you get it, if it comes from a music store where it has been tested. it will show marks either with flats or rounds, but rounds will eat the surface of the fretboard faster. It will not affect playing for quite a while, it will be just cosmetic. You have to play it a lot to get it to the point it affects the playability.
But honestly, this is only a $200-300 bass, don't worry about it. Play whatever strings you like and get a new bass when it becomes unplayable (if it ever gets to that point).
I owned one for a while and it sounds great with rounds, since it tries to capture the Jaco vibe.
 
#3
The fingerboard does show marks very easily... I only had Rounds on my VMJF and they appeared instantly...

ALTHOUGH!!!

It did not wear into the board, well, at least for the months I had the bass. If you rubbed your finger over the marks, they went away...

I wouldn't worry about anything on it at all... I played mine quite a bit, and even did a lot of slapping / popping on it...

This is what the fingerboard looked like at the time I sold it. (I was using Boomers at the time on it).

P1070141.jpg
 
#5
I just got an ibanez SR300fl for fathers day, it has an ebonol fingerboard. It had marks on it from the d'addario XLs on it. I switched those out for chromes and like the sound much better, still leaves marks but not as bad. I know it's not a squire but I figured I'd share my experinence.
 
#7
Thanks for all the input guys... This VMJF bass is the first instrument I bought without seeing or playing first. Just ordered one from the local store. So what I see from SLaPiNFuNK's pic (and on the internet) it's a tough looking coat on the fretboard.
No need to worry then:) . I will try and experience different strings to find what I like best. Good to get you opinions.
 
#8
macribas said:
Yes, the fretboard will quickly show marks with rounds as it comes from the factory. In fact, it might have marks already when you get it, if it comes from a music store where it has been tested. it will show marks either with flats or rounds, but rounds will eat the surface of the fretboard faster. It will not affect playing for quite a while, it will be just cosmetic. You have to play it a lot to get it to the point it affects the playability.
But honestly, this is only a $200-300 bass, don't worry about it. Play whatever strings you like and get a new bass when it becomes unplayable (if it ever gets to that point).
I owned one for a while and it sounds great with rounds, since it tries to capture the Jaco vibe.
Click to expand...

+1 totally agree

The benefit of getting a Fender based instrument is you can easily buy aftermarket parts - including a new neck if need be. Granted in this case, the neck might cost more than the instrument. My point is play whatever sounds best and meets your needs now. If you find you love the bass years from now and there is fingerboard damage, you can have it planed or buy a radiused fingerboard sanding block from Stewart Macdonald (not sure about doing this on ebonol - I do it to ebony every so often). Or buy a new neck or sell it and upgrade.

Life is too short for bad tone. Use whatever sounds best to you regardless of flats, rounds, tape, etc. For the record, I tried flats on my five-string fretless and didn't like it. Not enough note definition for my needs. If I want thump, I use my upright bass. I am using the brightest strings I can find and am loving them (D'Addario Pro Steels stainless steel roundwounds) for my ebony fingerboarded fretless five string.

You may find roundwounds are beneficial to you even if you don't care for the tone. On fretless, intonation is a big deal. I find it much easier to hear pitch with roundwounds than with flats and I would like to think my intonation has improved due in part to this.

best of luck and great question.
 
#9
I'm using LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on my VMJF, and love the tone. I have quite a few marks on the fingerboard from the rounds that were on it when new, but who cares what it looks like? I've been scuffing the fingerboard and neck with #0000 steel wool, anyway, so appearance won't matter. That ebonol is pretty tough stuff, and really has nice "muah" with rounds, but scuff it up and play flats, and it sounds like an upright. Play what sounds good to you, then when (if) it wears out, throw it away and get another. Hell, buy two, they're cheap.
 
#10
If you're worried that the strings might cause wear on the fingerboard, don't play the bass. It's that simple. Same logic as "I don't drive my car because it'll cause wear on the tires and cylinders". Let's think this through...

It's a musical instrument. Therefore its function is to create sound that helps you express your music. So, use what sounds right to you and count on the wear as part of the cost of doing business. The instrument is the tool, not the reason!!!

John
 
#12
JTE said:
If you're worried that the strings might cause wear on the fingerboard, don't play the bass. It's that simple. Same logic as "I don't drive my car because it'll cause wear on the tires and cylinders". Let's think this through...

It's a musical instrument. Therefore its function is to create sound that helps you express your music. So, use what sounds right to you and count on the wear as part of the cost of doing business. The instrument is the tool, not the reason!!!

John
Click to expand...

+1
 

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