Flats or Halfs?

[Decoyx7]

I've been seriously considering getting new flats or groundwounds and experimenting with new strings on my bass. I see most people only usualy use flats with Fender P-basses. Is there a reason I haven't seen anyone putting flats on Ibanez basses? I play an Ibanez SR305 5-String Bass Guitar, and it's a pretty cheap bass, but I like it. It's got a really brite tone in the wood, and I don't know if I should try it with flats or halfs. I've NEVER played groundwounds in my life, and I've only played flats on Fender basses. What kind of strings should I put on the Ibanez? What's the best kinds of flats and the best half-wounds? Are the half-wounds going to give me more versatility tone-wise? Are flats going to counteract the brite wood too much? Do half-wounds feel as smooth as flats? I have so many more questions, and I simply don't know where to start.

Thanks for anyone's help, it's much appreciated!

[AmadeusXeno]

I have used Rotosound flats on my Ibanez basses. If you want the tone to mellow from what you are getting with rounds deffinatly try some flats on there. I've tried GHS Bright flats on another bass before and those are ground wound strings. They were pretty good but nothing I'd buy again. They felt like flats but didn't sound as good as flats or rounds.

[lowfreq33]

To me half rounds are the worst of both worlds. They sound like dead clanky rounds to me, and are harder on the fingers and frets. For flats I like D'Addario Chromes, they're slightly more lively than other flats IMO. But I don't play flats that often, so there are others here with more valid opinions than me on brands.

[Decoyx7]

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

I have used Rotosound flats on my Ibanez basses. If you want the tone to mellow from what you are getting with rounds deffinatly try some flats on there. I've tried GHS Bright flats on another bass before and those are ground wound strings. They were pretty good but nothing I'd buy again. They felt like flats but didn't sound as good as flats or rounds.

Rotosound flat jazz strings? Is that what you used on the Ibanez?

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

To me half rounds are the worst of both worlds. They sound like dead clanky rounds to me, and are harder on the fingers and frets.

I agree with this 100%, but halfrounds have their fans.

I liked Roto 77 on my P/J, but they are very tight tension-wise.

[aaronhutson]

Im a fan of the halfs. I use D'Adderio Halfs and dig the tone. I use them on a fretless, so I cant say how they's sound against the frets. But to me they have the smooth of the flats and the bright of the rounds.

My only complaint is that they seem to be a little more grippy. As in your fingers catch the strings as you move up and down the board. Maybe even sticky. Still, they sound good.

I believe that DR makes some halfs. But I havent tried them yet.

[soulman969]

Try the GHS Pressure wounds. Basically it's somewhat like a round but with a smoother feel and a darker tone like their Precision Flats. These will definitely tone down your basses brighteness if you've got the tonal range in the Bass to do it.

I have the Pressure Wounds on my Jazz Bass and I can go from a very deep smooth kick like a PBass all the way up to a very bright piano like tone on the top end and anywhere in between.

I love flats on a PBass with a bridge with some mass to it and those big old powerful split coils right in the "sweet spot" but I've never liked them on others I've played especially if the body and bridge don't sustain well. They just get very muddy at the low end.

Try a set of those Pressure Wounds. TB members can get them from BassStringsOline for around $20 or less for a set. I think you'll like them.

[Ski3223]

Dunno if this is good for the strings or not but... To get rid of the initial grippy feeling of the halfs I took the rough green side of a DRY (bone dry, never used EVER) sponge and ran it down the strings a couple times. No discernible difference in tone, no more grip.

[bassist4dalord]

I had D'Addario Chromes on my Ibanez GSR200. Now, that is a P/J bass, but it has the "Tone Pump" EQ. I will admit, almost all of the Ibanez basses I've seen or heard played are strung with rounds.

That being said, Chromes are my favorite string and I recommend them to anyone. Give them a try!

[AngryJohnny]

I agree with the "grippy" description of flats, though in a lot of ways I like it - more control/ability to dig in for certain riffs/parts or something. They don't quite slide as quick/smooth IMO but I suppose that's part of the trade off. I've been using Rotosound Steve Harris sig. sets on my P-bass for a little over a year now and still couldn't say for sure whether or not I'll be a long-time believer but it is an interesting alternative to the brighter D'Addarios I've been using on my Schecter for so long..

[aaronhutson]

Originally Posted by Ski3223

Dunno if this is good for the strings or not but... To get rid of the initial grippy feeling of the halfs I took the rough green side of a DRY (bone dry, never used EVER) sponge and ran it down the strings a couple times. No discernible difference in tone, no more grip.

Thats interesting! I may have to pull mine off and give it a try before I try out any others.

I cant see how that would be bad for them either. Other than maybe getting fibers in the grooves, but they are halfs, so there is only half as much room for fibers to get caught.

Hm...

[eddododo]

Originally Posted by aaronhutson

Thats interesting! I may have to pull mine off and give it a try before I try out any others.

I cant see how that would be bad for them either. Other than maybe getting fibers in the grooves, but they are halfs, so there is only half as much room for fibers to get caught.

Hm...

BE SURE YOU DO THIS FAR AWAY FROM YOUR PICKUPS, NEVER WHILE THEY RE STRUNG!
Ive used light steel wool to the same effect, works well . Wipe them with a rag after, to get the tiny particles

[bassbully]

Tried halfs a few years back, hated them. Went back to flats. I heard half's improved, tried them again..hated them,went back to flats..to stay.

[Duckwater]

GHS Pressurewounds are awesome, give them a try