Middle-ground strings

KYJazzy · #1 07-24-2006, 07:34 PM

I did a little looking up on what string types fall in between Roundwounds and flatwounds, and came up with two types:

groundwounds and halfrounds.

That's about all the information I got. I couldn't find any info about the characteristics of these types, or what brands are recommended, etc.

I'm looking for something to put on a new P bass, with the richness of flats but enough life for some possible slap. Some smoothness but not dead. I demand middle-ground!

What brands have you had experience with? These seem like fairly uncommon strings for most bassists, yet seem like they may be exactly what I want.

Dincrest · #2 07-24-2006, 08:00 PM

I think the two best ones you can get are SIT Silencers and DR Sunbeams. You really can't go wrong with anything DR. But I prefer the Silencers because they respond to my touch perfectly and cost a LOT less (a big selling point for a broke grad student like myself.)

I think the Silencers are terrific. They feel really smooth (almost liquid) but have the punch of roundwounds. I use them on my Warwick Corvette Standard and find the slap tone awesome. It's thick and beefy. My Warwick is naturally a hi-fi bass with a lot of treble bite, but with the SIT Silencers, the tone is much smoother and thicker and still growly and articulate.

I would avoid Ken Smith Compressors like the plague. Awful strings. They're really twangy and feel rather rough.

I definitely think SIT Silencers should be at or near the top of your must-try list. They sound like what you're looking for.

AlembicBob · #3 07-24-2006, 09:54 PM

Sunbeams are the nickel version of Hi-Beams. I think Fat Beams (the Marcus Miller set) is closer to a middle ground string in terms of feel and tone than the SunBeams are.

I'll second the opinion on the Ken Smith strings though. Just tried a set and twangy is definitely the first word that comes to mind. I just pulled them right off and I am trying the D'addario half rounds now. The initial experience is pleasant, but we'll see when they break in. They're just a little clacky right now, but I am expecting that to fade.

You might want to look at some of the coated strings as well. They tend to fall toward the middle ground as well. I haven't tried them, but I think the DR Bootzillas would work for you. I like the tone of the LoRiders that they are based on. The Elixers I tried once were pretty good as well, but generally priced a bit high for their value.

KYJazzy · #4 07-24-2006, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the opinions, I've always been interested in DR strings but still have yet to afford trying a set.

Honestly from the names they have (and from what I have heard [word of mouth, not the actual strings]) they sound WAY too bright for my tastes. I'm unfamiliar with Sunbeams and bootzillas. Guess I'll get to researching

horak · #5 07-25-2006, 04:26 AM

fat beams feel&sound - and actually are - stainless steel roundwounds. maybe you should try out some pressurewounds (e.g. ghs 7200; rotosound solo bass - listen to samples on their website)
btw, stay away from ghs "brite" flats (i.e. grounded rounds). sounded deader right out of the box then any flatwounds i've tried so far.
somewhere on talkbass i've also read that ti jr344 have a very smooth feel, and yet are pure nickel rounds.

Kasper007 · #6 07-25-2006, 04:32 AM

I don't know if you have already tried it but I find that the slap sound of my D'addario flats is awesome, bright enough for me.

horak · #7 07-25-2006, 04:57 AM

i second that. i also appreciate the slapsound of flats (i.e. ti jazzflats). sounds pretty much like larry graham's slapsound from the 1970s IMO...

AlembicBob · #8 07-25-2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horak

fat beams feel&sound - and actually are - stainless steel roundwounds. maybe you should try out some

I didn't say they weren't. All I said was that they had a smoother feel and warmer tone than the SunBeams that someone else had suggested. I don't think DR makes anything particularly close to a flat in terms of feel.