I was a diehard D'Addario Chromes fan for the longest time, but my quest for the "Mwah" sound resulted in my switching to nickel roundwounds.
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What strings do you use on your fretless?
- Thread starter Tsal
- Start date
i just put on some D'Addario Chromes on my fretless. and they turned my fingers black. i already have another post going about this, so i wont take up much space here.
I got Fenders Original bass 40-95 Nickel round...
I found those strings the best choice to my epoxied jazz..
I found those strings the best choice to my epoxied jazz..
I use Fender Nickelwound "Super Bass" on my Dean Edge 5 fretless. They sound really nice, I can get everything from a deep deep bassy rumble to a mwah ridden high midrange fest by messign with my pickups and tone. And the Fenders work well for all types of sounds this fine and very versatile instrument is capable of.
Plus since Fender uses through body stringing I know their bass strings can handle the 35" scale of the Dean.
Plus since Fender uses through body stringing I know their bass strings can handle the 35" scale of the Dean.
Finally heard back from DR (the "hand made" string)
as to why they don't make flats...
>...Do y'all have any plans to make a FLATWOUND
>Bass string?
Sorry ###,
Not at this time. The problem with a flatwound
bass set, is it cannot be made totally hand made
without cutting your fingers to shreds. This is why
we do not make them.
Thanks for asking,
The DR Staff
Hmm. Where's a Manufacturin' Ingi-neer when ya' need one?
I use La Bella Deep Talkin' Nylon tapewounds. Tried the roundwound SIT Inverse-wound(?) Silencers after a set of factory GHS rounds. Both rounds sounded good but they started to eat up the fretboard WAY to quick(could be my playing? nah..)
Philbiker,
I've also play a Dean Edge 5 fretless. They are sleepers($$-wise) if you like low action/narrow spacing...
Philbiker,
I've also play a Dean Edge 5 fretless. They are sleepers($$-wise) if you like low action/narrow spacing...
Ken Smith Burners Nickel plated steel roundwounds. Excellent for fretless. Not too shabby with frets, too.
Originally posted by notduane
Finally heard back from DR (the "hand made" string)
as to why they don't make flats...
>...Do y'all have any plans to make a FLATWOUND
>Bass string?
Sorry ###,
Not at this time. The problem with a flatwound
bass set, is it cannot be made totally hand made
without cutting your fingers to shreds. This is why
we do not make them.
Thanks for asking,
The DR Staff
Hmm. Where's a Manufacturin' Ingi-neer when ya' need one?
I thought TI Jazz Flats were hand made. hmm...
.
As for DRs reply getting lamer, just possibly TIs ads are not quite truthful.
Anyway, I use Fender 9120 Tapewounds. I like their feel, sound, and so far longevity. I've had the current set on my AmDlx J for about 2 years and they're still working fine.
Anyway, I use Fender 9120 Tapewounds. I like their feel, sound, and so far longevity. I've had the current set on my AmDlx J for about 2 years and they're still working fine.
TAPEWOUND!!
there is no other option for me. the roundwounds wouldnt bend how I wanted them to(yes I bend strings even on a fretless. it gives a different sound than a slide) and further they tore up my J-Bass' fretboard too much. not only that, if you turn down the tone, it gets rid of some of the nasty buzzing sounds you can get on fretless and gives a warm sound that works for any style you canplay. Turn up the tone and it has a very cold mellow metallic sound, like if you were playing iced over iron strings. Pick, slap, or fingerstyle, they have a great sound.
there is no other option for me. the roundwounds wouldnt bend how I wanted them to(yes I bend strings even on a fretless. it gives a different sound than a slide) and further they tore up my J-Bass' fretboard too much. not only that, if you turn down the tone, it gets rid of some of the nasty buzzing sounds you can get on fretless and gives a warm sound that works for any style you canplay. Turn up the tone and it has a very cold mellow metallic sound, like if you were playing iced over iron strings. Pick, slap, or fingerstyle, they have a great sound.
I've got nylon tapewounds on my fretless right now. I like em and all.. but the ground problem is really starting to bug me, and it's a pain to connect a chain from my watch to the bridge all the time. I'll probably go back to my first love, Fender flats. 
On my fretless I use DR Highbeams, stainless. I know that its eating up my fingerboard, but I love the sound, and on ebony wear isn't too bad.
I like my stainless steel round wounds(ernie ball ss hybrid slinkys)...but my fingerboard did pay the price.I recently had the fingerboard re-surfaced and epoxied and it turned out beautiful..so nice in fact I now am having the body re-painted.if the epoxy does'nt hold up I'm gonna try a phenolic board...I like the sound of round wounds on my fretless..the sound is more meow than mwah..
