Fretless Bas Strings
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drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
i don't think the strings differ at all between fretted & fretless bass guitars
upright is a whole other world though
buy an upright & ask me about strings
i don't think the strings differ at all between fretted & fretless bass guitars
upright is a whole other world though
buy an upright & ask me about strings
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
I like flatwounds for fretless. If it has been setup for roundwounds, you will have to get it re-setup for flatwounds due to the higher string tension. Flatwounds are easier on the board and to me they just sound right with fretless. Nice smooth and mellow.
I like flatwounds for fretless. If it has been setup for roundwounds, you will have to get it re-setup for flatwounds due to the higher string tension. Flatwounds are easier on the board and to me they just sound right with fretless. Nice smooth and mellow.
Great_Kazoo
Well-known member
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
Before I sold my fretless, I used to use (and still recommend) half-round
strings, also called groundwound. These are basically roundwounds that
have their outside surface area ground down so that they're smooth, like
a flatwound, but the inner wrap area around the string core is still round,
which retains some brightness.
You get the benefit of less string noise and less wear and tear on your
fingers and fingerboard, plus the inner round part of the string maintains
string tone brightness and not as "boomy" as using a regular flatwounds.
Comparison of string cross-sections:
Before I sold my fretless, I used to use (and still recommend) half-round
strings, also called groundwound. These are basically roundwounds that
have their outside surface area ground down so that they're smooth, like
a flatwound, but the inner wrap area around the string core is still round,
which retains some brightness.
You get the benefit of less string noise and less wear and tear on your
fingers and fingerboard, plus the inner round part of the string maintains
string tone brightness and not as "boomy" as using a regular flatwounds.
Comparison of string cross-sections:
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
I liked the flatwounds. Fender used to make a black coated flatwound that I loved to peices. Can't find them anymore, but then I haven't looked in a few years.
The coating did alot to kind of dull some of the sound. Not sure why I liked that tone, but I really fell in love with them the first time I tried it.
I liked the flatwounds. Fender used to make a black coated flatwound that I loved to peices. Can't find them anymore, but then I haven't looked in a few years.
The coating did alot to kind of dull some of the sound. Not sure why I liked that tone, but I really fell in love with them the first time I tried it.
W
WORSHIPTEAM
Guest
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
I use Roto-Sound roundwounds on my Fender P. But I like raw fingers and bummed up fretboards also ( ha ha). No I really love that sound when you slide up or down the scale.:yell:
I use Roto-Sound roundwounds on my Fender P. But I like raw fingers and bummed up fretboards also ( ha ha). No I really love that sound when you slide up or down the scale.:yell:
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
I love those too. Fender Black tape wounds. They're really dark and smooth. I wouldn't put them on my only bass, but I think they're superb in an ancillary fretless.
You can still get them, but you have to look for them.
I love those too. Fender Black tape wounds. They're really dark and smooth. I wouldn't put them on my only bass, but I think they're superb in an ancillary fretless.
You can still get them, but you have to look for them.
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
There's the Fender 9120 set and the 7120 set. Both black nylon strings, i love these strings. Your local fender dealer should be able to get them.
Re: Fretless Bas Strings
I bought a Squier Standard Precision about 2 months ago and turned it into a fretless. I have tried Rounds, halfs and flats on it and this is what i think:
Rounds gives the most "mwah" sound and just sounded best to me. It eats my fretboard but since it's just a cheap bass i don't care.
Half-rounds were nice, they ate on the board too but not as much as the rounds does. Good sound, 50/50 rounds and flats sound in one string.
Flats were nice on the board but over time, alot of time, it will also leave marks on the board but not "eat" on it. Depending on what flats you buy you will either get "mwah" or not. Classic sound and it can also sound if you have the right technique and use some foam under the strings it will sound close to a double bass if you want. It's not a double bass but it will imitate the sound. I'm not to judge if it sounds good or not.
I bought a Squier Standard Precision about 2 months ago and turned it into a fretless. I have tried Rounds, halfs and flats on it and this is what i think:
Rounds gives the most "mwah" sound and just sounded best to me. It eats my fretboard but since it's just a cheap bass i don't care.
Half-rounds were nice, they ate on the board too but not as much as the rounds does. Good sound, 50/50 rounds and flats sound in one string.
Flats were nice on the board but over time, alot of time, it will also leave marks on the board but not "eat" on it. Depending on what flats you buy you will either get "mwah" or not. Classic sound and it can also sound if you have the right technique and use some foam under the strings it will sound close to a double bass if you want. It's not a double bass but it will imitate the sound. I'm not to judge if it sounds good or not.
