Rounds for players who play flats

stratovani · #1 08-24-2010, 08:29 PM

Yesterday my son bought a pack of Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys and put them on his J-Bass. I asked him if I could try his bass at my band's rehearsal tonight and he agreed. I played them for two songs and I had to switch to my P-Bass with flats, my fingers were killing me! No Ernie Balls for me! My question is, if I ever wind up getting a J-Bass, what's a good roundwound string for someone like me who is used to flats?

dmusic148 · #2 08-24-2010, 08:32 PM

You sound like a good candidate for nickel wound strings, as they are usually much smoother feeling than steels, and less bright sounding. I suggest DR Sunbeams.

TrevorOfDoom · #3 08-24-2010, 08:38 PM

i use TI SuperAlloy's, and go years between changing strings. nice and mellow, low tension, but enough of a bite that you won't confuse them with flats

drden · #4 08-24-2010, 08:43 PM

+1 for sunbeams. Ernie ball stuff has felt really coarse IME. After playing flats for awhile, any roundwound set will feel slightly uncomfortable, but you should get used to it in a week of playing or less.

bassyRyan · #5 08-24-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

You sound like a good candidate for nickel wound strings, as they are usually much smoother feeling than steels, and less bright sounding. I suggest DR Sunbeams.

These are the perfect suggestion, Also, DR uses a thinner outer wrap gauge compared to say, D'Addario which results in a smoother feel. The coils of the outer wrap are tighter and this produces a smoother feeling surface. The only drawback (if you consider it one) is a "looser" feeling string with considerably less tension than the average flatwound or even roundwound for that matter. But that's precicely why I use them.

sdoow · #6 08-24-2010, 11:41 PM

Why not just use flats, if that's what you prefer?

JimmyM · #7 08-24-2010, 11:55 PM

the closest i ever got to flats that sound like rounds were either the ti jazz flats, rotosound flats, or d'addario halfrounds. granted, i haven't tried every string made, but i've tried those and they all sound like rounds to me. at least until they go dead, which after 4 months of using the ti's, they never did. expensive buggers, though. can't say i liked them, but they will sound like rounds for a long time.

**bassybill** · #8 08-25-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdoow

Why not just use flats, if that's what you prefer?

I think the OP is after some strings that will give a tone close to rounds but with a smoother feel. Some of the groundwound or pressurewound strings might be an option (I use Rotosound Solo Bass on my fretless and they might be a starting point - great strings, highly recommended here, although they are much closer to rounds that flats both in tone and in feel, imo).

The other option if you want to get that tone is just keep playing roundwounds - your fingers wil toughen up after a while.

Jimmy, I'm surprised you found the Rotosound flats to sound like rounds. Their "Jazz Bass" flats seem like fairly typical thumpy flatwounds to me. Maybe I've had my set too long.

Jefenator · #9 08-25-2010, 01:09 AM

Before I fell hard for flats, my thing was worn-in nickel rounds.

stratovani · #10 08-25-2010, 08:15 AM

Yeah, it's more of a comfort thing rather than a tone thing. I love the sound of rounds on a J and flats on a P. But those Ernie Ball Slinkies - Yeeouch!

**bassybill** · #11 08-25-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

You sound like a good candidate for nickel wound strings, as they are usually much smoother feeling than steels, and less bright sounding. I suggest DR Sunbeams.

By the way, the Hybrid Slinkys that the OP refers to are nickel wound as standard - the steel ones actually say "stainless steel" on the packet.

stratovani · #12 08-25-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

By the way, the Hybrid Slinkys that the OP refers to are nickel wound as standard - the steel ones actually say "stainless steel" on the packet.

We threw out the package last night so I don't know what they are, and I'm not about to start fishing therough the trash! No matter, there's good advice here on this thread. Thanks, everyone!

**bassybill** · #13 08-25-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

We threw out the package last night so I don't know what they are, and I'm not about to start fishing therough the trash! No matter, there's good advice here on this thread. Thanks, everyone!

Huh - no fishing in the trash, no rough strings - your hands must be softer than my sister's! MAN UP!

lmfreeman9 · #14 08-25-2010, 09:25 PM

Nickel L0-Riders

SactoBass · #15 08-25-2010, 09:30 PM

+1 for DR Sunbeams. They feel (and sound) great! I love those strings!

If you are looking for an even smoother feel, but still want to retain the tone of a roundwound, go with Ken Smith Compressors. I use those on my US Lakland Bob Glaub P bass, and they sound great and feel like butter.

Chrisk-K · #16 08-25-2010, 09:37 PM

I've used Chromes, Roto, La Bella & GHS flats before. I personally find DR nickel strings (Lo-Riders and Sunbeams) much smoother and easier on fingers than those flats.

Surly · #17 08-25-2010, 09:39 PM

Fender 7150's.

eyecandy · #18 08-26-2010, 09:03 AM

well i would consider half rounds before rounds.. but I'm more on GHS

P-oddz · #19 08-26-2010, 09:13 AM

+1 Sunbeams. I love 'em.

After you wear them in a bit, they still have a mild roundwound bite, but a much smoother flat-like response... and they won't chew up your fingers.

stratovani · #20 08-26-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-oddz

+1 Sunbeams. I love 'em.

After you wear them in a bit, they still have a mild roundwound bite, but a much smoother flat-like response... and they won't chew up your fingers.

Funny thing about Sunbeams - they use the exact same packaging as DR's Pure Blues electric guitar strings. I love Pure Blues on my Strat - they're the only strings I'll use, they nail that neck-pickup bluesy Strat sound. So if Sunbeams are the bass equivalent of Pure Blues, then it's Sunbeams for me!