D'ddario - Half Rounds - :(

ChiefLongDong · #1 01-24-2009, 02:48 PM

So just purchased first set of D'ddario Half Rounds. First time i've tried anything but regular nickel roundwounds...

First, why do they feel so "sticky" to my fingers?

Also, the tension seems really high?

Does anyone like these strings, or did I just waste 40$...

I put them on a fretted Squire VM 70s jazz... I want to slap and fingerstyle...

Grateful · #2 01-24-2009, 03:12 PM

I had them on a fretless. They definitely felt 'stickier' than nickels or flats. Almost like an abrasive feel. My fingers weren't quite sure what to make of them. They're kinda flat, but not really.

I liked the tone, but I felt like I was playing a cat's tongue...

axpro · #3 01-24-2009, 03:19 PM

They are a ground wound type string, i think their process leaves small burrs on the outside of the string, which gives it that rough feel... i wasl gonna put some on my SR4, but decided to go with Rotosound flatwounds instead....

I played half rounds on guitar in the past, they were ok, a little brighter than flats, but with bass,i really like the sounds of flats, so i went all the way.

ChiefLongDong · #4 01-24-2009, 03:28 PM

cats tongue is a good description. Does this go away, or does it stay? I hate them if they stay sticky forever..

D.Don · #5 01-24-2009, 03:30 PM

I like them on fretted basses, have them on one of them atm, they get better after some miles of usage, imo a good alternative to flats if you want a lil more highs in the sound.

D.Don

bassteban · #6 01-24-2009, 03:31 PM

I guess I recall a bit of stickiness at first but either it goes away or it doesn't bother me nearly as much as some(probably a bit of both); tension didn't stick out to me. That said, half-rounds seem to be a very polarizing string; people either love them or hate them. I love them- but I wouldn't use them on a fretted bass.

**jumbosilverette** · #7 01-24-2009, 03:45 PM

Whether it goes away or you get used to it, I don't know; but I like 'em and have them on 2 basses.

etb67 · #8 01-24-2009, 03:47 PM

Yeah, that sticky feel will go away. I liked the sound of them when I tried them on my G&L L2000, but I didn't like the tension. D'addario strings always feel very stiff and high tension to me.

fretlessguy · #9 01-25-2009, 06:33 PM

Years ago I had a set on my fretless Carvin and they sounded good. I went to a set of Chromes for my next string and liked the sound better. A few years later I tried them again and they were too stiff for me (arthritis kicked in). They are nickel now, although you can still get them in stainless (old stock) from www.juststrings.com.

realbadgroove · #10 01-25-2009, 09:58 PM

Check out GHS pressure wound strings. They play great and are half flat

bassbully · #11 01-26-2009, 09:42 AM

Of all the strings i have ever tried and played those were the worse hands down. Horrible feel and tone. I trashed them real quick. Thank God i got them on closeout for like 12.00 bucks.

WRXbase · #12 01-26-2009, 07:27 PM

YAY! A thread already started about D'addario half-rounds.

Story time: I bought a set of half-rounds for my BTB455QM and played them for a little over a 2 years of very limited playing. (I know. I'm off to the woodshed after this post) At a band practice, I broke the E. "NO biggie. I'll throw the back up set on when I get home."

The replacement set isn't the same. Not even close. I know I don't have that that memory affliction I can't remember the name of ... So I ordered a new set of Half-rounds. Same garbage that I already had. (the one's that don't match the broke set) The new set I received have the SAME color ends size for size that the 'mystery' set has.

I started emailing a D'addario rep. It took me 2 months, a SICK amount of emails and even sending them my broken string to get no where. They CLAIM they never changed their manufacturing process. Lies? Am I senile? I doubt it.

Anyone have a similar problem? Oh, and they 'lost' the mystery broken string, so they couldn't identify it. I now have Ken Smith Slick Rounds. Still not as smooth as the mystery D'addario set.

ProfGumby · #13 01-26-2009, 07:56 PM

I have the D'Addario half rounds on one bass. They sound great, but the feel of them is not as great as I'd like. I do not fault the strings, they just don't feel as nice as I'd like. When these strings are done, or when I get bored with them, I am replacing them with Chromes or I'm going to try TI's (though I am not jazzed on spending that much for strings at my skill level)

ProfGumby · #14 01-26-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WRXbase

YAY! A thread already started about DR half-rounds.

Story time: I bought a set of half-rounds for my BTB455QM and played them for a little over a 2 years of very limited playing. (I know. I'm off to the woodshed after this post) At a band practice, I broke the E. "NO biggie. I'll throw the back up set on when I get home."

The replacement set isn't the same. Not even close. I know I don't have that that memory affliction I can't remember the name of ... So I ordered a new set of Half-rounds. Same garbage that I already had. (the one's that don't match the broke set) The new set I received have the SAME color ends size for size that the 'mystery' set has.

I started emailing a DR rep. It took me 2 months, a SICK amount of emails and even sending them my broken string to get no where. They CLAIM they never changed their manufacturing process. Lies? Am I senile? I doubt it.

Anyone have a similar problem? Oh, and they 'lost' the mystery broken string, so they couldn't identify it. I now have Ken Smith Slick Rounds. Still not as smooth as the mystery DR set.

DR or D'addario?

WRXbase · #15 01-26-2009, 08:01 PM

D'OH! Yeah. They were D'addario. Guess I do have that mental condition that ... OOoooo! Look! Bass forums!

Sub5ound · #16 01-26-2009, 10:09 PM

I wish I took the time to actually read the threads first.

(see mine)

stflbn · #17 01-26-2009, 10:11 PM

I really like S.I.T. Silencers which are Nickel. They get very warm and smooth sounding and I've never noticed them feeling abrasive. Just compared them to the S.I.T. Power Steels on my other bass and the Silencers are much smoother than the Power Steels.

Fealach · #18 01-27-2009, 12:40 AM

I've used them in the past and liked them on fretless. Never noticed any unpleasant sensations. That said, I wouldn't willingly pay $40 for any 5 or fewer bass guitar string sets that weren't made out of gold.

RED5 · #19 01-27-2009, 07:27 AM

I've used them since they were first offered. Have them on at least three of my regular use basses. Cat Tongue! I like the analogy, it really is true. But the roughness wears in after a bit,and it's become a familiar feel on my right hand,affords traction. I even use old sets on some basses to get that elusive dead sound like old flats.