Who has Tapewound Strings on Their Fretless?

[jasper383]

I have an Ibanez SR400 fretless, and am looking for a new set of strings and a new sound for it. It currently has Chromes on it.

My guess is that tapewound strings will give it the closest to an upright sound there is. Am I right?

The gauge of some tapewound strings is very high. Do they fit through the nut?

 

[ibz]

I have an Ibanez SR400 fretless, and am looking for a new set of strings and a new sound for it. It currently has Chromes on it.

My guess is that tapewound strings will give it the closest to an upright sound there is. Am I right?

The gauge of some tapewound strings is very high. Do they fit through the nut?

I do, and from my experiences yes and yes to your questions.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

T-I Jazz Flats, once they're well worn in, can also give you a lot of that sound IME. They might even get you closer, since their construction is closer to that of a URB string than the construction of tapewounds is.

 

[blowfly]

I have LaBella tapewounds on my Yamaha fretless. They sound pretty close to an upright with the right EQ, especially if I pluck close to, or over the neck. If I bring up the treble and pick close to the bridge they have a suprisingly bright sound. They are my favorite strings, I recently started using them on my fretted bass too.

 

[FenderP]

I've use the Rotosound RS88 tapewounds on all of my fretless basses over the years.

 

[T. B. Player]

Absolutely! The longer the scale the closer the sound/feel, etc. too. I like a 34" scale just due to my finger size and stretch, but a 35" scale will give you a tighter string feel and give you an easier time playing in the Simandl method (if you're used to playing an upright).

 

[Munjibunga]

I just put a set of La Bella tapewounds on my 55-94 fretless and, yes, it does sound more like an upright when properly EQ'd. BTW, I bought them at Carvin (genuine La Bella) and it seems like Carvin's price on them is a lot lower than anywhere else I've seen.

La Bella strings at Carvin

 

[Pilgrim]

I have Fender tapewounds on a P-special (P and J pickups) fretless. Nice sound, wouldn't call it upright.

 

[1buba]

Newbie here...

I have the LaBella's on my Carvin AC-50F (they came on it)... They sound real nice. I've never heard any electric bass that sounds so much like a stand up. Now, that said, I have to say, i'm not the tone wizard that i would like to be and haven't done the one on one comparisons that some other folks have done.

 

[Tom Howland]

GHS tapewounds.
They take a little time to even out.

I like them because there E-string is 105.
Not 110, or 115 like other tapewound strings.
The 105 balances the set, better.

 

[Philbiker]

I've got tapesound strings on both my fretless basses. I like the sound. On my Brice there is the quick decay that you would associate with an upright, and I love it. On my frankenbass I have Fender Tapesound and I really love them!

 

[Justin Tuskey]

I also have GHS tapewounds on my Ibanez SR1305 fretless. They have a really great thump and feel that I love. I DID have to do a little tweaking on my nut because the A string was a little thick, but didnt have to tweak it much, and the tension on the GHS isnt as high as other tapewounds, so no neck adjustment was necessary for me. I am extremely happy with them and dont know what I am going to do when my fretted bass with rounds comes in >_< I am too spoiled with these strings

 

[louieeadg]

I use the LaBella Tapewounds on my 75 Rickenbacker Fretless...The tone is magnific! Much like an upright thump. And it creates a really neat tone with the slightly treble heavy Rick. Never heard a bass sound like it.

 

[rusty66]

I use the fender black tapewounds on my tomkins fretless, best fretless sound ive heard in years. great mwah & bright also. screw the tops down a bit & play with your thumb & you have your double sound. standard gauge too!

Cheers

Rusty