Low B on D'Addario Half Round set

Peter McFerrin · #1 06-03-2003, 03:22 PM

I'm thinking of going to groundwounds on my fretted FBB, because I prefer the feel for my right hand. I've tried Status groundwounds before and found the low B awfully flubby, so I threw the other four strings on my fretless FBB and have been happy ever since.

The only other brand of 5-string groundwounds out there, to the best of my knowledge, is D'Addario. How's the B string on these?

Flatwound · #2 06-04-2003, 09:56 PM

There was a thread or two a while back about the Half-Rounds having crappy B-strings. I, too, would like to know if this has changed.

Slater · #3 06-04-2003, 10:59 PM

Ken Smith Slick Rounds are available in a 5-string set. I've tried a 4-string set, they had a tight feel and, IMO, were quality strings. The groundround sound wasn't for me, so I never bought another set, but I did like them. Also, I have no experience with a Slick Round B-string.

Just thought I'd let you know they're out there...

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/String...tystrings.html

Peter McFerrin · #4 06-04-2003, 11:12 PM

I've had bad experiences with Smith low Bs as well. I think I might just go with a heavier-gauge Fodera roundwound (50-135).

Richard Lindsey · #5 06-05-2003, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter McFerrin
I'm thinking of going to groundwounds on my fretted FBB, because I prefer the feel for my right hand. I've tried Status groundwounds before and found the low B awfully flubby, so I threw the other four strings on my fretless FBB and have been happy ever since.

The only other brand of 5-string groundwounds out there, to the best of my knowledge, is D'Addario. How's the B string on these?

I had a 6 string set, and the low B was appallingly bad IMO. (The rest were really pretty good for my purposes.) However, I heard someone who had also had a bad experience with the low B say that when he bought a single groundwound D'Addario low B of the exact same gauge *separately*, it was much better. I don't know if this is common or, indeed, why it should be so at all, but there you go.

Rob W · #6 06-05-2003, 10:57 PM

I have them on my Godin. My B is pretty good actually, although I'd say I prefer the B on my D'Addario Chromes set on my G&L.

Tsal · #7 06-06-2003, 05:07 AM

It's quite hard to answer the question "how good does D'Addario Halfwound B sound?" when the only thing you get out of your B-string is dead *thuck*. On the positive side, if you are to get Fodeira bass mute on your bass, you can buy the cheaper 4-string version.

I wouldn't take the chance with Half-rounds unless I could get some sort of guarantee from the sales guy that they'll replace the B if it sounds dead.

FBB Custom · #8 06-12-2003, 07:22 PM

GHS makes a set of grounds. I've never tried the B, but I liked the E-C on them. They are called "Brite Flats".

I do have a 6 string set of Half-rounds I've been sitting on for a while. Now I'm scared to use them. ; I bet the B is thuddy as hell.

Be careful of D'Addarrio strings, though. Last time I used a set (their "long" scale), the silk ran over the nut on a 35" scale bass.

parrott · #9 06-13-2003, 06:45 AM

I had a set on my fretless 5 a couple of months ago.

While the E-G were okay (nothing special, I thought) the B was the worst B I've used.

I sounded totally dead, was a lot quieter (even after adjustment) and wasn't any smoother than a roundwound.

The taper was totally wrong for my bass too, I dodn't know if that would have contributed to anything.

Rick Blanc · #10 06-13-2003, 07:45 AM

I just had a set of D'Addario grounds on my SR5. E.A.D.G sounded great,like nicely broken in rounds. But the B was totally dead. I mean deader than dead. Stone cold dead.

Richard Lindsey · #11 06-13-2003, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Blanc
I just had a set of D'Addario grounds on my SR5. E.A.D.G sounded great,like nicely broken in rounds. But the B was totally dead. I mean deader than dead. Stone cold dead.

Another person with the same dang problem. Glad to know I wasn't crazy or unusually singled out by a malevolent fate when that happened to me. Jeez, you have to wonder if anybody at D'Addario actually testd or played that low B.

Rick Blanc · #12 06-13-2003, 07:55 AM

I'm actually glad to hear other had the same problem and not just me. I was thinking of trying them again but noy anymore. When I took them out of the package the B string had a bend in it. So I thought it might have been that. But if others are having the same type of problem......