Roundwound Upright Strings

dgelting · #1 05-31-2007, 03:41 PM

Does anyone know if these are available?
I know it's an odd request, but one of my ensembles plays hard rock music, and I have a upright that I have set up just for that style. I use a magnetic pickup (that I recently mounted on my bridge to get some more bite) and am, obviously, not going for a traditional tone. Honestly, I'd like to get my upright to sound kind of like a Rick.
I'm aware that bowing will not be an option - I have another bass that is good for that.

I've started getting in contact with electric bass string manufacturers to see if they could just spin me off extra long electric bass strings.

It's taken some years, but the violinist in the ensemble and I have been able to get fantastic rock sounds out of our "classical" instruments - and I think the roundwound strings may be the final piece of the puzzle!

Thanks for any tips -

theshadow2001 · #2 05-31-2007, 05:36 PM

Would there not be a lot of finger board wear from round wounds?

**Francois Blais** · #3 05-31-2007, 07:58 PM

You can try Super-Sensitive Red Labels.
Flatwound, but with a solid core, their tone is very metallic and they feel quite stiff.

JimmyM · #4 05-31-2007, 10:20 PM

Most rounds I've seen are guts or nylons wrapped in roundwound wire. I hate them. Bear in mind that what works on electric doesn't always work on upright.

koricancowboy · #5 05-31-2007, 11:31 PM

with the cost of an AAA grade ebony fingerboard you can keep that far, far away from MY fingerboard. I think if you want a Rick sound you should play a Rick. Or an EUB. Just my 2¢

adje · #6 06-01-2007, 08:39 AM

NS Design actually sells roundwounds for their EUBs, but they're probably too short for an 3/4 (long enough for their own 41", just not for an AUB).

Supposedly made by d'Addarrio.

dgelting · #7 06-01-2007, 08:52 AM

..there will be a lot of fingerboard wear. I'm cool with that, the fingerboard on this bass is already pretty well shot. The entire instrument is perpetually on the edge of destruction - this is why I chose this instrument to amplify with a magnetic pickup and take out to "unsafe" environments. If it cracks I just fix it myself and am not worried about value or cosmetics. I wouldn't want to use rounds on my bass I use in the orchestra any more than you.
You're right - If I wanted exactly a Rick sound I would play a Rick. I'd like to get a more Rick like sound out of my upright. An EUB would have the same string situation as my acoustic and probably it's own new set of problems. For one, it probably dosn't feed back as well (they are designed not to) and I like to utilize controlled feedback. For two, they just look super-lame. For three, it won't sound as cool. Have you ever heard the difference between a magnetic pickup on an acoustic guitar and a magnetic pickup on an electric solid body guitar? While the acoustic won't have a "real, natural" acoustic sound, it still has a definitely different and more interesting, to me, tone than the solid body. While my magnetic pickup lowers the effects of the basses body on the tone, it dosn't eliminate the body's effects.

Gut wrapped in round won't work well (depending on the type of metal used in the wrapping) , because I'm using a magnetic, electric bass style pickup. So, in this situation more than others, I think I can try to take a few tips from what works on electric. This is basiclly an electric hollowbody bass.

So far I got a no from Rotosound, so I'll have to research smaller makers, or see if I could get lucky and find one that cuts strings just long enough to find out if it really will work.

**Bob Gollihur** · #8 06-01-2007, 02:33 PM

You may want to check with Labella, I once got a couple sets of extra long roundwound bass strings for a Bass Banjo a guy had built, on a special order through their US distributor.

However, it took several months of prodding, pushing, and harassment to make it happen, and I think it may have been close to a year before they came through. Not something I'd personally pursue again, due to the agg, but nonetheless a lead.

How about looking into piano strings??

The only issue with true roundwounds on an URB scale length is that they sustain for days. That's why URB string makers put various types and levels of dampening materials within the windings to calm them down.

dgelting · #9 06-03-2007, 12:48 PM

The piano string idea is fantastic. I'm surprised I didn't already think of it - I have a friend who's a piano tech and he might even have some old ones hanging around his shop.

I'll also look into the NS idea -

Thanks guys - I'll let you know how the experiment turns out!

Jazzin' · #10 06-14-2007, 02:14 PM

Epoxy-coat the fingerboard first. It would be a cool experiment for a DB.

bssist · #11 06-27-2007, 05:58 PM

I've been wondering about epoxy on an urb board. I've also been wondering about piano strings on the DB. I can't wait to hear the results of your work!

dabedus · #12 08-15-2011, 01:52 PM

Check Circle K strings; they should be good up to a 40" scale. If you can extend the cable for the tailpiece, they might work.

engedi1 · #13 08-15-2011, 06:17 PM

Circle K is the home of weird custom ordered strings. If they will make strings for 11 string basses I am sure they will make some for you! I want to hear a clip of that bass with your stainless steel rounds and epoxy coated fingerboard!!!

**Francois Blais** · #14 08-15-2011, 06:22 PM

That thread is three years old, FYI...