Loving my new Daddario half rounds

bobostein · #1 01-27-2010, 12:50 PM

Who else is really liking the half rounds by Daddario?

tlr1293 · #2 01-27-2010, 12:59 PM

They seem to cost a bit more than Chromes or Nickels...

Are they that much better?
How do they compare with the Nickels (EXL 170)?

bobostein · #3 01-27-2010, 01:16 PM

I haven't played with nickels but they give you more of a "thumpy" sound than a "chunky" sound if that makes any sense. I got them for $26 on ebay with shipping, just look around for deals.

Rusty the Scoob · #4 01-28-2010, 02:43 PM

I'll tell you this weekend when I put them on! Switching from Chromes for a different sound.

JazzV · #5 01-28-2010, 05:59 PM

I have them on my 55-01 fretless. I really like them as they give a little growl but are much more gentle on the fretboard. I haven't tried regular flats on that bass, but given how pleased I am with the halfs, I probably won't anytime soon.

blowabs · #6 01-29-2010, 12:46 AM

I liked them until i tried GHS pressurewounds ....wooo, 1/2's came right off....now, i have 3 sets of PW's....they are like 1/2's except more snap and clarity both up top and down low.

ttasselm · #7 01-29-2010, 01:27 AM

I can't speak as to the quality of the pressurewounds by GHS, as I have never tried them, but I CAN give a hearty thumbs-up to the D'Addarios. I've never been fond of the zingy, sometimes "grindy" sound of roundwounds; by the same token, I feel like flatwounds sound a little too dead (but, to each his own). I wanted to try the halfrounds to see if I could be satisfied with a string right off the bat.

(Keep in mind that I've got them on my Fender Mustang, which is my main 'live' bass. I've got a Fender Jazz with worn-in roundwounds that I mainly use for recording applications, as its recorded sound seems a bit fuller to my ears. I'm only 5' 8", so my hands and my back love the Mustang's size and sheer comfort level on stage. To me, it's a comfortable P-bass alternative.)

The Halfs do take a little getting used to. As said in other threads, they feel a bit 'sticky' out of the box and some may be turned off by the initial feel of them. However, after a couple of days of play, they begin to break in nicely and the tacky, grippy feel begins to wear off. This stage is where you really see them shine. With the proper adjustments they go from a not-quite-flatwound thump to a not-quite-roundwound bright, with a nice bit of range in between these two extremes.

This last statement warrants some repeating. It is seemingly obvious, yet still important, to note that people seeking a fully flatwound or fully roundwound sound will not be satisfied. They do not get quite as warm, nor do they get quite as bright, as those respective products. These strings are not a miraculous "cure-all" kind of thing capable of reproducing any string sound, but they are exactly what the name sounds like: a happy medium, with some pieces of each.

Basically, here are my favorite parts of this string:
-LOW FINGER NOISE (I hate the roundwound "scratchiness," even if others will likely just tell me to work on my fingering techniques. I feel that a string shouldn't have to be fought with.)
-GOOD RANGE OF TONES (With a simple switch of my tone knob, I can dial in an appropriate sound. Playing in church, a band with friends, and my own solo work, I've done everything from pop-rock to funk to straight jazz standards. I can fill most roles adequately.)
-GREAT FEEL (After the initial tackiness, they wear in nicely so that long-time flat or round users will be able to appreciate the feel without too much shock. They're quite smooth and very easy on the fingers. Very comfortable to play.)

That's my two cents. Hope this helps some people.

eyecandy · #8 01-29-2010, 04:39 AM

haven't tries these on.. but im loving the chromes

MKoby · #9 01-29-2010, 04:48 AM

I have had the same set of half rounds on my fretless P bass since 1981.
I like them a lot.

I agree with ttasselm. May take a while for them to settle in.

tlr1293 · #10 01-29-2010, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blowabs

I liked them until i tried GHS pressurewounds ....wooo, 1/2's came right off....now, i have 3 sets of PW's....they are like 1/2's except more snap and clarity both up top and down low.

I too found GHS Pressurewounds to be quite awesome. Smooth feel (near zero finger noise), no tackiness, and they currently sit on the fretless giving that great fretless sound.

BUT... I have found that quaility issues have made me a tad leary of them recently. I have come across great sets and some sets with 'dead' strings (for lack of a better word), where a string or 2 from the set sound all kind of funky and crap.

I like them enough for the fretless that I will keep putting them on until the perfect set is found... and then may never take them off.

I currently love the tone that D'Addario nickels give me. If I can get near that same tone, but with less finger noise... my life would be a great deal simpler. So, I will be ordering a set of these Halfwounds and giving them a go.

vbd · #11 01-29-2010, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttasselm

...
-LOW FINGER NOISE (I hate the roundwound "scratchiness," even if others will likely just tell me to work on my fingering techniques. I feel that a string shouldn't have to be fought with.)...

To get less noise on slide, fingering techniques.
I have look for ROTOSOUND Steve Harris Signature. but is Scale 50-75-95-110! and i use .45...

>Daddario half rounds come with good choose!

chadhargis · #12 01-29-2010, 08:29 AM

+1 on the Chromes. I just put on a set and they are a lot brighter than I expected them to be. Still have the high end rolled completely out of my pre-amp on my bass. I'm running the amp flat for the moment as I want to hear the strings and bass and not the amp.

Emibass · #13 01-29-2010, 08:53 AM

I put the D'addario half rounds on my Fender ABG and first feel/sound was pleasing. The notes are more focused, I´ve noted the low finger noise and the most important for me is that they don´t kill my fingers.
With the stock strings I could rob a bank and cops won´t find me if it was for my erased fingertips.

blowabs · #14 01-29-2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlr1293

I too found GHS Pressurewounds to be quite awesome. Smooth feel (near zero finger noise), no tackiness, and they currently sit on the fretless giving that great fretless sound.

BUT... I have found that quaility issues have made me a tad leary of them recently. I have come across great sets and some sets with 'dead' strings (for lack of a better word), where a string or 2 from the set sound all kind of funky and crap.

I like them enough for the fretless that I will keep putting them on until the perfect set is found... and then may never take them off.

I currently love the tone that D'Addario nickels give me. If I can get near that same tone, but with less finger noise... my life would be a great deal simpler. So, I will be ordering a set of these Halfwounds and giving them a go.

Wow....Funny tlr1293

I am having the same issue with my custom set of pressurewounds. I have a lite set that is working great on my fretless. But this custom set i that I have a dead A on is driving me a lil crazed....especially when i pop and slap! Trying to work something out with the dealer right now as we speak..... (other wise I love the string to death!)

tlr1293 · #15 01-29-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blowabs

Wow....Funny tlr1293

I am having the same issue with my custom set of pressurewounds. I have a lite set that is working great on my fretless. But this custom set i that I have a dead A on is driving me a lil crazed....especially when i pop and slap! Trying to work something out with the dealer right now as we speak..... (other wise I love the string to death!)

Mine is the D and G - especially the G.
The Fretless is getting the SX orange removed and fretboard re-radius'd to 7.25 when I get time to send off for the tools.

blowabs · #16 01-29-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlr1293

Mine is the D and G - especially the G.
The Fretless is getting the SX orange removed and fretboard re-radius'd to 7.25 when I get time to send off for the tools.

Second set i bought i just checked out. They are balanced so i can now save them for my project P comin' up soon. First set with the problem A string, ooks like my dealer is gonna have GS replace it for me, will go back on my Sq VM J and never come off!! They both are 102-80-62-44.

I have an SX P/J neck layin around that could use the citrus strip ( i didnt know radiuses could be changed- cool), if i wasnt so lazy....