Flatwound Advice

[Kenny Gair]

Hey Bass Dudes!!

Bought a fretless a few months back and replaced the pretty knackered strings with a set of roundwound Rotosounds (which I love on my fretted bass). However, can't say I am overly happy with the sound and feel of the rounds and really want to try a set of flats but don't want to waste £30 odd on a change that I don't like. So, any advice? I do like Rotosound strings and have see sets of 5's (yes it's a five stringer() on fleabay along with Elites, that I used to use reasonably happily in roundwounds. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!!

[JapanAxe]

I found Elite flats to sound good on a fretless 4, not too dear, but that really is the full extent of my experience of strings on a fretless!

There will be dozens of people along in a minute, have no fear...

[Grangur]

What don't you like about the feel and, more importantly, the sound?
(You can get used to the feel, but the sound is a preference which probably wont change so easily)

[chris_b]

I've put a 5 string set of Lakland flats on my Lull. They replaced DR Lo-Riders and the improvement in tone was measurable.

I briefly had a 4 string bass with a medium set of LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound flats. They sounded very good and had a nice feel to them.

[Kenny Gair]

To be honest, it's more the sound than the feel (yes I know much of that is in my fingers) that and a concern about what the rounds will do to the fingerboard in time. I'm not that hard on strings but still a little worried about making a bit of a mess. Does any of that make sense?

[chris_b]

Rounds won't destroy the fretboard but they will mark it in time.

IMO, there is no downside to using flats on a fretless.

Edited November 17, 2013 by chris_b

[Kenny Gair]

Yeh, I would really like to try them for a while. I play mostly blues/jazz and would like an alternative to the lively sound from my fretted bass. I use an EUB with flats and love the sound, would be nice to capture some of that on my fretless.

Thanks for the advice!

[hubrad]

The closest I've had to EUB tone has been black nylon flats (Picato 777) on a fretless Overwater. The nylons are yet mellower than steel flats, but sweeter as well for my tastes.

[Kenny Gair]

Now we are on the same page

[Kenny Gair]

Hubrad...this kind of thing?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rotosound-RS885LD-TRU-BASS-STRINGS-5S-65-135-/280646603445?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4157d752b5"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rotosound-RS885LD-TRU-BASS-STRINGS-5S-65-135-/280646603445?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item4157d752b5[/url]

The heavier gauge......, a bit of tweaking at the bridge I presume, nowt much else to consider?

[hubrad]

That kind of thing. Picato are 50-105 with an optional 130 low B. Many basses don't even need nut slot tweaks at that. Drop me a pm and I'm pretty sure we have this set in the shop so I'll ring you tomorrow if you'd like some in the post.

[Kenny Gair]

Yeh, the nut should be OK. It's Rotosound 40's I have on now, the B being a 125 so they should hopefully be OK at that.

[yepmop]

I currently use La Bella deep talkin' flats but on my old fretless I used Fender Flats and they were awesome and cheap to.

[DolganoFF]

+1 for Fender Flats. Cheap and decent.

[hubrad]

Re nut slots. . I think most basses are built to take at least 45-105 & 125 or 130, so prob no slot widening needed. Back tomorrow!

[lee4]

[quote name='DolganoFF' timestamp='1384712102' post='2279816']
+1 for Fender Flats. Cheap and decent.
[/quote]
Make that a +2.
Some flats suffer from a twangy G string ,but these are spot on.

[M@23]

Sorry to hijack here, but I'm going to put some flats on the Christmas list. Not had them before, do I need to order any specific length for through body stringing? I'll prob give Fender ago to see how I like them.
Thanks!
Edit: another noob question; Do they not do 45-110s? I need to do some more homework here...

Edited November 17, 2013 by M@23

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1384716550' post='2279917']
Sorry to hijack here, but I'm going to put some flats on the Christmas list. Not had them before, do I need to order any specific length for through body stringing? I'll prob give Fender ago to see how I like them.
Thanks!
Edit: another noob question; Do they not do 45-110s? I need to do some more homework here...
[/quote]
Many people do successfully string flats through bodies but it's not always recommended. There is a greater likelihood of breakage.

La Bella do some specifically through body flats.

I expect someone does 45-110s but I pay little attention to gauges, it's how the string is constructed that matters and two strings can be the very same gauge and yet nothing at all like each other.

Edited November 17, 2013 by EssentialTension

[DolganoFF]

Fender flats work well with through-body bridges (not surprising, at least all the AmStd bridges are through-body, they have to propose flats compatible with these )

[hubrad]

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1384716550' post='2279917']
Sorry to hijack here, but I'm going to put some flats on the Christmas list. Not had them before, do I need to order any specific length for through body stringing? I'll prob give Fender ago to see how I like them.
Thanks!
Edit: another noob question; Do they not do 45-110s? I need to do some more homework here...
[/quote]

IIRC there was a thread on through body stringing and suitable or otherwise brands. I have no through stringing basses(possible niche to justify GAS?) but some are 35" scale which need similarly longer strings. The Picato sets I've used have been fine for 35", but maybe others can comment on through body?

[Lozz196]

I`ve used Chromes, LaBellas and GHS Precision Flats all strung-through. Just bought whatever their regular scale was.