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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through October 05, 2010 » Fretless bass strings « Previous Next »

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bass6
Junior
Username: bass6

Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 9:42 am:   Edit Post

I will be getting a fretless bass soon and was wondering about the right strings.The bass will be the fender jaco model.Does anyone have some ideas?
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1362
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

Growly roundwounds!!!
bass6
Junior
Username: bass6

Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 2:22 pm:   Edit Post

I am looking for a string that will get that jaco sound or real close to it without digging into the fingerboard.I have heard or other strings but cannot remember the name brand.
afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member
Username: afrobeat_fool

Post Number: 253
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 3:34 pm:   Edit Post

Look at the Tomastik's they are very high quality. I use them on my upright and I just put them on my 5st fretless Essence. Very nice piano-like sound.



Nick
rami
Senior Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 945
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 3:36 pm:   Edit Post

My favorite "Growly" flats are D'Addario Chromes. I highly recommend them. For the record, Jaco used Rotosound Steel roundwounds, 40-60-80-100.

:-)
bass6
Junior
Username: bass6

Post Number: 20
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 4:47 pm:   Edit Post

thanks for your help also I would like to mention I purchasded a little darlin six string bass a few momths ago and would like for every one to see it however I cannot take picture. Susan said that Mica would post pictures (I know how busy she is but still not posted )Maybe someone else can help me talk Mica into putting a picture up for you guys to see. It is a beautiful bass.
edwin
Senior Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 737
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 8:14 pm:   Edit Post

DR Sunbeams are my string of choice for a nice growly fretless (David King 5 string). With the coated fingerboard, you don't have to worry too much about wearing it out. Round wounds are the way to go. Jaco used them, as mentioned above, and they were a key to his sound. The other thing to do is to make sure that the truss rod is properly adjusted. There is a sweet spot, with fairly low action, that will give the proper growl.
gregduboc
Senior Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 495
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 9:53 pm:   Edit Post

I had some D'Addario Half Rounds on my now gone Fender Jaco Relic Custom Shop bass. It was one of the best basses I've ever had, incredible neck and feel, and these strings were the solution I found for having the roundwound sound, without eating all of the epoxy out of the fretboard.
I am not the smoothest player, but the Rotosound strings I was using started to wear out the resin pretty quickly. The D'Addarios did to, but in a much slower rate. But trust me, if you will play it a lot, go for the D'Addario, you won't have to worry about manitence so much. And tone isn't far away from the Rotosounds. It is actually pretty easy to get the Jaco sound with them (as long as you have the trust rod correctly ajusted to keep the strings very low).
And for the record, if I didn't need the money to order a custom bass, I would have never sold that bass. It's one of the best fretless basses out there, with a growl I already miss.

Greg
mike13
Member
Username: mike13

Post Number: 90
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 10:14 pm:   Edit Post

Roto flats,only way to go!!!!!!!!!!!
adriaan
Moderator
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2602
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 5:24 am:   Edit Post

Mike - that's an interesting preference. Personally, I can't remember ever playing a string that disagreed with me as completely as Roto flats (haven't tried the black tape-wounds, though).
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 620
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 7:02 am:   Edit Post

I like the rotosound flats too!

Oscar, we'd love to see your bass.... I'm curious what the scale length and tuning is on it.
bass6
Junior
Username: bass6

Post Number: 21
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post

The scale is 29inchs and the tuning is c# up to High D. (A six string tenor bass.)The bass also plays good tuned E to high F Or A to High Bb .You may think why not play guitar instead of a bass with the tenor tuning. I have played Jazz guitar for around ten Years and the bass just feels so right compared to my other guitars.Note:I Have been playing bass around forty years.
pace
Senior Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 621
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 12:08 pm:   Edit Post

That's awesome Oscar! Do you buy strings for your Darling in bulk?
I have an Alembic 30.75" 6 string tuned E-E, that's why I ask....
bass6
Junior
Username: bass6

Post Number: 22
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 - 1:12 pm:   Edit Post

Mike,
The strings are light gauge rotosound funk master FM66 90-30 gauge.The tenor tuned bass only uses two strings from that set the D&G the C String is anything I can find and the FBbEb are guitar strings tuned down a bit.So No I dont buy in bulk for now because of the tuning.Mike, What type( Model) of alembic do you own.My string spacing is very close.What about yours?.Too bad you are not near north alabama maybe we could work on some of this music I have put so much work into.

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