Fretless electro acoustic Bass Guitar Strings recommendations .

woodworm

Looking for a set of strings for my electro acoustic bass - currently fitted with a set of bronze wound strings which sound great but dont want to chew up the fingerboard so looking for an alternative set wtithout breaking the bank - flats - groundwounds - nylon - which would be the best for a classic fretless sound  ..

Thanks  

ICBM

Always flatwounds on a fretless, or black nylon tapewounds if you want more of an acoustic double bass sound.

I've said this many times before I know, but I think the only reason acoustic basses are fitted with bronze roundwounds is because acoustic guitars are, so there's a mistaken belief that basses should be too. I really don't think they sound good either.

If you think you like the sound with them, I think you'll be surprised how much better it sounds with flats.

woodworm

ICBM said:

Always flatwounds on a fretless, or black nylon tapewounds if you want more of an acoustic double bass sound.

I've said this many times before I know, but I think the only reason acoustic basses are fitted with bronze roundwounds is because acoustic guitars are, so there's a mistaken belief that basses should be too. I really don't think they sound good either.

If you think you like the sound with them, I think you'll be surprised how much better it sounds with flats.

Thanks ... could you recommend a budget set dont really want to spend £40 + on a set  -  .. 

ICBM

woodworm said:

Thanks ... could you recommend a budget set dont really want to spend £40 + on a set  -  .. 

You’re not going to find a set of bass strings of any type much under £40 these days. Strings Direct list some Hofner ones for £34, but they’re not in stock yet. They’re also short scale.

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/hofner-40-95-contemporary-series-flatwound-bass-guitar-strings?_pos=78&_sid=b4067bcc0&_ss=r

What scale length is yours? It’s very important to get the right length with flatwounds, you can’t wrap the thick part of the string onto the machinehead post like you can with roundwounds. You may also need to be careful that the string doesn’t bend too sharply where it comes out of the peg hole at the bridge, or you can break the string.

woodworm

ICBM said:

woodworm said:

Thanks ... could you recommend a budget set dont really want to spend £40 + on a set  -  .. 

You’re not going to find a set of bass strings of any type much under £40 these days. Strings Direct list some Hofner ones for £34, but they’re not in stock yet. They’re also short scale.

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/hofner-40-95-contemporary-series-flatwound-bass-guitar-strings?_pos=78&_sid=b4067bcc0&_ss=r

What scale length is yours? It’s very important to get the right length with flatwounds, you can’t wrap the thick part of the string onto the machinehead post like you can with roundwounds. You may also need to be careful that the string doesn’t bend too sharply where it comes out of the peg hole at the bridge, or you can break the string.

Thanks , it is a full scale electro acoustic ... would you say that the £20 sets on ebay are going to be junk ?was looking at the elite sets for around £28 but out of stock. 

victorludorum

Remember that with flatwounds they last forever, so think of it as a long term investment and get a good brand.

woodworm

Thanks, just restrung with an old set of black nylons  I found in my spares drawer..big improvement in tone , alot fatter and warmer - only issue now is figuring how low to cut the nut as it seems quite high at the 1st / 2nd  fret. ..

PrecisionGuided

The Harley Benton flatwounds from Thomann are surprisingly good and very sheap too...

ICBM

woodworm said:

Thanks, just restrung with an old set of black nylons  I found in my spares drawer..big improvement in tone , alot fatter and warmer - only issue now is figuring how low to cut the nut as it seems quite high at the 1st / 2nd  fret. ..

The correct height for a fretless is just enough that you can get a Rizla paper under the string against the nut . Well, maybe not *quite* that low, but you really don't need any significant nut height since there aren't any frets to clear. Most cheap fretless basses come with the same nut they would fit to a fretted, so basically a fret too tall.

woodworm

ICBM said:

woodworm said:

Thanks, just restrung with an old set of black nylons  I found in my spares drawer..big improvement in tone , alot fatter and warmer - only issue now is figuring how low to cut the nut as it seems quite high at the 1st / 2nd  fret. ..

The correct height for a fretless is just enough that you can get a Rizla paper under the string against the nut . Well, maybe not *quite* that low, but you really don't need any significant nut height since there aren't any frets to clear. Most cheap fretless basses come with the same nut they would fit to a fretted, so basically a fret too tall.

Thanks , will see if I can borrow a set of bass nut slotting files  .