Half Round Strings For Fretless

[Mr Bassman]

Anyone recommend either of these for a passive fretless Fender?

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-ENR72-050--105-Electric-Strings/dp/B0009FUPJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377536017&sr=8-1&keywords=half+wound+bass+strings"]ENR72[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-ENR71-Regular-045-100-Electric/dp/B0009FZWMW/ref=pd_sim_sbs_MI_1"]ENR71[/url]

Or is there something else out there that you prefer?

[Clarky]

Status half-wounds are great and cheap at £17 a set (+ post)

[Clarky]

link - enter online shop and go to strings section http://www.status-graphite.com/status/frames/index_home.html

[Mr Bassman]

Thanks Clarky

might try the 45-105's, my preferred gauge

[Myke]

I had the ENR71s on my fretless P copy.. Not bad but not my thing I don't think

[Mr Bassman]

I found [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/128794-status-hotwires-half-wound-strings-on-a-p-bass/"]this old thread[/url] on the Status strings

hmmm

Can anyone else comment?

Edited August 26, 2013 by Mr Bassman

[apa]

GHS Bright Flats which are actually half wounds are very nice. Lovely and smooth straight out the box and still have a growl when you want them. Much prefer half wounds on a fretless over flats every time. You can get them on Ebay quit regularly. Not usually sold by Strings direct etc.

A

[Mr Bassman]

Thanks Apa, will check them out

[MoonBassAlpha]

can't think of a compelling reason not to use regular roundwound strings really.

[ead]

Normally I'm not a fan, preferring flats on a fretless bass. However I recently tried a bass strung with SIT Silencers that I believe are branded as pressure wound strings and was impressed with the tone that they produced. Maybe worth considering as a further option.

[Clarky]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1377547959' post='2188787']
can't think of a compelling reason not to use regular roundwound strings really.
[/quote]chewing up the fretboard, for one

[Mr Bassman]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1377551952' post='2188837']
chewing up the fretboard, for one
[/quote]
And I want the string to sing a bit more than flat wound, but have less zing than round wound

[SimonEdward]

... Interesting thread! thanks for all the posts ... just my tuppence worth really;

I tend to use any old 'dead' strings (on my fret-less JD GA24), which come off my fretted basses, and are usually round wounds. With the rear pick up selected, I play off the end of the finger board and still get that distinctive 'growl' that everyone loves..

[johnDeereJack]

I've been using Rotosound 55's on my Chris Larkin fretless for years. Never had any issues, great strings. Highly recommended

[dannybuoy]

I've tried the D'Addarios half rounds, GHS Brite Flats and Status half rounds. D'Addario were kinda meh, a bit too rough for my liking, more like rounds than flats. GHS were good, although the G and D felt a lot rougher than the E and A. Status are what I use now, all strings are nice and smooth, almost flatwound, yet still fairly bright, and I somehow get more mwaaah out of these than the others! Plus the Status strings are far easier and cheaper to obtain.

Edited August 27, 2013 by dannybuoy

[Mr Bassman]

Oh, Danny Boy
that's what I want to hear
thanks

[Mr Bassman]

I've ordered some Status Half Wound

Bit annoying that they're priced at £16.99, then when you go to pay they add vat making them over £20, but still not a bad price!

[MoonBassAlpha]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1377551952' post='2188837']
chewing up the fretboard, for one
[/quote]
My US Masters fretless has been my main gigging and practicing bass for 6 years, only ever with rounds, and there is no wear that affects the sound at all. There are the fine lines across the board which appeared straight away but have hardly changed in the interim.
The board is Pau Ferro (don't know if this is meant to be harder than rosewood) and has a satin sheen similar to the neck itself, so it probably is some sort of treatment. If so, it clearly works!.
My defretted Hohner Jack had an untreated rosewood board, and I would never describe that as chewed up either. I think this is a bit of a myth, or certainly overstated, in my experience. Anyone else had the polar opposite?

[Mr Bassman]

I ordered the Status strings on Wednesday hoping to use them on a gig today.
They haven't arrived yet. :-(

[fretmeister]

GHS Pressure wounds. Lovely things.

[Mr Bassman]

Status strings ordered last Wednesday, still not arrived :-(

[Clarky]

I think there's one lady that sends out the strings and it can be haphazard. I have had them two days after ordering and another set a week after ordering

[Highfox]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1377956294' post='2194057']
GHS Pressure wounds. Lovely things.
[/quote]

I have these on my fretless P as well. They do a good job, bit more bite than flats with most of the feel of a flat.

I'll give the Status's a try if these others ever wear out.

[Mr Bassman]

Still no strings :-(

[Mr Bassman]

The strings did arrive yesterday, haven't had chance to try them on yet but they look good quality.