Members skier4467 Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I just got a 4 string Kawai fretless. Right now it has those silky smooth strings. Can I put regular strings on it cause that's what Im used to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members way2fat Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by skier4467 I just got a 4 string Kawai fretless. Right now it has those silky smooth strings. Can I put regular strings on it cause that's what Im used to? You can but they'll chew up your fret board. If you want some flats with a little zing try the TI Jazz Flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seraphim7s Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 This may be bollocks, but I thought it was possible to use rounds on certain types of wood - like rosewood, but not ebony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members way2fat Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by seraphim7s This may be bollocks, but I thought it was possible to use rounds on certain types of wood - like rosewood, but not ebony. They may not wear at the same rate, but they're all softer than steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I use rounds , it's all about the tone you want . Don't worry about wear if you are getting the tone . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zebra Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Unless you're using an especially soft wood, you shouldn't need to worry about rounds eating the fingerboard much more than you need to worry about frets wearing down on fretted basses. I would avoid steel strings, since they are harder. If the fingerboard is ebony, use whatever you want, since ebony is as hard as rock. Rosewood is softer and wear will be noticeable eventually, but not necessarily enough to affect playability. Maple is supposedly softer than rosewood, in which case I would use flats. Any laquered/finished/epoxied fingerboard should be safe for rounds. The main cause of wear from rounds will come from using fretted vibrato technique. Using "true" vibrato technique could make any wear negligible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members takeout Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by Zebra The main cause of wear from rounds will come from using fretted vibrato technique. Using "true" vibrato technique could make any wear negligible. This is the primary thing to remember. NO BENDING. Low action will also help, as you won't have to press as hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 TI flats...dont reinvent the wheel....all uprights use flat:freak: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members REMUS Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 this really is a *very* silly question... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I use half-rounds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by version I use half-rounds! did you say half flats..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chubrocker Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I use half-rounds as well. Flats are too smooth for me. I like feeling the "grip" on the strings with my finger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrcrow Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by chubrocker I use half-rounds as well. Flats are too smooth for me. I like feeling the "grip" on the strings with my finger. that is exactly right for me as well..but i dont play fretless now so i have the best of both worlds... the tape wound black strings have some stiction...but i prefer the grip as you do on a full round wound string Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by chubrocker I use half-rounds as well. Flats are too smooth for me. I like feeling the "grip" on the strings with my finger. That's pretty much the reason for me, as well. Yes, I like the half-wounds' sound better, but ultimately I've never been comfortable playing any type of flatwound, fretted or fretless. I just don't like how they feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I'm trying halfs next time on my fretless. Those of you who use half already- what changes in sound did you notice from switching from flats to halfs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I use rounds on some fretlesses, and flats on others, different sounds, neither better or worse in general. Jaco used rounds on his fretless, nothing wrong with it (of course, he did also epoxy the board, so wear was less of an issue). Unless you're paranoid about the appearance of the fingerboard, don't worry about it, try both and decide what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zamfir Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 Originally posted by takeout This is the primary thing to remember. NO BENDING.Low action will also help, as you won't have to press as hard. What strings are you using on your Mighty Mite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rikshaw Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by skier4467 I just got a 4 string Kawai fretless. Right now it has those silky smooth strings. Can I put regular strings on it cause that's what Im used to? what model bass is it? just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mytola Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by bholder I use rounds on some fretlesses, and flats on others, different sounds, neither better or worse in general. Jaco used rounds on his fretless, nothing wrong with it (of course, he did also epoxy the board, so wear was less of an issue). Jaco said on the "modern electric bass"-video that he always practiced on a fretted bass because the roundwound strings wore down the fretboard on his fretless' so fast. The Rotosund RS66's (stainless steel) I tried once on my fretless wore down the fingerboard a lot, so I would reccomend halfwounds or flats. Nickel strings might work better too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 I prefer flats. I tried roundwounds, but I like the tone and the feel of flats on a fretless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 D'Addario ground-wounds for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members takeout Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by Zamfir What strings are you using on your Mighty Mite? DR Lo-Riders. Nary a scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by T. Alan Smith Those of you who use half already- what changes in sound did you notice from switching from flats to halfs? It gave me much more of the "mwwahhh" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by version It gave me much more of the "mwwahhh" That's what I have on the JD, Tom. Nearly the brilliance of the rounds, but not quite. Clearly more bite and treble than flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted January 5, 2007 Members Share Posted January 5, 2007 Originally posted by bassman1956 That's what I have on the JD, Tom. Nearly the brilliance of the rounds, but not quite. Clearly more bite and treble than flats. That's it! I'm ordering my halfs tonite after work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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