How long do D'Addario Half-rounds last?

fourstringbliss · #1 11-19-2006, 06:51 PM

I'm thinking about putting D'Addario half-rounds on my 5-string. How long to they retain their tone? I don't want to spend $35 on a set of strings that are going to last me two months.

The BurgerMeister · #2 11-19-2006, 11:34 PM

i just put some on my fretless... i'll let you know when they die!

seriously though... i just bought them because they give me more of a roundwound sound without tearing up my fingerboard. they sound and feel great. (the feel is a little weird, actually... but after playing them for a second, i got used to it.) but i don't know how long they'll last. i'm assuming it'll be about the same as a set of d'addario nickelplated rounds.

bassbully43 · #3 11-20-2006, 07:43 AM

I picked up a 4 string set of these last week they were on sale at a local shop....they were being discontinued. I am a compression Fan and avid SIT silencer user but have had trouble finding them latley. I strung up my Jazz with the halfs and

ewww yuk dont like em at all...too mellow and muddy for me.I also didnt like the sticky feeling on the fingers from the grinding of the windings. I didnt waste them thou i put them on my P/J squire which had a worn out set of silencers on it and they sound pretty good on it but not great. I am glad i got these at almost 1/2 off or i would be ticked right now. I will stick with the silencers from now on much brighter last forever cheaper and feel great.Now if i can jst find them.

fourstringbliss · #4 11-20-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbully43

I picked up a 4 string set of these last week they were on sale at a local shop....they were being discontinued. I am a compression Fan and avid SIT silencer user but have had trouble finding them latley. I strung up my Jazz with the halfs and

ewww yuk dont like em at all...too mellow and muddy for me.I also didnt like the sticky feeling on the fingers from the grinding of the windings. I didnt waste them thou i put them on my P/J squire which had a worn out set of silencers on it and they sound pretty good on it but not great. I am glad i got these at almost 1/2 off or i would be ticked right now. I will stick with the silencers from now on much brighter last forever cheaper and feel great.Now if i can jst find them.

Get Silencers from juststrings.com. Here's the link: SIT Silencers

The Dave · #5 11-20-2006, 10:20 PM

You might get a couple of months out of them. My J came with Fender Stainless rounds and they were a little too harsh so I switched right away. The Half Rounds sounded really fat with just enough highs - at first - after about a month, they were soundin' pretty muddy. The feel is kinda weird too. The grinding makes the tops of the windings flat and smooth, but the edges become sharp and they grab your fingers, which makes it hard to start a slide. I think rounds are a lot easier to move around on. So, I put the Fenders back on and they sound alright now that they're broken in. I've got a set of Fender Nickel Rounds waiting to go on when they die. I think that'll be about the right sound. I might try some TI Jazz rounds next, just to see if they're worthy of the hype. I'm a little scared of the extremely low tension though.

Well, I think I answered your question... and several others that nobody asked... I ramble when I'm sleepy.

canopener · #6 11-20-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbully43

I picked up a 4 string set of these last week they were on sale at a local shop....they were being discontinued. I am a compression Fan and avid SIT silencer user but have had trouble finding them latley. I strung up my Jazz with the halfs and

ewww yuk dont like em at all...too mellow and muddy for me.I also didnt like the sticky feeling on the fingers from the grinding of the windings. I didnt waste them thou i put them on my P/J squire which had a worn out set of silencers on it and they sound pretty good on it but not great. I am glad i got these at almost 1/2 off or i would be ticked right now. I will stick with the silencers from now on much brighter last forever cheaper and feel great.Now if i can jst find them.

Are you sure you got D'Addario Half Rounds? I had a set and they were just as zingy as any rounds I've played.

On a side note, the only time I've ever broken a string was on a set of these.

If you're looking for a nice set of strings without any zing, go with flats, and don't waste your time with these!

fourstringbliss · #7 11-20-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canopener

Are you sure you got D'Addario Half Rounds? I had a set and they were just as zingy as any rounds I've played.

On a side note, the only time I've ever broken a string was on a set of these.

If you're looking for a nice set of strings without any zing, go with flats, and don't waste your time with these!

I actually just bought a set of Chromes instead of the half-rounds.

Thanks for the info!

canopener · #8 11-20-2006, 11:23 PM

You shouldn't be disappointed. Flats aren't for everyone, but Chromes start off a tid-bit trebly and mellow out relatively quickly. Even if you don't like flats, Chromes are a good change from the ordinary...they're one of the best all around strings, IMAO.

fourstringbliss · #9 11-20-2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canopener

You shouldn't be disappointed. Flats aren't for everyone, but Chromes start off a tid-bit trebly and mellow out relatively quickly. Even if you don't like flats, Chromes are a good change from the ordinary...they're one of the best all around strings, IMAO.

I actually have Sadowsky flats on my bass right now, and they're great! I've heard that Chromes have more upper midrange punch and I want to try that. They're also hex core while the Sadowsky are on a round core (I think). Either way, I'll have two great sets of flats that work with my 5.

bassbully43 · #10 11-23-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canopener

Are you sure you got D'Addario Half Rounds? I had a set and they were just as zingy as any rounds I've played.

On a side note, the only time I've ever broken a string was on a set of these.

If you're looking for a nice set of strings without any zing, go with flats, and don't waste your time with these!

Yea they were, D'a half rounds...was hoping to get a silencer sound..but not close. I only like flats on a p bass...never bright enough for my jazzes.

fourstringbliss · #11 11-23-2006, 11:22 PM

I sold the Silencers I bought and bought a set of Chromes. Man! These are nice strings and are exactly what I was looking for. I might try the half-rounds some day.

Sammy Camden · #12 12-02-2006, 12:14 PM

Just a note on the D'Addario Half-rounds. I believe the discontinued version is the stainless steel. I think they're being made now with nickel. Which would make them a little mellower than they used to be.

ryco · #13 12-02-2006, 12:31 PM

Yeah, D"As have gone back to the nickel formula. I was lovin' the steel versions. Stayed bright forever (9 mos) on my fretless Gibson and I'm on that thing about 1 1/2 hours a day. The nickels (which was their standard in the 80s) are more mellow. Never had no trouble gettin' mwaah out of 'em

I've gotten to like the zing of steelies so I'm gonna try a set of the GHS Brite Flat groundwounds. Flats don't sound good on the Ripper, but I have a set of Markley Blue Flats on the 4001. Nize!!