Rounds vs Flats on a fretless?

Gilligan8

Gilligan8

Guest
Oct 2, 2016
30
18
4,571
#1
So, I finally got in my Rogue Fretless... It's actually not too bad right out of the box.

Strings are kind of crap but that was in every review, so I was expecting it. The E is amazingly dead.

I have a friend that is recommending AGAINST flats and suggesting I should put on rounds. I know that this is a lot of "personal taste" but I have a hard time imagining a fretless with rounds.

I'm thinking about using La Bella Tapewounds as a compromise... the gold or coppers would look pretty slick on the blue bass. :)

What do you guys think?
 
#5
I use rounds on my electric and tapewound flats on my ABG. I prefer the rounds on my electric, and string noise is not an issue. That said, it arrived with flats and they were pretty awesome. I just prefer a little more zip. Buy a set of each and try them out. I also second @Lee Moses's DR Sunbeams recommendation. Great on fretless.
 
  • Like
Reactions: zontar
#8
From what I understand round's can damage a fretless neck if the vibrato is done incorrectly. I'm not sure if that is because of the string or the way it was used. Someone please correct me if im wrong!
 
#10
Pain said:
From what I understand round's can damage a fretless neck if the vibrato is done incorrectly. I'm not sure if that is because of the string or the way it was used. Someone please correct me if im wrong!
Click to expand...

The bigger issue is just players who utilize a death grip. Both flats and rounds will wear the board just rounds will do it more quickly. Unless you are clinging to your fingerboard for dear life or have a really soft fretboard wood then you should expect years of life out of a board, even with rounds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tfer and Levin
#11
DiabolusInMusic said:
The bigger issue is just players who utilize a death grip. Both flats and rounds will wear the board just rounds will do it more quickly. Unless you are clinging to your fingerboard for dear life or have a really soft fretboard wood then you should expect years of life out of a board, even with rounds.
Click to expand...

Thank you! That makes sense :)
 
#16
Pain said:
From what I understand round's can damage a fretless neck if the vibrato is done incorrectly. I'm not sure if that is because of the string or the way it was used. Someone please correct me if im wrong!
Click to expand...
regardless of technique, rounds will wear a fretless fretboard. I have one where you can see the patterns of the rounds in the wood.
 
#17
I use nylon coated rounds, sounds awesome.


Gilligan8 said:
So, I finally got in my Rogue Fretless... It's actually not too bad right out of the box.

Strings are kind of crap but that was in every review, so I was expecting it. The E is amazingly dead.

I have a friend that is recommending AGAINST flats and suggesting I should put on rounds. I know that this is a lot of "personal taste" but I have a hard time imagining a fretless with rounds.

I'm thinking about using La Bella Tapewounds as a compromise... the gold or coppers would look pretty slick on the blue bass. :)

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: gelinas666 and MaxThroughput
#19
I always go for rounds, preferably nickels like DR sunbeams. I, for one, cannot imagine playing a fretless with flats. I definitely plan to try it out eventually however.
While I absolutely love the punch and thump of Chromes on my fretted peavey T20, to me rounds make the most out of the expressivity of a fretless neck.
I know some people are against rounds for wear-and-tear reasons, but I disagree with them. Yes, the board will wear at a faster rate, but this is mostly due to technique, and a lot of wear that rounds first impart is purely cosmetic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mystic Michael, SanDiegoHarry and Lee Moses
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back