roundwound strings trial initial results

pbass888 · #1 04-05-2011, 05:14 PM

After playing TI jazz flats I decided to get back in to rounds and try several brands over the course of the last year. I play with acoustic musicians piano drums horn etc. in standard "real book" jazz and rarely fusion jazz settings.

Using a 74 and 96 mia jazz bass and a markbass amp here are my results...

love to hear what you guys think and if you have any more suggestions for strings!

1. sunbeams... great both ootb and after settling in. Love nickels (ive learned more than stainless on my frets and fingers). Sound great live in duo and trio settings as well. Now a permanent fixture on my 74 jazz .

2. ghs boomers and dr fatbeams. a tie but sound of each are different... love the fatbeams bottom and lower mids , especially on walking lines with my 96 bass (which has sjb-2 pups) can really dial in some nice low tones. Boomers feel great to my touch and soloing (which is all fingerstyle). The boomers were , as we say down south , worked like a rib and held up like a champ!!!

3.fender pure nickel strings. Nice warmth and great tone consistancy... just a little to mellow for my taste vs sunbeams

4. highbeams and low riders ( may be my preference for nickel versus steel).Felt both were a little too bright ootb and a bit twangy for my style of music ( with a few guys i get together with we jam some weather report etc and these still are not my taste).

5.e ball hybrid slinky...not bad but just didnt feel right.

6. fender 7350 steel... not enough bottom but I think they might be good for slappers etc.

7.daddarrio steels... the only ones out of the bunch that I did not like due to weak fundamental tone and no ring and ping (attack and sustain).just didnt suit my needs.

Anyway I learned over the last year that there are my preferences in rw strings.

Any other brands that need to be "tested" that my fellow tb'ers recommend?...

Ive learned alot with this excercise over a year and hope it helps some others try some strings that they may come to enjoy!

tylerwylie · #2 04-05-2011, 05:24 PM

If you like Sunbeams feel and tone but want something with more oomph without the sizzle try Circle K as well. Personally I dig Sunbeams, DR Lo-rider nickels (also worth trying) and Circle K sets together though I'm about to try some DR black beauties too.

pbass888 · #3 04-05-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

If you like Sunbeams feel and tone but want something with more oomph without the sizzle try Circle K as well. Personally I dig Sunbeams, DR Lo-rider nickels (also worth trying) and Circle K sets together though I'm about to try some DR black beauties too.

Thankyou ill keep a lookout for circle k online! Great suggestion

bottomzone · #4 04-06-2011, 01:37 AM

Sadowsky Blue Label stainless steel. I was a die hard Ken Smith string user for my Smith 5-until now! The Sadowskys are the bomb-great tone, great feel and they last a lot longer!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

markanini · #5 04-06-2011, 03:17 AM

For Jazz standards on rounds I bet you'd like GHS Pressurewound and maybe the SIT Silencer.

darkstorm · #6 04-06-2011, 02:46 PM

Try rotosounds swing66. not as bright as most stainless steels. Excellent darker tonal then avergae stainless strings.

pbass888 · #7 04-06-2011, 06:32 PM

ill try to find some but think id prefer the nickel ones

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottomzone

Sadowsky Blue Label stainless steel. I was a die hard Ken Smith string user for my Smith 5-until now! The Sadowskys are the bomb-great tone, great feel and they last a lot longer!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

pbass888 · #8 04-06-2011, 06:33 PM

darker tone sounds right for mehh

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Try rotosounds swing66. not as bright as most stainless steels. Excellent darker tonal then avergae stainless strings.

pbass888 · #9 04-06-2011, 06:34 PM

Thank you for the suggestion especially SIT. I tried GHS a few years ago and was not happy as I felt I lost the best of both flats and rounds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markanini

For Jazz standards on rounds I bet you'd like GHS Pressurewound and maybe the SIT Silencer.

chuck norriss · #10 04-06-2011, 07:07 PM

Great review. thanks. I'm using Rotosound 66's right now which have been around since before I was born. I like them but dark & dry ping (as if I'm describing a cymbal) not a whole lot of body. Maybe not for straight-ahead. Better for rock I think. I believe they're what Geddy Lee uses, so if that's any indication then there you go .
Recently tried the Randy Jackson gold strings only because they were cheap & I was curious. Great sound & feel but the E broke. They were pretty rubber-y from what I recall of the short time I had them.
I wish there was a spectrum a chart of strings that represented the way they sound. one end of the spectrum could be black tape flats the other end, whatever the brightest is. steel?

Dusty89 · #11 04-07-2011, 12:07 AM

Have you've tried D'addario chromes? Their the warmest the company has to offer.