I like the sound of my dead rounds...

[Gonzo476]

...Should I swap to flats? The possibility of changing strings once a year tempts me

[Rock-Bassman]

Flats

[ErebusBass]

Dead rounds sound completely different than flats.

[bongomania]

Also, if you like the sound, why on earth would you want to change them?

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Also, if you like the sound, why on earth would you want to change them?

Well, at the point those rounds are so dead they no longer hold tune it becomes a problem.

[ryco]

I have some 15+ year old RotoSound66 on my Ric 4001 and I like 'em fine.

I used to change strings regularly every 3+ months, but now I only change a set if I break one. Rarely happens anymore!

If you like the sound, feel & tone - then go for it! I'm not having any tuning issues. If I was they'd be off in a second! I've never heard of this issue.

[RedLeg]

i like em dead too. nothin like a 2 month old set of nickels (i play everyday 2+hrs)
hate flats though, go fig

[pmcd]

Originally Posted by Gonzo476

...Should I swap to flats? The possibility of changing strings once a year tempts me

Just out of curiosity, have you ever tried Half-Rounds?? A week old set of Halfs kinda feels like a 3 month old set of rounds to me.

I dunno. Just a thought..

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Also, if you like the sound, why on earth would you want to change them?

This.

I have had my rounds on for about 14 months now. Not a problem, and they sounds uber coolio.

[kirkm24]

Originally Posted by Jordasch

This.

I have had my rounds on for about 14 months now. Not a problem, and they sounds uber coolio.

I left the stock strings on my 2005 Stingray for 27 months (nickel roundwound Slinkys). As many know, Slinkys aren't known for the longevity. I replaced them and it felt and sounded like I had a whole new bass.

Anyway, if you like the sound of dead rounds, you might want to consider flatwounds. I have a set on one of my basses and I love them. I keep bright, sizzly and fresh stainless steels on my other bass though.

[kirkm24]

Originally Posted by ErebusBass

Dead rounds sound completely different than flats.

That's true but people who like dead rounds might like flats even if they are different. I think people who play dead rounds are often trying to achieve what can be had with flats but a lot of people don't know about flatwounds.

[lmfreeman9]

I use only flats and I also like dead rounds. Nickel Lo Riders and coated DR's are OK too.

[kirkm24]

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

I use only flats and I also like dead rounds. Nickel Lo Riders and coated DR's are OK too.

I would like to give Low Riders a whirl... I had Black Beauties and thought they sounded decent but they were nearly as bright as a fresh set of Hi Beams. I didn't think the coating dulled them down too much. The main reason I switched to Sadowskys was because they are hex core. I thought the round core DR's were too floppy. From my understanding Low Riders are hex core too right?

There are a lot of Low Rider fan boys on here..... dang it! I might have to try them out. Would you recommend stainless or nickel? At least string GAS is cheaper than bass or amp GAS!

[jmceachern36]

I like both deadrounds and flats. I've got 3 year old rounds on my P bass and flats on my Ric. I think flats sound a little better but rounds have a less tension and have a bit more punch. Add in guitar, singer, drums, horn section and keys and you can't tell the difference.

[ryco]

Originally Posted by kirkm24

That's true but people who like dead rounds might like flats even if they are different. I think people who play dead rounds are often trying to achieve what can be had with flats but a lot of people don't know about flatwounds.

D'addario Chromes on my P. Love 'em!

[gnergaard]

Originally Posted by kirkm24

That's true but people who like dead rounds might like flats even if they are different. I think people who play dead rounds are often trying to achieve what can be had with flats but a lot of people don't know about flatwounds.

what you are saying may be true regarding the sound, but I think that dead round wounds have a much different feel than flats, and to me that's all the difference. I simply love 1-2 year old d'addario XL's on my old jazz bass. The only problem is that when they finally go bad, you can't put a fresh set on. I try to recycle used rounds from my fretless (where I like the extra "zing") to the old fretted jazz bass and it works OK.
I recently didn't have a set of old rounds to put on the bass and had some recording sessions coming up. So i tried D'addario half-wounds and D'addario Chromes. Neither really did the trick. The Half-wounds really had too much tension and sounded a bit too much like rounds, the chromes were a nice tension, but sound "tubby" on the 1st through 5th frets on the E string. I ended up making the half- rounds work, but Really I'm waiting for some strings to get old on my other bass.
with old round wounds the trick is just to keep them as clean as you can and if they are a well made string they will last more than a year in my experience.

[Solarmist]

Do you want me to send you my old ones?

[gnergaard]

Actually, sure!
Are you using SIT strings, BTW? I'm curious about that company's bright hex core nickels...but if you have used D'addario XLs that would be cool too. PM me if you like.
-Greg

[HogieWan]

I would recommend GHS pressurewounds - they are like rounds without the zingyness, but not like flats. It may be the sound you're looking for. They are comfortable to play, too

[DogBone]

Originally Posted by Gonzo476

...Should I swap to flats? The possibility of changing strings once a year tempts me

You may like D'addario Chromes (very bright, medium-med/heavy tension) or Thomastik Infelds ( bright, a little less metalic and more "woody" than Chromes IMO, very light tension).

And not sure what to say about the once a year thing, my TI's are over 5 years old and still have tone as sweet as a slice of pie.

Also there's a thread devoted to flatwound swapping, may want to check it out.

Flatwound lending library/pay it forward idea

Peace.