Halfrounds vs Dead Rounds

[canopener]

I have both of my basses strung with flats. However, I'm thinking about getting a set of halfrounds or rounds for my P and play the heck out of them until they're "dead." My hands do sweat a lot, so I don't think it will take too long to kill the rounds...but what say you? For that sound, halves or dead rounds?

[Slater]

What's wrong with the flats? It seems that you want to switch from flatwounds, but then try to get a flatwound sound.

[canopener]

Originally Posted by Slater

What's wrong with the flats? It seems that you want to switch from flatwounds, but then try to get a flatwound sound.

Abslutely nothing's wrong with flats! Most of my posts in the Strings forum tout flats to the fullest! I'm just thinking outside of the box, but not at the expense of the box. Dig?


...you know, just a little change of pace.

[war_n_peace]

I would say "go for it"....

I was using Flats but tried some roundwounds and
liked the sound...

The only thing is you get alot more string noise
with the roundwounds....

This shows up when recording mostly...

[seanm]

Try it and let us know. Dead rounds will not sound the same as dead flats. Flats have much more mass and a different build then rounds.

Personally, I think dead rounds just sound blah while flats retain a lot more sound. Some of that could be just due to the fact that the rounds start off so much brighter and therefore seem to go really dead where flats are more stable.

However, I am not sure people would notice in a live situation.

[Kenny Allyn]

I use a set on my 68 P bass made by GHS ... they are called "Pressurewounds" ... as I understand it a round wound with a flatter surface achived using , well pressure!


They do sound good even dead as they have a little more grit or grind ... I love em!




... BTW I use XL "Chromes" flats on my 57 maple neck P bass,

[j-bass-kreep]

dead roundwounds sound horrible ,also usually the E string dies earlier so it will be an uneven tone , I did soundcheck for a friend last week and man those strings where awful he had rounds and had never changed them .

[Patchwork Cat]

Hey Kenny what do the pressurewounds feel like under your fingers?

[canopener]

Originally Posted by j-bass-kreep

dead roundwounds sound horrible ,also usually the E string dies earlier so it will be an uneven tone , I did soundcheck for a friend last week and man those strings where awful he had rounds and had never changed them .

I found a set of Fender Superbass strings laying around that were pretty much dead and strung them up on my Hot Rod P. I've found that the sound tends to be a little uneven, but goes away at higher volumes and a little technique adjustment.

I dig the tone, though. I can't be sure how it sounds in the mix, as I haven't played out in a while, but I plan on leaving them on in the mean time.

[PilbaraBass]

there is a difference in sound between dead flats and dead rounds...AND there is a difference in tension.

Notes on dead flats are mellow and round.
Notes on dead rounds are also mellow and round.

Dead flats, however, due to lower tension still "blossom" where dead rounds just sort of peter out.

for that reason, stick to flats if that is the sound you want.

If you want grit and drive, however, definitely go rounds...but be prepared to change them periodically.

I dig aspects of both, that is one reason why 1of my basses has flats and 2 have rounds (2 have nylon tapes).

[canopener]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

there is a difference in sound between dead flats and dead rounds...AND there is a difference in tension.

Notes on dead flats are mellow and round.
Notes on dead rounds are also mellow and round.

Dead flats, however, due to lower tension still "blossom" where dead rounds just sort of peter out.

for that reason, stick to flats if that is the sound you want.

If you want grit and drive, however, definitely go rounds...but be prepared to change them periodically.

I dig aspects of both, that is one reason why 1of my basses has flats and 2 have rounds (2 have nylon tapes).

I definitely wasn't trying to cop a flatwound tone with dead rounds...otherwise I wouldn't have taken them off! The more I think about it, I will probably leave the dead rounds on my Hot Rod P and put some flats on my project jazz that I'm assembling (who knows when I'll get around to it). I like the grit of a set of rounds on a P, but don't care for the zing. This is why I went for a set of dead strings.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by canopener

I definitely wasn't trying to cop a flatwound tone with dead rounds...otherwise I wouldn't have taken them off! The more I think about it, I will probably leave the dead rounds on my Hot Rod P and put some flats on my project jazz that I'm assembling (who knows when I'll get around to it). I like the grit of a set of rounds on a P, but don't care for the zing. This is why I went for a set of dead strings.

dial out the "zing"...

I've found that it is much easier on rounds to dial out the "zing" than trying to dial IN the "grit" on a dead set.

My favorite 'rounds BTW are D'Addario EXL-170's and they're very bright. My approach is to take as many overtones on as possible and then subtract them as necessary, rather than trying to "boost" them in...

Get a new set of rounds and play around and see what I mean.