Flat wound or semi flat wound?

[IbanezSGfan]

I have an Ibanez Soundgear 500 with elixir "i guess rounds.." and am wanting a gentler/jazzier but still present sound. This is my first time looking for new strings and i suppose my top choices from doing some reading on here would be DR MM flats, D'addario hybrids, or something of that nature, i guess nothing too extreme but a happy medium all input is appreciated let er' rip!

[Montanamike]

Give an uncoated nickel round wound a shot like EB slinky's or D'addario nickel XL's. The jazzier sound is a scooped sound with lots of overtones and presence. Try to stay away from flats or semi flats since they are thick in fundamentals and shy of overtones. Use your preamp to modify your sound. I have a bunch of take-offs that still have plenty of life, you can have them if you pay shipping. PM me if you are interested.

[enricogaletta]

I'm not crazy about that kind of strings, off course is a personal opinion and taste. I always like to use the stainless steel also on the fretless.
But if you looking for that kind of sound I think as Montanamis said you should try the nickel strings he suggest.
Cheers. Enrico
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[lowgroove677]

I play a SR505, I found the uncoated nickel strings work for the "jazzy" sound. Boost the treble and bass to taste, then turn back the mids a little. I use chromes now, I just like the strong fundamental better than scooped tone. Works better for me

[IbanezSGfan]

Thanks guys, reading more and more Im getting that my preamp settings may be what need the most attention :/ but all this is really helpful keep it coming!

[Montanamike]

Iban: Here is a bit on strings that I wrote a while back, might be helpful.

My theory on strings is just that MY THEORY, meaning subjective.

The science is this:
There are many factors that determine the sound of a string including:
SS vs Nickel: SS is very bright and complex and fret scratch is heard, Nickel isn't as bright and is more bell-like but still complex. SS is typically a bit hard on the fingers too.
Round vs hex core: Round is thicker and warmer, Hex is brighter and thinner.
Round vs Flat wound: Rounds are brighter and bell like, Flats are warm and full of fundimentals, but not dark sounding.
Uncoated vs coated: Uncoated give true string dynamics, coated darkens this a bit.

There are other factors that contribute to the sound of a string like, winding speed, metal composition, coating thickness, core connection and gauge but the categories above play the most significant role in sound variation.

The Sadowsky nickel is my favorite string because they are very tonally balanced and complex. The Sadowsky stainless is great also and suprisingly easy on the hands. This allows me to dial in a sound that I want and not have to compensate for the strings. The closest string to matching it for clarity is the d'addario XL nickels, and Ernie Ball Slinky’s another great string.

Mike

[markanini]

Mike, it's a great idea to break it down materials and construction IMO. Brands names only really serve the purpose of recognition.

IbanezSGfan, I'd recommend GHS Pressurewound if you havent tried those before.

[Montanamike]

Mark,
Good point, edited the bad, left my opinion of good.

[markanini]

You edited "the bad"? :P Thought your post was good enough...

[Montanamike]

Originally Posted by markanini

You edited "the bad"? :P Thought your post was good enough...

I just took out my opinions of bad strings, I don't like to bash a certain brands since it is very subjective.

[IbanezSGfan]

Thanks guys that helps alot! I should note my bass is not fretless and is a four-string "most of u probably already knew this " but anyway, with the uncoated what life expectancy can i look for vs. coated?

[Koog]

I'm a big fan of RotoSound RS77 s. They're flats 45 - 65 - 85 - 105. I've used them on Fender J & P, MM Sting Rays, G&L ASATs, solid and semi hollow, Ibanez ATK300, Gibson Thunderbird and a variety of custom basses over the past 10 years or so. The last five years I've used the Sting Rays and a couple of customs....the customs exclusively now. These basses are both fretted and fretless versions of the models mentioned.

I play vintage rock, blues, country, honky tonk, rockabilly and swing.

These strings have never disappointed in any way. They feel great and deliver in tone, growl, mellow, dark, mids and mid lows to really cut mix.... whatever I need. I control it with set up and attack.

Hope this is helpful.

Good luck.

Koog.

[Montanamike]

The lifespan of strings depends on a number of factors. You can increase the longevity by always playing with clean hands, wiping down the strings and bass after every time you play. How much you sweat and how oily your skin is naturally all makes a difference. All of this being said I get about 3 month on a set of strings and I play about 20 hours per week. I also don't completely wear string out, i play until the edge goes away. I choose not to use coated strings because I believe it strangles my sound. Coated strings will last longer than uncoated but at the cost of tone, plus the coated strings cost more.

[mowburger]

I had an SR505 and first switched from the stock Elixer coated strings to Nickle Round Wound strings and prefered the Nickle rounds over coated, much more bright and 'Alive"

I had them on for about 10 months, when I switched I wanted less overtones and a little more fundamental so I tried Nickle Half-Round by D'addario, and really liked them on that bass.

I now play a P with flats, even less overtones, more thump and fundamental, so go figure?!

[Gear_Junky]

I want to agree with Nickel vs. SS as well as agree that in your case you'll want to try nickel rounds first (which should also be cheaper).

But I also wanted to add that personally I totally hated half-rounds. They felt harsher to my fingers than rounds, sounded much closer to rounds, worst of both worlds, imho. the ones I tried were D'Addario chromes.

Flats can be nice and pleasant too, they're addictive, but cutting through the mix may be different. IMHO there's a place for both.

[IbanezSGfan]

Awesome input guys! I guess my final question before i go out hunting would be... how to hunt? There's a GC and L&M Music available in my area so i figure with the variety they carry "hopefully" between the two I can get some decent "hands on" time with several types of strings including the nickle, coated/uncoated, slow-wound, flats, etc... most all the stuff you guys have mentioned But my big concern is that they're going to be strung up on all different kinds of basses and I'm hoping i'll be able to distinguish the feel of the neck vs. the quality of string im hunting down So any "possibly" final input on testing these strings out on what features to look for in the actual strings and not the neck would be amazing I understand not running through my rig and bass will affect the sound substatially and theres no really practical way to simulate it, but any ideas, thoughts, opinions, blah blah are very much appreciated!

[Koog]

Not gonna happen IbanezSGfan. You're probably just gonna have to decide on something to buy and try 'em out unless you've got a bud who strings differently than you do. GC should negotiate the price on the RotoSounds down to between $27 and $32.

Good luck.

Koog