Rounds vs Flats on a fretless?

#23
Until recently, all of my fretless basses used rounds but I decided to focus on more of an "upright" sound on fretless, so I got me a Rob Allen Deep 4 (thanks NoStatic) and it has tapewoulds on it - and sounds eerily like an upright. So they stay.
 
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#25
i just installed a fretless neck on my beater 4 strg ... using GHS tapewounds ... nice smooth sound ...
the GHS tapes are wrapped on top of their half-rounds ( which i hate ) ... i think they then have bigger core ratio to the outer wrap ..!? ( chk their site ) ...

i have tried GHS Pressurewounds on fretless ... they felt very good ... the oval outer wrap shape is easier on everything , with less finger noise .. they are my fav all round string .!
 
#26
I have D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds on my fretless Jazz, and I love them. In fact, I like them so well I put a set on one of my fretted Precisions and IT sounds really good as well...
IMG_1311_zpszxcq3p3q.jpg


It's up to you, but I wouldn't use rounds on a fretless.
 
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#29
I've only had flats on my fretless. I messaged La Bella to find out what kind of metal core their Gold White Nylons are, in case the nylon wears off, and have to get a response. Regardless I'm probably going to try those out, their '54 Set didn't have enough woody treble for me.
 
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#30
Here's my fretboard after 15 years of roundwounds. Yes, there is wear. No, it doesn't affect playability or sound or noise anything like that.

If you like the sound of rounds, use rounds. If you like the sound of flats, use flats. Don't worry about wear. If you don't want to wear it out... leave it in the case and don't play it!

Fretless Fingerboard

Fretless Fingerboard

 
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#31
Like someone said,it depends on what sort of sound you want to go for.
I've tried Sunbeam rw,and Pressurewounds,and for fretless the sound was too metallic for my taste.(i really like those strings on fretted basses,though).
I love Labella black nylon tapewounds for a traditional sound,and Labella white tapewounds for more of a hybrid thump/zing tone.
I recently installed a set of Labella low tension flats on my Rickenbacker Cheyenne ii fretless,and am loving the sound i get with those. It has the thump and will mwah nicely if you dig in a bit. And they feel fabulous.
 
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#32
ficelles said:
I guess ebony will wear much slower than rosewood... my Wal fingerboard seems much harder than the one on my Guild even though they both look like ebony
Click to expand...

I've had a few Zon fretless basses - they do not wear; My Roscoe, with a composite fingerboard, never wore... my G&L with an ebony fingerboard wore *just a bit* - easily cleaned up. The only instruments I've seen this be a problem are rosewood fingerboards and really - who makes a fretless with a rosewood fingerboard anymore?
 
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#35
SanDiegoHarry said:
I've had a few Zon fretless basses - they do not wear; My Roscoe, with a composite fingerboard, never wore... my G&L with an ebony fingerboard wore *just a bit* - easily cleaned up. The only instruments I've seen this be a problem are rosewood fingerboards and really - who makes a fretless with a rosewood fingerboard anymore?
Click to expand...

Incredibly, Ibanez... and that isn't exactly a budget model...

Electric Basses SR - SRF700 Bass Workshop | Ibanez guitars
 
#37
Has anyone tried the La Bella Gold White Nylon strings on a fretless yet? I've tried the '54 Set, but there's no wood treble- all thump and bass. I wanted to go for the "Game of Death" edition, but they'd be hidden amongst my Pau Ferro fingerboard.
 
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