AndyThomas Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Hi I've just bought my first ever Fretless bass and I'm loving it. It's a Sei Flamboyant V (see Image below), and I feel pretty lucky to own it. I got it 2nd hand from the Bass Gallery. I need some advise, what strings would you recommend? I'm trying to get that really warm Percy Jones/Jaco sound. At the moment it sounds a little too harsh. I've tried twiddling all the knobs but can't get it. I currently use DR Hi-Beams 45 65 85 105 125. Great strings and worked well on my fretted bass but I'm not sure they're the right ones for the fretless. It may have nothing to do with the strings of course. It's got Bare Knuckle J Style PIckups with Demeter 3 band Eq if that helps. Any guidance would be appreciated Andy [attachment=19954:photo.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Andy - I hate to say it ,mate, but if you couldn't get such a superb instrument to make a sound close to the one you're looking for with whatever strings were on it in the shop , I doubt you ever will. If you love it - put a set of your regular brand strings on and find sounds you like that it will do. Sure there'll be no shortage of them in something of that build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyThomas Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Hi Dr Dave You could be right. It sounds ok without putting it through an amp so it could be the nature of the beast and the pickups. I'll stick with it, the feel of the bass is so good I'm sure it's me Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 God , yes - if it feels right you've cracked it. Sounding good acoustically is a good sign of a class instrument too. If they 'speak' unplugged you know you're on a winner. Honestly , I'd spend some time with it as it is , matey , before you potentially fix something that's probably not broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyThomas Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Agreed. I won't fiddle with it, at least not until I understand it better and have played it for a few months Thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 [quote name='AndyThomas' post='403649' date='Feb 8 2009, 07:01 PM']Hi I've just bought my first ever Fretless bass and I'm loving it. It's a Sei Flamboyant V (see Image below), and I feel pretty lucky to own it. I got it 2nd hand from the Bass Gallery. I need some advise, what strings would you recommend? I'm trying to get that really warm Percy Jones/Jaco sound. At the moment it sounds a little too harsh. I've tried twiddling all the knobs but can't get it. I currently use DR Hi-Beams 45 65 85 105 125. Great strings and worked well on my fretted bass but I'm not sure they're the right ones for the fretless. It may have nothing to do with the strings of course. It's got Bare Knuckle J Style PIckups with Demeter 3 band Eq if that helps. Any guidance would be appreciated Andy [attachment=19954:photo.jpg][/quote] first idea is flats...TI then i remember i used to use dean markley fretmasters on my fretless...they have ground strings in the neck area and are full diameter where you pluck if its an ebony board it will probably be happy with nickel rounds i would not attempt stainless rounds on a fretless but the tru bass strings since they are tape wound over round wound should be ok...if you like stainless brightness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyThomas Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 (edited) Hi I cant find the Markley ones on the web in the UK, however the Thomastik Jazz flat wound .043.056.070.100.136 may do the trick I'm kind of feeling my way around the fretless stuff, but I want the warmest that does the elast damange to the fret board, it's a Macassar fretboard. As Dave says it's probably just the nature of the bass Andy Edited February 8, 2009 by AndyThomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) [quote name='AndyThomas' post='403824' date='Feb 8 2009, 09:39 PM']Hi I cant find the Markley ones on the web in the UK, however the Thomastik Jazz flat wound .043.056.070.100.136 may do the trick I'm kind of feeling my way around the fretless stuff, but I want the warmest that does the elast damange to the fret board, it's a Macassar fretboard. As Dave says it's probably just the nature of the bass Andy[/quote] neither can i ...i used them about 15 years ago... in retrospect with a 'soft' board i would stick to a nickel flat or tapewound roto the TI cost a lot but have a very comfortable feel, bend easily, and have good sustain for a flat they do..as most out of the packet flats feel a bit sticky but this soon goes i have used them on and off with the TI jazz rounds on a 5 and having also used other flats do recommend them...notwithstanding any flats i havent used.. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-105800.html"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/inde...p/t-105800.html[/url] have a look around two scrolls down...macassar ebony is mentioned [url="http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4549.0"]http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4549.0[/url] and this i think you have a good strong board there but snail tails are unsightly...go for flats Edited February 9, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Lots and lots of threads about strings and fretless. I have always used half rounds - current favourites are Status Hotwires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 THe warmth you are looking for will best be achieved by leaving the strings you have on there for at least a decade. Seriously, tho'. New strings are horrible on a fretless. Leave them for a few months and then you will find them warmer (my current set of Rotosound Solo Bass strings are at least 6-7 years old. In my opinion,, new strings improve guitars but ruin basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I used Ground-wounds on my Jazz. Very comfortable and they didn't mark the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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