Half Rounds and finger pain?

Tamochantern · #1 08-27-2008, 09:52 AM

As I said in an earlier thread, I've been playing nothing but flatwounds (Chromes) for the better part of a year now. Recently, however, I decided to give Half Rounds a try. I loved the sounds I got from my Chromes but I missed the ZING of rounds. Anyway, long story short, I switched one of my basses over the Half Rounds and was instantly greeted with horrible finger pain.
Now I'm not talking about the typical callous building sting you get on your picking hand. I'm saying I got what felt like muscle bruises.
Has anyone else experienced this with Half Rounds? I still have D'addario Roundwounds on my Fender Jazz V, so I would think I would still be used to the feel?
Let me know what you think.

Greyvagabond · #2 08-27-2008, 10:02 AM

I use halfs on my fretless; going from rounds, the tension is much higher. Maybe that's what you're feeling? Your fingers get "stuck" on them, for lack of a better work, I find. I love the sound though, and am used to it.

RED5 · #3 08-27-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

As I said in an earlier thread, I've been playing nothing but flatwounds (Chromes) for the better part of a year now. Recently, however, I decided to give Half Rounds a try. I loved the sounds I got from my Chromes but I missed the ZING of rounds. Anyway, long story short, I switched one of my basses over the Half Rounds and was instantly greeted with horrible finger pain.
Now I'm not talking about the typical callous building sting you get on your picking hand. I'm saying I got what felt like muscle bruises.
Has anyone else experienced this with Half Rounds? I still have D'addario Roundwounds on my Fender Jazz V, so I would think I would still be used to the feel?
Let me know what you think.

Strangely enough, I go that same feel last night. Sort of a pain right down to the bone. I laid it up to a 5 hour night. But now that you mention it? I use Halfs on my Jazz, and the pain began when I switched to the Jazz from my round wound strung P. I'm going to do a head to head comparo now to see if this bears out.

Tamochantern · #4 08-27-2008, 10:23 AM

Yeah, they do have a bit more tension than my Chromes had. That could be it. I do love the way they sound. Guess I need to buck up and get used to it!

lug · #5 08-27-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greyvagabond

I use halfs on my fretless; going from rounds, the tension is much higher. Maybe that's what you're feeling? Your fingers get "stuck" on them, for lack of a better work, I find. I love the sound though, and am used to it.

Yep, I find them "stickier" than either flats or rounds, love th sound though.

Aragorn35016 · #6 08-27-2008, 03:20 PM

I sure wish someone would post some soundclips of there halfrounds preferably on a passive J. So far no luck on finding any here or on you tube. No one around this area carries them, and I kind of want to hear a sound sample before I drop the jack on some.

lug · #7 08-28-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn35016

I sure wish someone would post some soundclips of there halfrounds preferably on a passive J. So far no luck on finding any here or on you tube. No one around this area carries them, and I kind of want to hear a sound sample before I drop the jack on some.

old crappy home recording of 1/2 rounds on a Carvin fretless is best I can do.
http://www.box.net/shared/static/n5nbi2xzmt.mp3

Aragorn35016 · #8 08-28-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

old crappy home recording of 1/2 rounds on a Carvin fretless is best I can do.
http://www.box.net/shared/static/n5nbi2xzmt.mp3

Hey I appreciate it, I went ahead and ordered some yesterday just to get it out of my system.

John

lug · #9 08-28-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn35016

Hey I appreciate it, I went ahead and ordered some yesterday just to get it out of my system.

John

You are kind. Most people curse me after hearing my playing.

Aragorn35016 · #10 09-11-2008, 06:46 PM

Sorry for thread hijacking, but last week I tried the half rounds, love the feel and the sound, but the g string would buzz and squelch out on the 9thto 11th fret. I tried to reset the bass up, and attempted everything imaginable to get rid of the buzz/squelch out still with no luck. I took it the store I bought it from as a setup would be free and if for whatever reason if something was wrong with the bass it would go back under warranty. Turns out the G string has a guage variance between the pickups and the 9th through 11th fret! The owner of the shop took some calipers and showed me that it went from .40 to about .46 along the string. Sure enough I put a set of rounds on and no problems whatsoever! Ive never experienced guage inconsistency along a single string before. Its a shame I really liked the strings...

fretlessguy · #11 09-13-2008, 08:02 AM

I used GhS Brite Flats and D'Addario Half Rounds at one time. hile I found their sound fantastic, their high tension did my fingers no good whatsoever, especially since I have developed joint ailments the past few years, so.......off they went.
I found TIs and light gauge GHS Precision flats to be the cure and use them now.

bonzo4880 · #12 09-13-2008, 08:48 AM

maybe i have brawny hands but i have never felt any discomfort from using d'addario half rounds. i did notice some discomfort when i put chromes on my jazz bass, but i think that was due to the action being a little too high and needing an adjustment. the half rounds do take a bit to get broken in, but i think they are wonderful after that. unfortunately, they dont have the same long life that regular flats do, and need to be replaced every 3-4 months, depending. i like the tone, the feel, and the fact that they dont wear my frets down as much. i tried putting a set of regular d'addario rounds on my bass when i couldnt find any half rounds and immediately regretted it. they feel terrible, sound terrible, and take WAY too long to break in. i dont think i will ever buy a set of rounds again.

Mutant Corn · #13 09-13-2008, 12:41 PM

I have problems on some of our longer sets, but it's not bad....I just use a pick on the simpler stuff to save my fingers for the more upbeat songs.

steve4765630 · #14 09-17-2008, 01:21 AM

Half rounds and flat wounds are finger killers. Go back to rounds and forget it.

bonzo4880 · #15 09-19-2008, 12:09 AM

rounds are fret killers. and if you play with decent technique and warm up thoroughly, the extra tension shouldnt be an issue for your hands.

if you dont like flats/halfs because of feel or tone, thats fine. but complaining about the tension is kinda silly.

AngryJason · #16 09-19-2008, 05:02 AM

I posted on this topic in another thread, and am using heavy guage D'Addario half rounds on my P. I found the tension to be less than what I had been used to on the flats....

Bassmickeyd · #17 09-19-2008, 05:17 AM

You're complaining of 'finger pain' while you're playing your bass?
Try wearing gloves when you play.
You have a picture of your cat beside your name?
What's the other name for a cat?
Give you a hint..... starts with "P"

When I was a young bass player we were so poor we had to string ours basses with barb wire. You'd try to pull out all of the barbs but sometimes you'd miss one. .....
Talk about pain......

frankie5string · #18 09-20-2008, 06:41 PM

Try Rotosound TruBass88 tapewounds... very dark sounding strings but the nylon tape they use seems to be smoother and more flatwound-like than the fender tapewounds I had.

The finger pain may be due to your callouses binding from the string pressure...I figured out that was happenning looking at my fingers - as I play both the tapes and rounds...