Pressurewound aging

3234718 · #1 02-04-2013, 10:13 AM

Anyone ever have GHS pressurewounds on their bass for a long time? Like 6 months plus. After a while, do they have all the punch and definition (or lack of) like flatwounds? or do they retain at least some zing. I like the idea of keeping strings on my main bass pretty much forever. I don't slap and don't need a lot of brightness and zing, but I'm wondering if they'll completely lose all their punch.

mmbongo · #2 02-04-2013, 10:34 AM

I've had the same set on my Brubaker Brute for about a year. I don't play it a whole lot, and they still have quite a bit of sparkle to them. I think you'll like them. In fact, I'm looking for something with less top end now, as I want to have one bass with a totally different set of strings and dedicated to having a smooth, fat Motown type sound. Not sure I want flats, though.

3234718 · #3 02-04-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I've had the same set on my Brubaker Brute for about a year. I don't play it a whole lot, and they still have quite a bit of sparkle to them. I think you'll like them. In fact, I'm looking for something with less top end now, as I want to have one bass with a totally different set of strings and dedicated to having a smooth, fat Motown type sound. Not sure I want flats, though.

I just got the new labella "white" tapewounds. As awesome as regular tapewounds, but brighter and more versitile I think. They'd work well for smooth fat motown, in my opinion.

mmbongo · #4 02-04-2013, 10:54 AM

I might check those out! Tapes are on my 'want to try' list.

bassvirtuoso · #5 02-04-2013, 03:13 PM

I've had a well worn set on my main bass for about a year now, they've lost most top end acoustically (playing unplugged). Unfortunately, I haven't had a gig to see how they actually sound loud and in the mix.

EDIT: I play GHS Pressurewounds.

kasbrey · #6 02-04-2013, 03:43 PM

I've had a set or two on for over 18 months now on my basses. After a year or so I soaked them in de-natured alcohol which brought them back to "just broken in".
I guess I'll do the same again if they sound too dull.

ObeyGiant · #7 02-05-2013, 12:09 AM

Top 3 songs are recorded with PWounds (I think all of them are actually, but the first 3 are the only ones with our current lineup and are much better recordings in general.) The first is a 5 string Jazz. The next two were done with a CV 60's P.

https://soundcloud.com/edward-maynard

Pressurewounds are going on 6 months old on both basses. I bought both basses/strings at the same time. Bass may not be very audible on Laptop speakers.

I really dug the way they sounded, but to each their own.

joelb79 · #8 02-05-2013, 12:13 AM

I have a touring professional friend who swears by these strings. He gets a good 6-7 months out of his strings; boils them frequently to return some zing. They don't ever sound like flats to me, but they do get a more pronounced thud and sound darker. I have a few sets sitting around with a few months on them, and they still sound somewhat new to me.

ObeyGiant · #9 02-05-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelb79

I have a touring professional friend who swears by these strings. He gets a good 6-7 months out of his strings; boils them frequently to return some zing. They don't ever sound like flats to me, but they do get a more pronounced thud and sound darker. I have a few sets sitting around with a few months on them, and they still sound somewhat new to me.

I am not a fan of that new string sound for most applications. I like any rounds I buy a lot more after they have some time to lose that zing. I don't know how long these Pressurewounds will last, but I do plan on trying to use them for as long as I think they sound good.

I have a set on another P that I don't play that often anymore that have been on that bass since March 2012 (first set of Pressurewounds I tried) and I think they still sound great. I really need to give a set of Flats a try. When I first started playing bass (10 years ago) I had never even heard of flats and idolized Mark Hoppus so all I have ever played until recently has been mostly Nickel rounds.

SLaPiNFuNK · #10 02-05-2013, 12:41 AM

I had pressurewounds on a P-Bass of mine for over a year.

(technically Ken Smith Compressors)

joelb79 · #11 02-05-2013, 12:42 AM

Well this guy is playing classic rock and motown with a pick. I'm sure you have slightly different tonal goals as well. But they might be the strings for you if you like deader rounds.