looking for something thats a roundwound but not super bright. I use chromes on my P bass. I like them alot but on my alembic EPic I want something a bit brighter for slapping. I use DA EXL 165 nickels but sometimes I just feel they are too bright. Any sort of middle ground here?
Its got TI jazz flats on it now, but those dont really sound great for slapping. The chromes sound ok but want brighter, Ill check the pressure rounds out
I only tried the TI jazz rounds once and agree they are quite mellow for a round, but definitely not a flatwound sound.
After a bit of trial and error, I decided GHS Boomers were the best match for my Alembic Europa, although I'm not much of a slapper. I like Boomers on it because it's a pretty bright sounding bass and Boomers "warm up" it's tone. I haven't tried EB Slinkys on my Alembic, but I find they're not quite as bright sounding as D'Addario XL's, and they're definitely brighter sounding than Boomers.
Not too bright? My top three recommendations for rounds with the least amount of zing: GHS Round Core Boomers (Nickel-plated Steel). GHS Pressurewounds (Nickel-Iron Alloy). GHS Balanced Nickels (Pure Nickel).
Not bright, warm and punchy ..... sounds like you're talking about me! I'll agree with the Pressurewounds. Just had a set put on my Stingray. Only got to play for a short while the other day, but I liked what I heard in the first test.
The Nikki Sixx version of the Dean Markley Helix HD SS are perfect for that if you’re only playing a 4str!!
IMHO - any coated roundwound will fit what you are looking for. Honestly, this is the reason that I don't use coated strings, because they are not as bright.
I would start with pure nickel roundwounds... GHS, Fender, and Pyramid all make them. I think DAddario makes pure nickel half rounds too...
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