On a fretless, the string presses directly onto the wood. A roundwound's ridged surface grinds the fingerboard over time, especially on unfinished rosewood or ebony. A flatwound's polished surface is much gentler.
How to choose:
- Protect the board, warm tone: flatwound.
- Brighter with less wear than a roundwound: semi-flat.
- Maximum growl: nickel roundwound, accepting more fingerboard wear. Some fretless boards are coated to resist this.
Flatwounds feel stiffer under the fingers than roundwounds of the same gauge. Expect to adjust relief and action after switching. Never cut flatwounds before installation.
S.I.T. options:
- PF45105L Light (4-string) and PF545130L Light (5-string) in Power Flat Flatwound Bass
- NRL45105L Medium Light in Semi-Flat Silencers Bass
- NR45105L in Power Wound Nickel Bass