Soft unabbraisive roundwound strings?

rockinpop · #1 01-12-2009, 09:25 AM

I have recently (about 2 years ago) come down with some sort of skin exzema on both hands that really affects the finger tips. I've been to a couple of dermatologists who have told me that there is no cure for this other then maintaining it with prescription creams & cortisone shots. Sometimes it's so bad I can't even use the keyboard on my computer, while at other times it clears up and is good for a couple of weeks. With that being said I was wondering if anyone out there could reccomend a roundwound string that is unabbraisve to the fingers. I have one bass strung with flats (dont really like flats) and the other with elixers. I dont particulary care for the sound of the exliers and was hoping someone cauld suggest an alternative. Low tension and a soft smoothe feel I guess is what i'm looking for. I appreciate any input you can offer. Thanks !!

Buskman · #2 01-12-2009, 09:40 AM

You might want to give some half/ground wound strings a try!

Jaco who? · #3 01-12-2009, 10:41 AM

DR sunbeams.

P-BASSLOVER · #4 01-12-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

DR sunbeams.

+1 on the Sunbeams.
You may have a nickel allergy as well!
Give the Fatbeams a try. They are stainless but smooth.

mntngrown · #5 01-12-2009, 12:22 PM

The DR Marcus Miller are touted as not being hard on frets and though I bought some they are still in the box. (no opinion yet). Here's the OT part you can ignore if you choose. My problem for years was fingers and feet that cracked open mostly in winter, and my lower lip cracked open in the same place repeatedly. My dermatoligist prescribed cortisone, which I declined. I ended up getting a dry scratchy eye condition too. The eye doctor recommended flax seed oil,(omega 3). Not just a capsule but a tblspn or more a day. I did that and more as well as taking 3 or more fish oil caps a day. No more cracking! Both these supps are harmless, presuming no allergies, and are good for brain and heart too supposedly. I asked the dermatologist about taking oils prior to this and he said they would not help. Too many MD,s IMHO are stuck with med school prejudice which is intmately entwined with drug company influence. I know your condition is worse than mine but I would do lots of Google search,(you prbly have). Best of luck!
The dermatologist

BigOldHarry · #6 01-12-2009, 12:27 PM

I don't know if this will help, but years ago I went through a period where my fingers were all nasty/cracked and my doc told me the same thing - steriods/cream/etc... I started wearing cloth fingertip bandaids to play - which sucked like no one's bidness... but after a while it went away (happily). I think I started paying more attention to what I used to wash with and that helped - anyway, hope the hands get better. Having been there, I know it sucks.

As for strings, if your fingers are like mine were, they won't make much of a difference; Playing bass is hard on your fingertips, hard to get around that.

greenboy · #7 01-12-2009, 12:32 PM

I don't know if this one will help or not but check it out:

Rounds biting fretless board, am I using wrong oil?

Also, have you checked to see if you have an allergy to nickel? I've known a few players who had problems with their hands, and as soon as they stopped using nickel-plated strings, things improved.

frankie5string · #8 01-12-2009, 05:46 PM

Fender makes a set of tapewound round wounds... they're essentially a roundwound with a thick plastic wrap atop them. They're not the same as other tapewound strings which are often tape-wound flatwound strings. They still manage to retain some of the roundwound brightness but will isolate you from the metal content of the string and feel much softer to the touch...

http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0739120000

They're not everyone's cup of tea, but might work well for you...

PilbaraBass · #9 01-12-2009, 08:01 PM

what about coated strings like Elixers or D'Ad EXP's???

Lokire · #10 01-12-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

Fender makes a set of tapewound round wounds... they're essentially a roundwound with a thick plastic wrap atop them. They're not the same as other tapewound strings which are often tape-wound flatwound strings. They still manage to retain some of the roundwound brightness but will isolate you from the metal content of the string and feel much softer to the touch...

http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0739120000

They're not everyone's cup of tea, but might work well for you...

All tapewounds are roundwound strings underneath the nylon-tape. Fender, GHS, Status-Graphite, Galli, RotoSound, and Carvin all make a set of tapewound strings. One of them would probably be your best bet. They have a roundwound tone (though slightly duller), but with a nice smooth feel.

If you're dead set on roundwounds though, TI Jazz Rounds would be another good choice. They use smaller diameter windings and a very light gauge which give them a very smooth feel.

MysticMichael · #11 01-12-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-BASSLOVER

+1 on the Sunbeams. Give the Fatbeams a try. They are stainless but smooth.

+2 on both of these choices. Exactly what I was about to recommend...

MM

frankie5string · #12 01-13-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lokire

All tapewounds are roundwound strings underneath the nylon-tape.

That's simply incorrect... Cut through a set of Rotosound TruBass88 strings and you'll find they're flatwound...Cut through a set of Fender tapewounds and you'll find they're round-wound.

mulambo · #13 01-13-2009, 08:09 AM

Brother, check this tread:
Stainless steel allergy?

lefty007 · #14 01-13-2009, 08:22 AM

1-Thomastik-Infeld Jazz rounds. The softest and lowest-tension strings out there.

2-Fenders pure nickel in extra light gauge are pretty soft to the touch too.

3-As mentioned, DR Sunbeams.

Basically, you want a nickel string with a round core in a light gauge. Obviously, you need to find out first if your condition is reactive to nickel, as it may not be at all, so the recommendations above apply.

fo shizzle · #15 01-13-2009, 08:38 AM

I've had success with the DR Extras.

markdavid · #16 01-13-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

That's simply incorrect... Cut through a set of Rotosound TruBass88 strings and you'll find they're flatwound...Cut through a set of Fender tapewounds and you'll find they're round-wound.

Sorry to contradict you but I actually did this once with a set of Rotosound TruBass88 strings and found that underneath the tape they are actually light gauge (around 95-40 I would guess) roundwound strings although there tapewounds do sound similar to flatwounds

frankie5string · #17 01-13-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdavid

Sorry to contradict you but I actually did this once with a set of Rotosound TruBass88 strings and found that underneath the tape they are actually light gauge (around 95-40 I would guess) roundwound strings although there tapewounds do sound similar to flatwounds

Lol...well I'm sitting here with an A string from my TruBass88 set cut in half and unravelled, and the wrapwire is flat, not round...

am I missing something?

markdavid · #18 01-13-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

Lol...well I'm sitting here with an A string from my TruBass88 set cut in half and unravelled, and the wrapwire is flat, not round...

am I missing something?

I can't explain that however when I unwrapped the tape on mine although the tape was flat , the string underneath the black tape was definately roundwound , that was about a year ago though so they may have changed the way the strings are made since then

frankie5string · #19 01-13-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markdavid

I can't explain that however when I unwrapped the tape on mine although the tape was flat , the string underneath the black tape was definately roundwound , that was about a year ago though so they may have changed the way the strings are made since then

I wonder if that's only on the ends... Now I'm curious about this new set I've got sitting here...

I love them though - they're so smooth and such a contrast from the regular roundwounds I use on everything else...

rockinpop · #20 01-14-2009, 10:43 AM

Hey, I'd like to thank all of you for your feedback on this, it is much appreciated. As an update I started taking the fish oil caps (thanks mntngrown) and ordered a set of the TI JR344 rounds (thanks lefty007). And to BigOldHarry, yes I went through the phase of wearing bandaids on my fingers while playing, and you are correct it sucked. Got my lousy fingers crossed hoping that they will eventually clear up (come on fish oil !!). Once again THANK YOU ALL !!!!!!!