Ground Wound/ Half Round/ Prussure Wound

[oldprussians]

Are the as good on a fretless board as Flat wounds?

I've never used them so id like to know if the theory is correct from those with experience....

[Phalex]

They don't get a lot of love around here. Before the flaming begins, just let me say I like GHS Brite Flats (Ground round) a lot! I always used Tape wound on my fretless, but on my fretted P the brite flats is where it's at.



Flame On!

[dannybuoy]

I have Status Hotwire Halfrounds on my fretless at the moment and they're great. They are REALLY smooth, smoother than the GHS Brite Flats, even smoother than D'Addario Chromes which are 'proper' flats. They thud like flats but they (the upper strings especially) really growl without chewing up your fretboard. The GHS had a slightly rougher G and D string, but still smooth enough to be kind to your fretless. I tried the Elite halfrounds first, but they were pretty rough compared to the Status and GHS.

[bluesblaster]

I have Smith -slickrounds on my Martin EB 28, they sound really amazing, much better than the chromes that were on it. They do tend to be a bit sticky right out of the package though, nothing a little "string ease" or a bucket of KFC wont fix, or good 'ol finger sweat.. just takes a little longer

[fretlessguy]

I really liked the GHS Brite flats; they had a really solid sound and lasted a while. As the name suggests, they were a little more brighter than a regular flat. The original stainless D'Addario Halfrounds were really good as well, although I did not like them as much as I did the GHS strings. Since I have developed joint problems I cannot use them anymore due to their tension. I really wished GHS Made a .40-.95 version of them. I'd still be using them.
GHS Pressurewounds are, to say the least, some of the most interesting I have ever used. They have the mellow, muffled sound of a flat and the feel of a round. Like the others mentioned, they started out life as a roundwound but were literally squashed on rollers (thus the name) whereas the first two were grounded down into flats. They have more of a "mwah" sound like a regular round than the other two, and all three make for really good fretless strings.

FG

[WildTrkey]

I wish I could remember the halfs I tried years ago that I liked. I know that I DID NOT like the D'Addario halfs. The tension seemed to pull my neck out of wack and this was with a lighter set! Plus, it didn't state on the package what they were made of...I was presuming they were nickel but when I opened them I clould see, hear and feel that they were steel, which ain't my cup of tea. What's weird is I was told they discontinued steel halfs a while ago...maybe an old set?

[copreus]

The D'Addario half-rounds are currently nickel-wrapped. I love 'em and have been using them for the last ten years on my fretted basses with the sort-lived odd test of others. Using the ENR71s (reg lt) I've had no neck problems whatsoever on thin necks -- which I prefer.
I wouldn't put them on my fretless though because 1) possibly having to resurface a fingerboard is painfully unaffordable here and 2) I like the sound of flats on the fretless -- I'm vacillating between the ECB81s and La Bella 760FLs.
--c.