Ray Pierce, Jazz copy defretting

[Obsidiandesire]

Let's see, about 2 months ago (could even be 3!), I decided that I wasn't using my Ray pierce bass, it's a Jazz lookalike, and my first bass. I really had enough of it, the action was shot and suchlike, so after careful thought, I decided to de-fret it.
So, away I hacked at the fretboard (Though I obviously didn't [i]hack[/i], I was very careful!)
20 frets I think in total, might be 19 though...

Then my Low E broke on my main bass... which I just robbed off my defretted bass (being sixteen, means I'm skint!), it proceeded to sit in my room, full of holes where there should be frets, and with 3 strings on it.
The poor thing was locked in an attic for 7 months prior to this treatment, I sometimes feel as though I'm torturing it.
So today, I found some filler lying about, applied it to my bass and voila, I'm trying to pass the time waiting for it to dry.

Once sanded and varnished, I plan on buying roundwound strings for it, but i'm in a slight predicament. I would like to put it in cello tuning (CGDA), but obviously normal strings wouldn't exactly go into that tuning without completely killing them. I was wondering if I could actually use cello strings on it, or is it just better to go with EADG and find a cheap cello somewhere?

Thanks in advance!
Ash

EDIT:
Also, what sort of price range am I looking at for the strings? I live in the bolton area, and manchester is fairly accessible for me

Edited June 9, 2008 by Obsidiandesire

[yorks5stringer]

Wouldn't flat wounds be better to use on a fretless? Roundwounds are more likely to chew up your fretboard. As for prices, just Google "bass guitar strings uk"

[E_MaN]

I think you you use a variety of different gauges you could achieve the cello tuning, maybe a bit of research on THomann or the internet could help, but i doubt its impossible.

[Mr. Foxen]

Email newtone strings and ask what they reccomend, and how much it would be. Then you can figure if you can make up such a set, but you are probably best off getting it from them. Tuning in 5ths is cool, gives you nearly 5 string range, interesting brain excercise though.

[Obsidiandesire]

I was supposed to say Flatwound, i always get them confused, I don't know why!
I'll look up my local stores before hand when I get the money, and hopefully find a set that I like...
I do love cello tuning, and I plan on learning it some time, and a fretless in cello tuning's as close as I can get , I always thought 5ths are a better tuning than 4ths, and it would be much easier to make chords!!

[Exile252]

I've just defretted my P-copy, for the same reasons as you basically. I'm looking to buy some Rotosound Tru Bass strings, they're flatwounds in black nylon. From the site I'm planning to get them from their £21.50 or something like that. This is the site [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/[/url].

[Obsidiandesire]

thanks, i've always trusted rotosound strings and so these'll probably be the ones I use!

[Exile252]

Yeah, I had a look when I was in a music shop last week, but they were £10 more than on the net. They're really soft, perfect for a fretless also they give the bass less attack but more warm bassy sounds