What strings do you use on your fretless?

[gub]

That is if you play one of course!

[EssentialTension]

At the moment La Bella Black Nylons - 760N

[matski]

Status Hotwires

[muttley]

OK, I'm a relative newbie but I've just put Rotosound TruBass black nylon-wound strings on my bass. The sound is awesome. It now sounds more like a [i]bass[/i] and less like a [i]guitar[/i] . Despite the apparent heavy gauge, they seem easier to play than standard gauge steel-would strings IMO.

[fatback]

Elixirs. Plenty mwah but they don't chew up the board. Last forever.

[Doddy]

Right now,D'addario EXPs.
I don't like flats on the fretless,and unlike Elixir,I've not had the coating peel off of the D'addario's

[Soliloquy]

Roundwounds will give you more mwah. I like nickels on fretless bass, I think my favourite player is Michael Manring whi uses D'addario's.

[hillbilly deluxe]

Rotosound Swing bass 66

[Fat Rich]

Status Hotwire Halfwounds when I want a lot of low end ooomph plus some toppy brightness too, quite scooped in other words.

D'Addario ENR Half Rounds for when I want a brighter and more middy sound.

[Soliloquy]

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1230167' date='May 13 2011, 05:22 PM']Rotosound Swing bass 66[/quote]

I had a fretless CIJ jazz last year. That really came to life with a set of the Rotosounds on it. It didn't sound right with any others. Even though I generally prefer nickel strings on my basses.

[EssentialTension]

I can see this is going to be a long list of all the string makes.

[goingdownslow]

All four of them.

[ThomBassmonkey]

[quote name='muttley' post='1230155' date='May 13 2011, 05:03 PM']Despite the apparent heavy gauge, they seem easier to play than standard gauge steel-would strings IMO.[/quote]

IIRC tension is to do with core gauge rather than total string gauge. As a rule of thumb a thicker string will generally have a thicker core, but it's not foolproof, strings can have thinner cores and thicker windings.

[Panamonte]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1230188' date='May 13 2011, 05:34 PM']I can see this is going to be a long list of all the string makes.[/quote]

In which case can I be the first to say........TI flats. Maybe not the 'classic' fretless sound that worn in DR Sunbeams gave me, but more thump, and still very funky and responsive (and kinder to the rosewood board).

[xilddx]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1230131' date='May 13 2011, 04:47 PM']At the moment La Bella Black Nylons - 760N[/quote]
+1 Loverly strings, them.

[geoffbyrne]

I've currently got a set of Fender 9120 black nylon-covered. A bit stiffer & less 'rubbery' (no Chinese Restaurant jokes please!) than the Rotos & I like them a lot.

G.

[Clarky]

Tru Bass black nylons for double bass emulation and a recent convert to Status Hotwire half-rounds (had on my sold Wal) for a brighter sound but still with plenty of low end

[PTB]

My old bass teacher, Laurence Canty, suggested using a lighter gauge on my fretless than on my fretted. The reasons are lost in the mists of time but are probably related to vibrato & expression. I've stuck with it for 20+ years now and it works for me.

So, I use 0.40-0.95 D'Addario XLs. I might try the ProSteels next time.

[purpleblob]

Roundwounds. I don't tend to have a brand preference, as long as they medium guage. But I think two of the fretlesses have Rotosounds.

[RhysP]

LaBella Slappers 45-110

[grahamd]

Elixirs for smooth tone and mwah or DR sunbeams for a bit more bite. Tough call between the two

[johnDeereJack]

Either Rotosound Nickel 66's or their Solo Bass 55's

[gub]

lots of different ones then ! i am hoping to get a nice mwaaa with some bite , and nice overtones ,hopefully the odd harmonic , not into dull dead tones at all , or is this wishful thinking ? am new to this fretless lark so you will have to bear with me , i will be using them on a standard fender jazz with rosewood finger board btw .

Edited May 13, 2011 by gub

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1230229' date='May 13 2011, 05:59 PM']IIRC tension is to do with core gauge rather than total string gauge. As a rule of thumb a thicker string will generally have a thicker core, but it's not foolproof, strings can have thinner cores and thicker windings. [/quote]
Tension is dependent on pitch, string length, and mass per unit length of the string.

[icastle]

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1230131' date='May 13 2011, 04:47 PM']At the moment La Bella Black Nylons - 760N[/quote]

To wear or to play?