The Fretless Virgin

[Koshchei]

I'm going to have to try a set of tapewounds, the conflicting opinions posted here have me curious. I'm not too worried about the wear just yet as much as exploring the sound possibilities. With so many good comments about the Labellas, I'll have to give them a try.

They feel very different and have lower tension, but really ring out beautifully (my experience is with the white-golds; they have a brass winding - La Bella Strings). With rounds, I was finding my fingers dragging on the windings, which was making unwanted noise and affecting my intonation on large stretches. With tapes, there's no drag at all and they're totally silent, so things have been pretty bang-on since I put them on. I don't see myself going back to rounds on my fretless.

 

[the low one]

Here's a sound clip (not my own) for GHS Precision flats on a fretless Jazz-style bass:



I think there's a decent amount of "mwah" there.

This sounds great. Please tell us about the recording, were you favoring the bridge or neck pickup etc ?

I've been using the same set of Chromes on my fretless Jazz for about 8 years now and would love to try some Fender flats as the newer Fender Jazz fretless basses I've tried have them and they sound great, but the Chromes still sound good so loathed to takes them off. After listening to the above clip I may need to think about GHS too

 

[fretlessguy]

Flats: GHS Precsion Flats in .40-.95., TI Jazz Flats
Rounds (nickle) SIT Power wound in .45-.125
Tape wound: Fender 9120
Compressors: GHS .40-.95

These are the sets currently sitting on my fretlesses. I try to fit the string set that brings out the best tone of a certain bass.