Round sound with flats?

solarplexus · #1 01-20-2011, 03:08 PM

Is it possible?

I have D'Addario chromes .105 on my P CV and I like them. However I would like a brighter, close to round sound string set with flat profile on the strings for my MIJ Jazz. Can you give me some suggestions or should I just use rounds? I am just afraid that the rounds will eat too fast into my frets. I have used rounds on my P CV when bought it brand new and after only a few weeks (though I have played it extensively) I already have some fret wear. I don't want the same happening to my Jazz.

Please help!

Thanks!

JTE · #2 01-20-2011, 03:27 PM

Well, I wouldn't worry about fret wear myself, I use stainless rounds on my fretless. The actual amount of wear it takes before you need to invest real money is pretty high so it should take years to get there. Mostly fret wear is due to your fretting hand technique instead of the string alloy. But if you really want to try something else, try some of the modified roundwound strings out there. D'Addario Half-Rounds and GHS Brite-Flats are the two most common. They make a string with a final wrap of round wire, but polish the outer surface so it's flat. They vibrate like a round and have most of that new roundwound sound. I used both for years (the D'Addarios pretty much exclusively from 1977 'til about 1985 on the Precisions, the Brite-Flats from '79 'til about '88 on the StingRay). Ultimately I decided for me that I'd rather have rounds or flats, not a compromise between them.

John

DannDubblewe · #3 01-20-2011, 03:58 PM

I use and adore Ken Smith Slick Rounds. Flat wound feel and punch with the roundwound brightness and snap. Definitely worth a look, and not very expensive either! Purple silk windings too

Taken from the Ken Smith site:

NICKEL-IRON ALLOY ROUND WOUND, GROUND ON THE OUTER SURFACE FOR A SUPER SMOOTH FEEL
SOUND IS FAT AND BRIGHTER THAN FLAT WOUND STRINGS
38" WINDING LENGTH TO SILK ( +/- 1/2") *Except where noted
SILK WRAPPING AT BOTH ENDS TO PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE HARDWARE
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR 5 & 6 STRING BASSES

I know there are other strings with this approach, I have tried none of them. My .2 cents!

BassBob1 · #4 01-20-2011, 04:07 PM

i use chrome on my mia jazz which is my main bass. i tried the rotosound jazzbass set (flats) and didnt like them because i thought they where almost as bright as rounds so you might want to try those. Or for a round wound string i like DR sunbeams or d'addario XLs. They are very smooth feeling IMO. I tried the d'addario half-rounds before switching to chromes and just hated them. They where not at all what i was looking for. they felt rougher than rounds.

If you want my 2 cents, if your looking for the brightness of rounds you are really only gunna find that in a round wound string. If you like the flats but want it a little brighter perhaps just boost your highest frequency a little and see if that gets you the desired sound.

CapnSev · #5 01-20-2011, 04:35 PM

Sadowsky flats. Nice, warm rounds in a flats disguise.

As for fret wear, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It takes years and years of normal play to wear down frets to where its a problem. Are you sure its not just some string marks/discoloration that you are seeing on your Classic Vibe's frets?

solarplexus · #6 01-20-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Sadowsky flats. Nice, warm rounds in a flats disguise.

As for fret wear, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It takes years and years of normal play to wear down frets to where its a problem. Are you sure its not just some string marks/discoloration that you are seeing on your Classic Vibe's frets?

Nope, I can assure you that there is some wear into the frets from frets 2 to 5. I ordered 2 sets of GHS brite flats from juststrings.com. They were not too expensive so I figured I'll try them on both basses. Also, they were close to what I play now (.052-.103) - I play .050-.105 . Thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming 'cause If I don't like 'em, I'll still be looking for the best set for me.

CapnSev · #7 01-20-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarplexus

Nope, I can assure you that there is some wear into the frets from frets 2 to 5. I ordered 2 sets of GHS brite flats from juststrings.com. They were not too expensive so I figured I'll try them on both basses. Also, they were close to what I play now (.052-.103) - I play .050-.105 . Thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming 'cause If I don't like 'em, I'll still be looking for the best set for me.

If there are pits in your frets after weeks, something is wrong with that bass.

unclejane · #8 01-20-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarplexus

Is it possible?

I have D'Addario chromes .105 on my P CV and I like them. However I would like a brighter, close to round sound string set with flat profile on the strings for my MIJ Jazz. Can you give me some suggestions or should I just use rounds? I am just afraid that the rounds will eat too fast into my frets. I have used rounds on my P CV when bought it brand new and after only a few weeks (though I have played it extensively) I already have some fret wear. I don't want the same happening to my Jazz.

Please help!

Thanks!

I agree with the other guys - after just a few weeks, even playing round the clock, you shouldn't already have appreciable fret wear. Some marks, yeah, actual pits and valleys, no.

Unless the material they're made out of is really really crappy, it should take some years of heavy playing to start pitting the frets to the point they need dressing.

So something isn't right, the frets were chewed up to begin with or they're made of bad wire or something....

LS

solarplexus · #9 01-20-2011, 05:03 PM

they are not horizontal pits but vertical scratches from the rounds I used before changing to flats. Probably there from vibrato.

88ric2030 · #10 01-20-2011, 08:34 PM

I would think that Chromes should fit the need. I have them on 3 of my basses and find them very versatile. I do have the new Fender 9050s on my Fender Jazz. They are OK; I only bought them because they were cheaper and thought I'd give 'em a try. I hear good things about GHS Pressure Wounds, but have never used them myself . I agree that the feel of Half Rounds sucks. Once I tried Chromes I was done with Half rounds.

**lowendfriend** · #11 01-20-2011, 08:43 PM

I'm a +1 on either Chromes or sadowky SS flats...have 'em both. Sadowskys have a brighter richer sound vs.the chromes (which are more classic thump with decent low and mid highs)

iiipopes · #12 01-20-2011, 08:51 PM

FENDER 9050CL's!! FENDER 9050CL!! Just out at NAMM this show! They have much more consistency, both up the neck and string-to-string, meaty tone, subdued growl when you want it, and if you didn't look twice, you'd think you have roto swingbass on with the tone knob turned down. I've played rounds for over 35 years, and these made me switch to flats.