rounds suggestions for a flats player

sizzle · #1 07-08-2011, 07:07 PM

I play 34' scale BEAD with flats..I've been a flats player for years now. I have a 35' 5 string, sounds great, plays great, but I hardly touch it cause it has rounds. I dont like the lower tension of rounds, briteness or the way rounds die...but the tone of the 5 with rounds is really sweet when I dial enough of the top end off, so....I'm looking for suggestions for 5 string sets that are

long lasting
higher tension
not so brite/more mellow

am I asking the impossible?

DavePlaysBass · #2 07-09-2011, 06:35 AM

Sounds like nickels. I think one of the warmest nickel sets is Sadowsky Blues. You may need the super longs on a 35". Nickel Lo Riders and TI Superalloys also come to mind.

lowendblues · #3 07-09-2011, 06:42 AM

For what you want, I like DR Lowriders.

fretlessguy · #4 07-09-2011, 07:09 AM

A good alternative would be the 5 string set of GHS Pressurewounds. It still has the thump of a flat, but yet has the sustain and feel of a flat. They also are smooth and easy on your fingers and fretboards. One of those best of both world things when comparing flats and rounds. They may, however, feel slightly lower tensioned than flats due to thier round core, so you may want to go with their heavier gauged sets.

Arvin · #5 07-09-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

A good alternative would be the 5 string set of GHS Pressurewounds. It still has the thump of a flat, but yet has the sustain and feel of a flat. They also are smooth and easy on your fingers and fretboards. One of those best of both world things when comparing flats and rounds. They may, however, feel slightly lower tensioned than flats due to thier round core, so you may want to go with their heavier gauged sets.

+1

I don't like rounds much either, but I LOVE Pressurewounds.

Problemchild · #6 07-09-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendblues

For what you want, I like DR Lowriders.

+1

Bassamatic · #7 07-09-2011, 09:23 AM

I have Elixirs on my Cirrus 5 - Can't imagine anything else there. Great growl without the ringing of rounds, ultra long life and smooth and quiet to the touch.

joelb79 · #8 07-09-2011, 01:36 PM

Fender's 7250's have a semi-bright top that dies nicely for a wonderful mid heavy roundwound sound with some good thump. The medium set in 5's would probably be close to the tension your used to and would take some of the brilliance off, but you will still probably need to dial back the highs some.

I'd vote for a 5 string set of pressure wounds as well for another good choice. The are not a flatwound, not a roundwound, they are kind of their own thing. The highs on them die pretty quickly leaving you with a cruncy flatwound feel. I've messed around with them some too, I think they would be close to what you'd want.

But if you like flats, why not just get a 5 string set of chromes or something like that? If your already dialing back the highs, that is a feature of roundwounds you will be doing with all of them to be honest.

nonogz · #9 07-09-2011, 01:45 PM

if pressurewounds are anything like halfrounds, then i'd stay away. i LOVE flats, but i also love rounds. DR lowriders are great, but IMO, ghs boomers are awesome....especially for the price. plus, i think they feel great right out of the pack. some strings tend to feel really sticky at first. I HATE lowriders when i first put them on, but that only last for a few days.

J-O · #10 07-09-2011, 01:56 PM

I'LL add my 2$: DR Lowriders sound like they'd be perfect, based on what you have described.

Arvin · #11 07-09-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonogz

if pressurewounds are anything like halfrounds, then i'd stay away

They're not. I tried a set of halfrounds a while back and couldn't stand them. Pressurewounds are a whole different animal.

joelb79 · #12 07-09-2011, 02:41 PM

+1.

Half-rounds are choked back pre-deadened roundwounds with a sticky feel. Pressurewounds are an entirely different string. Worth trying.

Phalex · #13 07-09-2011, 02:45 PM

Tape wound strings sound like what you're after as well.

sizzle · #14 07-11-2011, 01:18 PM

thanks for the suggestions...
Ive tried half rounds ...they were worthless to me
and
nylon tapewounds ....liked them ok, but not what Id like for this situation

I'm looking to do something new, but I know me...brite and shiny, I dont know If Ill ever like for my own playing. Ill give these a try and see what the verdict

kasbrey · #15 07-12-2011, 01:24 PM

Pressurewounds or, for a thicker sound with a slower attack, TI Superalloys.

All of my 6 basses have one or the other.

I love the sound of flats but can't make them work live for me.

knuckle_head · #16 07-12-2011, 04:10 PM

Sick as it sounds I like dead or dying steels for what you're after - you just have to be willing to live/push through the initial shrill stage.

Kael · #17 07-12-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Sick as it sounds I like dead or dying steels for what you're after - you just have to be willing to live/push through the initial shrill stage.

Although I refer to them as "well broken in" I also prefer well used steels also. That being said, they definitely have more zing than it sounds like the OP is looking for.

sizzle · #18 07-12-2011, 10:13 PM

I like the feel of steels but yes they have more zing than Id like

Funkfaker · #19 11-10-2011, 12:45 PM

Had to resurrect this one.

Looking for a roundwound that has some grit and sustain, and is not too bright and "clanky." Hopefully one that will maintain the sustain for more than a month.

SLaPiNFuNK · #20 11-10-2011, 12:49 PM

Does it NEED to be a "Round Wound"... What about a Pressure Wound or Quarter Round? (Id look more at Pressure Wounds in this case IMHO)... ((they were mentioned earlier ITT as well...)