What strings do you use on your fretless?

[tufnuts]

Okay, I can see your point. But that stick wacking against a board sound was not what I need/want from a bass. Fingerstyle, the things were great, and they held up great through thier life. Sounded great with a little chorus also. But these GHS's (anyone ever used em before?) Look and feel better constructed. They are a Roundwound string w/ a nylon tape coating. That prolly has a ton to do w/ it. Not flats w/ a tape on them. Plus the feel of them, completely smooth. Unlike Fender tapewounds...that have crests and valleys from how the tape is wound on em. The GHS's "feel" like a fender flatwound. Same kinda smoothness and ease on the fingers. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sayin the fenders are bad. Either the Flats of the Tapewounds. Tryed em both, and didn't rip em off of the bass until I wanted to try something different.

But lately we've been writing some songs that would go good w/ a fretless. But I needed some more Ooomph to convince me to play the Carvin over my Toby-5. I play rock. I need bottom and power. But I also like to mix it up. Good for everyone creatively. Frettless is great for slow parts with one note harmonies. It's like another singer. But It's gotta be able shake when it's time.

Okay..that's bout it.

 

[notduane]

Originally posted by tufnuts
...But these GHS's (anyone ever used em before?)...

I tried GHS'...along with Fender, LaBella, and Rotosound tapes,
on my Rob Allen MB-2 and Yammer RBX260F. I even tried those
wacky Fender nylon roundwounds. This is all personal opinion,
so please keep the flame-throwers at bay. I thought the
Fender tapes were crap...deader `n hell, no character.
The GHS were good, just a li'l low on any kinda' sustain -
decay was too fast. The R/A shipped with LaBella 760N's.
These are fine strings. Li'l too much twang for me, though.
That leaves the Roto 88's - "this porridge is juuuust right"

 

[Monkey]

Notduane, was there a significant difference between the LaBellas and the Rotosounds? I've been using the LaBellas with success, but I know what you mean about the twanginess. If the Rotosounds are deeper and warmer, I'll have to invest....

 

[notduane]

Originally posted by Monkey
Notduane, was there a significant difference
between the LaBellas and the Rotosounds? I've
been using the LaBellas with success, but I know
what you mean about the twanginess. If the
Rotosounds are deeper and warmer, I'll have to
invest...

Sorry for the late reply...Anyhoo, I'd say there is indeed a
difference between the `Bellas and the Rotos. The Rotos seemed...
"beefier", less twangy. Maybe the Roto's core diameter is
larger? Dunno. They are definitely stiffer than the `Bellas, but
equal or surpass them for sustain. If ya' want a funky "thud" -
that's there too (it's all in the fingers ). There was somethin'
else about the Rotos (over the `Bellas) that's kinda' hard
to describe..."airy-ness"..."woody-ness". It's like the `Bellas
have great "presence", but the Roto's seem to have a li'l
more "headroom". Mebbe like a dry signal vs. one with a
touch of reverb? I got an extra-long set for my string-through-
body Ripper with her sweet ebony board. Mercy! Nice heavy-thick-
solid tone

 

[Monkey]

Thanks for the review, notduane. I'll check them out.

 

[steamboat]

As soon as they get here I'm going to be putting Rotosound 88's on my fretless Stingray 5. Those are really big strings! I hope they fit in my nut.

 

[Zonplayer]

I use D'Addario XLs, gauges 32-45-65-85 roundwounds on my fretless. However it is tuned mostly to tenor tunings. The strings seem to be able to handle the different tensions and tunings just fine.
(low to high, starting a 4th above low 'E')
A D G C
G D G D
F C G D
Are my 3 main tunings

 

[bryan bailey]

Currently Stainless roto's. But I am going to use D'Addario halfs as soon as I can afford some.

 

[dabshire]

I just got a fretless a few days ago with the Exlir nanoweb strings. Something didn't sound right about it (sounded kind of sterile or something... it's hard to explain), so I slapped on a set of D'Addario Half wounds and BOOM, it has the tone I was looking for. Roundwounds, to me, are almost to mwahhh-y.

I guess I'll stick with the half rounds for my fretless.

I've never tried the TI's though, but all I hear is good things about them.

Don

 

[Andy Daventry]

Interesting seeing old threads...for me, the bass has changed, but the strings haven't. LaBella nylon tapewounds.

 

[Rockin John]

TI Jazz Flats on a Yamaha RBX270F.

Beautiful strings IMHO. Take some getting used to with the soft feel but worth the effort, again IMHO.

John

 

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

Rotosound RS55 pressurewounds 45-105 on Yamaha RBX270F

Roto RS77 Jazz flats 35-95 on Hohner TWP600B ABG

I might try flats on the Yamaha as well.

 

[FiveStringsNme]

I use D'Addario half rounds on my Austin P-bass....but after they grow too old I'm thinking of putting TI flats.

 

[chucko58]

T-I Jazz Rounds on a Carvin B5F. EXCELLENT string for this bass! Nice feel, great sound, plenty of mwaaaaaaah.

 

[slugworth]

Rotosound RS-55's. The wire is rolled as it
goes onto the core, giving the string a feel
that is smoother, easier on fretboards and fingers, and reduces finger noise. These are
great strings for fretless basses; you get a
stainless roundwound tone, with a lot less
wear.

Cheers,
Slug

 

[bgavin]

EXL-220

I fell into a set of these, which I would never buy normally. Even though very small gauge, they play fine and have great mwah.

The round wounds are chewing up the rosewood board on my MIM J fretless.

I'd like to try flats to save the board, but wonder if I will lose a lot of mwah.

 

[pyrohr]

T.I. flats on my fretless Jazz

 

[FretNoMore]

I use the Overwater brand for my Overwater fretless, I don't know who actually makes the strings. Nickel roundwounds, light gauge set - .038, .058, .078, .098, .128

The Turner Renaissance has Thomastic-Infield nylon-core bronze strings, .041, .053, .068, .086, .118

 

[Blackout]

I use D'Addario Chromes ECB81-5, gauge 0.045 - 0.132.

 

[Treena Foster]

Originally posted by airbass

Originally posted by slugworth
Rotosound RS-55's. The wire is rolled as it
goes onto the core, giving the string a feel
that is smoother, easier on fretboards and fingers, and reduces finger noise. These are
great strings for fretless basses; you get a
stainless roundwound tone, with a lot less
wear.

So what happened to half -round strings, anyway? They seem to offer a good compromise between brightness and fretboard wear, but none of the stores I know keep them, even the pro ones.

I see that Rotosound advertise "Solo Bass", which I think are the ones mentioned by slugworth above, and D'Addario make some ground wound strings.

Anyone have any experience with these, or know of any other, better options?

AB

D'Addario still makes the half wound. Ask the store to order the strings, they will usually!

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Treena