Warmest roundwound strings

[BoomingBass]

So I've been using roto flats and I really like them but I don't truly love them. I thought maybe I need a tad bit of brightness with the warmness I love so much. I tried some D'addario Half Rounds (my first D'addarios) and I hated them. I'm not really sure why but I did. I've heard nickel is warmer than steel. There are three that I might be interested in. Fender pure nickels, DR Sunbeams, and Rotosound 66 swing bass nickels.

Feel free to recommend anything, even flats if you think thats what I need.

Thanks in advance

Edit: I also play almost exclusively fretless
and my genres are prog metal and alt metal with some smooth jazz mixed in (I like mellow tones)
1 more thing, I use effects sometimes (chorus, phasing, and distortion)

[Bob C]

GHS Pressurewounds are a "squashed roundwound", I guess. They sound and feel like a cross between rounds and flats. Ken Smith and a few other companies make or sell them too.

The GHS strings weren't really for me - They sounded TOO much like flats. They might be exactly what you're looking for.

[Sundogue]

Sunbeams are my favorite roundwound because they are nickel and warmer sounding. They were also the strings that kept their tone the longest.

I've since switched to flats but for a roundwound Sunbeams are my all time fave.

[Bob C]

I agree DR Sunbeams are a mellower roundwound. Also, GHS used to make something called "Bright Flats". Don't know if they still do.

You need to start experimenting. At juststrings.com all the strings they carry are listed by manufacturer (as well as by instrument and so on). It's pretty easy to compare what is available out there.

[Krucial]

Well, what you're looking for might be a little different than the warmness I'm after (for some good old reggae) but her two options I tried with good results.

-Mildly old thick gauge strings in good condtion (no fretware and no corrosion, but at least a few month old month). Both d'Addario and Fender tested with same results.

-The tapered Black beauties heavy gauge. (This worked for me only at my Aria string through body. On both of my Ibanezes, I guess the taperd part was too long, making the tone unstable.)

[Bob C]

Oh yeah, the D'darrio XL whatchamacallits that everyone loves: I hate them - too muffled. But for you (the OP) they might be a great slightly brighter alternative to flats.

[BoomingBass]

DR Sunbeams are starting to sound really good. I haven't heard anything about Fender pure nickels yet? and to recap and the tone I want: deep, warm, singing, and mellow are some words to describe it.

[TimB 619]

I just switched to Ken Smith Compressors on my fretless bass. Great sounding, and feeling string.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by BoomingBass

DR Sunbeams are starting to sound really good. I haven't heard anything about Fender pure nickels yet? and to recap and the tone I want: deep, warm, singing, and mellow are some words to describe it.

For that tone I would HIGHLY recommend TI Jazz Rounds, however, they are extremely low tension and lots of people don't care for that. If you don't think you would care for low tension then the very next best thing IMO is the DR Sunbeam for the tone you describe.

[calebplaysbass]

I use the fender pure nickels you're talking about. I love them. A bit mellower even than standard nickel plated steel strings. I can get a lot of really usable sounds out of them (granted that's also due to the well built versatility of my Lakland Jazz but i digress). I'd recommend them highly. Also, they last a surprisingly long time. I have especially sweaty hands and most strings die really quick on my basses, so I'm pleasantly surprised these last, on average, a month or more.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by calebplaysbass

I use the fender pure nickels you're talking about. I love them. A bit mellower even than standard nickel plated steel strings. I can get a lot of really usable sounds out of them (granted that's also due to the well built versatility of my Lakland Jazz but i digress). I'd recommend them highly. Also, they last a surprisingly long time. I have especially sweaty hands and most strings die really quick on my basses, so I'm pleasantly surprised these last, on average, a month or more.

+1

The Fender pure nickels are mellower than any other nickel string I have tried, by far. And I've tried just about all of them.

[BoomingBass]

Do the pure nickels have the deep tone I want? and is it true they have less output?

[Toadsmacker]

I don't know too much about mellow roundwounds, but I find that D'Addario chromes flatwounds are brighter than most flats, but not overly mellow

[Johnny Alien]

My issue with the Fenders are that they are very rough feeling. I don't get along with rounds that feel that way and IMO they tend to get dirtier and die quicker.

[greggster59]

Have a look at Alembic compression wound.

[dougjwray]

GHS Boomers! Especially after they've been played for a little while, and lose the very top end.

[mcm]

get some chromes

[BoomingBass]

For now, I'm going to try either DR Sunbeams or Fender 7150 pure nickels, but I can't decide which one. Could somebody tell me which one is deeper and which one sings more?

[BigOldHarry]

I just started using DR FatBeams and *man* - Huge low-mid growl, not too much sizzle. I thought I'd never find a string I liked more than DR LoRides, but these take the cake.

[ugly_bassplayer]

8 year old XLs.