What strings for an electro-acoustic fretless bass?

[1976fenderhead]

Just bought a second-hand Aria electro-acoustic fretless bass and wondering what strings you'd recommend for this type of bass?

Since it's fretless, I would think flatwound would avoid scratching the fretboard, but I see phosphor bronze seem to be the most used for acoustic basses and I don't think those are flatwound?

[hubrad]

Putting flats on will give the closest approximation of a DB sound, if that's what you are after with fretless. Works quite nicely, and as you say it wears the board far less.

[1976fenderhead]

[quote name='hubrad' post='527785' date='Jun 29 2009, 03:08 PM']Putting flats on will give the closest approximation of a DB sound, if that's what you are after with fretless. Works quite nicely, and as you say it wears the board far less.[/quote]

Yeah, that's the sound I'm after. What are phosphor bronze strings for, are they better for acoustics than steel/nickel? And are there bronze flatwounds?

[fretlessguy]

I never liked the bronze/phosphor strings that usually come with them. Too twangy and not enough low end, and plenty of finger noise as well.
I have found low tensioned light gauged flats and tapewounds sound much better. This is of course just my personal opinion, others may disagree.
TI flats really sound good on acoustic-electric basses, by the way.

FG

Edited July 6, 2009 by fretlessguy

[ahpook]

i recently put some old flatwound electric bass strings on my no-name acoustic. it certainly sounded better and as fretlessguy mentioned - a lot less finger noise.

Edited July 6, 2009 by ahpook

[BassBod]

Thomastik flats would be warm and lovely...status black plastic flats would be twangy and growly. Both might need the action moved up a touch if you are a hard hitter.