Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

[Inflames626]

Hey guys,
Metal guitarist here. When I play bass I usually use roundwounds, but I don't change them very often because they sound better to me broken in.

Of the fretless bass playing I've heard in metal (mostly by Steve DiGiorgio), it seems to kind of get lost in the mix because the pick attack is less sharp than with a roundwound, picked bass. So I'm not 100% on the fretless/flatwound wagon.

That said, is there any difference between roundwound on a fretless vs. flatwound on a fretted bass? I've been wondering if trying either of these approaches might be a nice halfway point between a roundwound/flatwound sound.

I'm aware that a lot of fretless bassists are concerned about roundwound strings chewing up their fingerboards.

That aside, any insights on these?

I should probably just buy a flatwound set on a fretted bass and give it a try. The strings last forever. But I've also been wondering if I should add a fretless bass, maybe in a J bass format to add more brightness.

Thanks.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

is there any difference between roundwound on a fretless vs. flatwound on a fretted bass?

Yes. The fret wire contributes a more pronounced and percussive attack transient to each note, picked, slapped or hammered.

Fretless tends to come across as more legato, whether you are intentionally playing that way or not. The obvious parallel to draw is with Brass instruments. This is precisely what some guy named Jaco Pastorius did.

I'm aware that a lot of fretless bassists are concerned about roundwound strings chewing up their fingerboards.

Not I. You could grow potatoes in the wear ruts in the fingerboard of my Fender Precision.

I should probably just buy a flatwound set on a fretted bass and give it a try. The strings last forever. But I've also been wondering if I should add a fretless bass, maybe in a J bass format to add more brightness.

Flatwounds on fretted P is classic Jamerson, Dunn, early McVie territory. This sound has been nailing the low end for over half a century. You know what to expect.

Fretless bass guitar is a whole different approach to playing. Familiar visual reference points no longer work. You have to rely on ear training.

 

[Inflames626]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Doesn't bother me to have a lined neck. I'm more interested in the tone.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Flatwounds with frets=metallic attack with woody sustain. "Click/Thud" depending on eq and picking style
Roundwounds without frets=woody attack with metallic sustain "Mwah/Bum" depending on eq and picking style

Pretty different from each other.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

I always used flatwounds when I had a fretless. I tried roundwounds once but they did a little damage to the fretboard.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

I've been wondering if trying either of these approaches might be a nice halfway point between a roundwound/flatwound sound.

If this is really what you are looking for, you should look at string options first before getting another bass to experiment on. (Unless you have money to blow, of course.) There are many companies producing half-rounds or ground-wounds, for the exact purpose of finding a nice halfway point between roundwound and flatwound sound and feel.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Doesn't bother me to have a lined neck. I'm more interested in the tone.

Fretless bass guitar. Not so much a tone, more a way of life.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

I've always used rounds (a lot of times, steel) on a fretless. A lot of the acceleration of wear on a fingerboard (keeping in mind that fingerboard wood is a large factor) with rounds is usually due to improper technique over anything (it probably helps that I'm classically trained, so I have a more "classical" left hand technique than most), and if done correctly, rarely gets past the superficial part.

As for the OP, there's a huge difference between rounds on a fretless and flats on a fretted. If you were to go the fretless route, I'd go for a P Bass. For your tonal wants, that's going to get you closer to this "halfway" point you're looking for. The J Bass fretless I think would wind up being far too bright for you.

 

[Inflames626]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Does gouging on the fretboard produce an effect similar to scalloping a guitar fretboard?

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Does gouging on the fretboard produce an effect similar to scalloping a guitar fretboard?

No, because any gouging of the fingerboard (fretboard with no frets = fingerboard) runs the length of the string, and not how a fretboard is scalloped.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Roundwound fretless vs. flatwound fretted

Does gouging on the fretboard produce an effect similar to scalloping a guitar fretboard?

If you are that interested, I could take a few photographs in the morning. Be warned, it ain't pretty. Jaco probably had the right idea with the Rustin's boat varnish.