What strings would you put on a fretless stingray?

[poochiecheeks]

More specifically a 5 string Warwick pretending to be a 2-band stringray.

Ebony fingerboard so any string wear is a non issue.

So far Rotosound 66s are way too bright with no meat to the sound. GHS brite flats are better but way too thumpy with not enough sustain, plus I had to put the B and E string ball ends in a vice to fit them in the tail piece. What would you call the middle between those two?

Last thread on this specific topic is from 2007 so maybe things have changed since then.
Thank you

 

[bholder]

I'd go for GHS Pressurewounds or similar, to emphasize the Warwick "growl". Tapes or flats would work, but are kind of working against the Warwick sound...

 

[poochiecheeks]

I'd go for GHS Pressurewounds or similar, to emphasize the Warwick "growl". Tapes or flats would work, but are kind of working against the Warwick sound...

Thanks, I hear lots of good things about those.

 

[bholder]

Thanks, I hear lots of good things about those.

Very little board wear, but a sound that is closer to rounds (without finger noise) than flats. I love 'em.

 

[hasbeen]

I'm a DR Sunbeam fan. I have several fretless basses and I use Sunbeams on all of them.

 

[tindrum]

Dunlop Super Brights have something going on in the midrange that really sounds fantastic on a fretless. The flexibility also is very nice. Sunbeams would be right up there as well.

 

[bassdude51]

Strings that won't "eat" the fretboard. (Preferably flats.)

 

[Lo-E]

I used GHS Pressurewounds or Ken Smith Compressors on my fretless 2-band Ray for a few years and liked them but the tension began to bug me a little. Lately both my 2-band fretless Ray and my 2-band fretless Warwick wear Sunbeams.

 

[Lo-E]

You might also like GHS Pure Nickel.

 

[Slade N]

First, Im am very jealous, I have been lusting for a Pro M for awhile, so congrats!

I have EBMM cobalt flats on my Stringray 5 fretless and I think they are a great match so suggest trying them.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Flats, Dogal..I get a upright tone on my fretless. They remind me of Evah Pirazzi's.

 

[Ellery]

I have almost the same bass Streamer Pro M5, and I use DR Hi Beams and they work for me. The dual preamp is very versatile, not too bright for me. But then again I love the mwaaaah.

 

[MonetBass]

I'd go for GHS Pressurewounds or similar, to emphasize the Warwick "growl". Tapes or flats would work, but are kind of working against the Warwick sound...

On my recent fretless bass project with an ebony fingerboard, I tried the GHS Pressurewounds first. I didn't like the tone -- too subdued and lacked highs, IMO.

I'm a DR Sunbeam fan. I have several fretless basses and I use Sunbeams on all of them.

This is what my fretless wound up with. They sound perfect.

 

[burgerdj]

+1 on GHS Pressurewound. I also really like EB Cobalt Flats on fretless. If you’re looking for max mwah, DR Sunbeams are excellent.

As a fellow ProM player - sweet!!

 

[JazznFunk]

DR Sunbeams. Nickel, soft, easy on the fingerboard and hands, but will still get a great bit of growl. I played GHS Pressurewounds for YEARS on fretless and fretted basses, and found that they went 'dull' very quickly. Flats are often mentioned to avoid wear, or to try and get an 'upright bass tone vague approximation' - but you will not get the full depth of sound out of the bass without rounds, IMO.

 

[JRA]

rounds! (in spite of your experience with the rotos.)

i can't endorse any flats or any 5-string sets (only 4s), but i get great sounds from TI jazz rounds and dogal-hellborg (stranded core) sets. you can count on both sets to give some clarity when 'singing' with your fretless and different versions of punch when you dig in. both sets are known for their balanced feel, and both sets are considered 'bendy' or "low tension," so they're both way easy to play.

all i got! good luck on your fretless "string quest!"

 

[sawzalot]

Nickel roundwounds. I use Ernie Ball Slinky's, but any nickel rounds should do. Warm and sunny and bright but not too bright, especially after they initially break in.

 

[bikeplate]

Same I put on my fretted Stingray

 

[Danny O Danny]

I would try the following and see which feels and sounds best on that particular bass:
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds (JR344)
DR Sunbeams
GHS Pressurewounds
All light gauge.

 

[newwavefrank]

Just discovered these recently and am loving them. Very smooth feel for a roundwound.