Can't beat Elixirs for tone/life balance.
I do like fresh nickel roundwounds (D'Addario XL's) a bit better, but the perfect sound doesn't last too long. Even through an evening the tone changes, so boiling/soaking/baking doesn't solve the problem unless I wanted to change strings after the second set every night. Recording is another problem; my band rarely gets things right within the first two hours, and then there I am with the band's momentum going and dead strings.
The Elixirs last well over a year, and don't change at all. The biggest advantage is that they stay constant through our 6-hour recording sessions. Just that would be worth the cost, but then I get to keep the same strings on for all the gigs, and the next 8 recording sessions too. My band's second CD was recorded across a span of about 11 months, all on the same set of Elixirs.
I do like fresh nickel roundwounds (D'Addario XL's) a bit better, but the perfect sound doesn't last too long. Even through an evening the tone changes, so boiling/soaking/baking doesn't solve the problem unless I wanted to change strings after the second set every night. Recording is another problem; my band rarely gets things right within the first two hours, and then there I am with the band's momentum going and dead strings.
The Elixirs last well over a year, and don't change at all. The biggest advantage is that they stay constant through our 6-hour recording sessions. Just that would be worth the cost, but then I get to keep the same strings on for all the gigs, and the next 8 recording sessions too. My band's second CD was recorded across a span of about 11 months, all on the same set of Elixirs.
No one has mentioned Elites yet so
I use Elites 100 to something a lot smaller roundwound and they are making some nice grooves on my Thumbs ebony board (pause for breath) I recently tried a Wal Custom with flats and although I liked the bass and the sound I hated the feel of them. Rather like sleeping in nylon sheets. You like it or dont. Oh flats dont spark when you move though.
I use Elites 100 to something a lot smaller roundwound and they are making some nice grooves on my Thumbs ebony board (pause for breath) I recently tried a Wal Custom with flats and although I liked the bass and the sound I hated the feel of them. Rather like sleeping in nylon sheets. You like it or dont. Oh flats dont spark when you move though.
I've tried fender flats and tapewounds in the beginning for my carvin BB70F. Did not like the feel of the flats, but did sound right. They just bugged me (maybe powder woulda helped?) Then I stuck on some fender tapewounds. Was very pleased. Easy to move around on, sounded good. Until I slapped or plucked. Thud. Woomp. Kinda gutless, but had a great swell and feel to them.
Oh well, just figured I'd make due w/o slapping. I'll just use it to back up an acoustic. Not to worried.
Then last month, I tried some different setups on it to see if I could get some more balls out of it. Adjusted P/U's, string height, truss rod..etc. Fit a little better, still clacky. Oh well.
Then today I'm in KC for a day, and I stop in a local guitar shop because I know they have a pedulla there, and figured I'd go drool again. Found some GHS tapewounds. Opened em up, and they look quality. 105-45. I can deal w/ that. And I've always had great life/sound outta GHS's. So I get em and a set for this weekend's gigs. Ain't put a set of strings on the carvin for a year, bout time. Get back home, string it up...and BOOM. Thick as a triple choclate malt. Feel like the fender flats...except easy to move on. Big thumbs up. Now makes me want to get a fretless 5. Look cool on stage w/ a black fretless carvin w/ ebony FB and side dots. No fretlines. Black headstock. Black slacks, black shirt. I now feel evil. I am happy.
I use GHS's. That is my answer.
Whew.
Oh well, just figured I'd make due w/o slapping. I'll just use it to back up an acoustic. Not to worried.
Then last month, I tried some different setups on it to see if I could get some more balls out of it. Adjusted P/U's, string height, truss rod..etc. Fit a little better, still clacky. Oh well.
Then today I'm in KC for a day, and I stop in a local guitar shop because I know they have a pedulla there, and figured I'd go drool again. Found some GHS tapewounds. Opened em up, and they look quality. 105-45. I can deal w/ that. And I've always had great life/sound outta GHS's. So I get em and a set for this weekend's gigs. Ain't put a set of strings on the carvin for a year, bout time. Get back home, string it up...and BOOM. Thick as a triple choclate malt. Feel like the fender flats...except easy to move on. Big thumbs up. Now makes me want to get a fretless 5. Look cool on stage w/ a black fretless carvin w/ ebony FB and side dots. No fretlines. Black headstock. Black slacks, black shirt. I now feel evil. I am happy.
I use GHS's. That is my answer.
Whew.
As I mentioned before, I play with fender tapewounds. On my jazz bass; slap, fingerstyle and pick all sound great. The bass doesnt need to declare it's presence by a typical slap growling sound. if that means its "gutless" then whatever, man. But a bass doesn't always need to have balls of steel. Just ask Jaco.
