Anyone Prefer Dead Roundwounds to Flats?

[funkmaster p]

For decades, I went for the bright sound of roundwound strings that I would replace quite frequently. I probably was trying to emulate my rock bass heroes: John Entwhistle, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.

I really wanted to like flatwound strings due to the playing comfort, plus all the love they receive on TB. I just couldn't get on with the sound, however.

I have been influenced to leave my roundwounds on without changing them for months at a time. My current set may last a year. The darker sound seems to fit the music nicely. Anyone else?

 

[Zooberwerx]

IME, a "well worn" flatwound always sounds better than a dead roundwound.

Riis

 

[buldog5151bass]

The biggest problem with this is you can't keep a consistent tone. You great bright/sweet spot/dead. It's not like you can go out and buy identically worn strings.

 

[michael_t]

Dead rounds? No.

Nicely broken-in nickel rounds? Yes.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Not that long ago, someone posted a video of himself playing a Thunderbird strung with 20-year-old set of Swing Bass. It sounded fantastic.

 

[Auer]

I cant tell the difference so I just keep playing my Nickel 66's.

They might very well be dead as doornails by now

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[gln1955]

I'm a fan of GHS Pressurewounds. They start out like well worn rounds and just get better. They don't have the silky feel of flats but still avoid just about all string noise.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Yes, I use "dead" roundwounds a lot. They sit much better in the mix than clanky/zingy/bright roundwounds. It's either "dead" roundwounds or flats for me.

Not all roundwounds are suitable for this though. Some just go REALLY dead.

My favourite "dead" rounds are Pyramid Pure Nickels. They age gracefully like flats and will last for YEARS. I love a "dead" set of Roto66s too, very unique mids.

GHS are the worst for this in my experience, they tend to go DEAD rather than "dead".

 

[Grinderman]

Monel Rotosound 77 Jazz Bass flats, what Steve Harris flats are based on, might do it.

 

[dvdtlsn]

I have super old rounds on my G&L and think it sounds great...saves money with out breaking the "it doesn't sound good unless it sounds good rule".

If I do re-string, I'll replace them all for consistency as was already pointed out. Also, this is going to prompt me to put my replacement strings in the gig bag in case one breaks.

 

[Flatwound]

I don’t like dead rounds. I do like flats, though, and my three “main” basses are strung with Pyramid flats, Dunlop flats, and Gibson flats. If I’m going to have a thumpy sound, I might as well get rid of the roundwound finger noise as well.

 

[2F/2F]

Try lighter gauge and/or hex core flats. Dead rounds are corroded and foul, won't intonate properly, and by the time they get good and dead, the windings will get flattened and worn through by the frets in fairly short order anyhow.

That thing you're calling the "sound" has to do with the mass of the strings more than anything. It isn't really an e.q. issue (amps and basses have knobs). It's the difference in attack and decay. A lighter string is easier to get going, lighter on the attack, and longer on the decay. A heavier string takes more force to get moving, provides a great burst of energy, and dies off more quickly. That is the classic flatwound thing – not whether or not the strings sound bright or dark (again, amps and basses have knobs). It's a "pluunk" more than a "ka-raaaang." There are several modern flats that are designed specifically to provide the flatwound surface feel, and some of the inherently treble-attenuated tone, while having the attack and decay characteristics of rounds.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Yes! Have the same rounds on a P bass for over 10 years.

 

[farace]

I tend to prefer older rounds. Not dead, but settled in. I had a set of D’Addario XLs on one bass for over twenty years. I only changed them because they started to feel grody and truly were dead.

When I was deciding on strings for my Ric fretless, I went through several sets before I settled. The bass came to me with an ancient set of grey tapewounds from back when Ric offered such a thing. They were aurally uncomfortable to me, as if my ears were congested. I tried the Optima reproduction of the old Maxima flats that used to be stock Ric strings, and they weren’t much of an improvement. I might have tried LaBella Copper Whites, too, since I have a set around. I finally settled on some NOS now-discontinued strings that Ric used to make, light-gauge nickel rounds, .040-.095. Much much better, even with the tone dialed back, there is still a presence that was lacking with other strings. That was a few years ago; they’ve mellowed nicely and I feel no need to change them anytime soon.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

For decades, I went for the bright sound of roundwound strings that I would replace quite frequently. I probably was trying to emulate my rock bass heroes: John Entwhistle, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.

^^^ Same.

I really wanted to like flatwound strings due to the playing comfort, plus all the love they receive on TB. I just couldn't get on with the sound, however.[/QUOTE]

^^^^ Me 10 years ago

NOW: Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats

 

[johnnynitro]

I always leave my Roto, Swing , Steels on my bass's for years. I always dread the first three or four months that their still new sounding.

 

[pbass2]

I don't prefer them over flats, but I use them just as much. I keep a P w old flats and a P w well-worn rounds for this specific reason. I've never felt that old/dead rounds equate flats. It's really two different sounds. For example I'll even use one with old nickel rounds with a foam mute over flats for certain things. The difference between the two is even more evident when playing pickstyle. Live maybe it's a toss up, but for recording . . . totally different, and both useful and yummy.

 

[DWBass]

Hate the feel of flats so dead rounds for me but that's not really my sound. But if it was.........

 

[JRA]

Anyone else?

not exactly...

i don't like the sound of "dead" rounds. although i expect an early/new "zing" version of every set (doesn't last long IMO), they all mellow or adjust for the long haul, and for me, in general: most sets are playable from ~6-18 months (depending on several variables) or thereabouts, and then i'm likely to be tired of the response and i'll change the strings.

i'd make a distinction between "dead round wounds" and "broken-in rounds." i mostly play broken-in rounds --- i try to avoid dead strings.

 

[Ggaa]

Dead rounds. Don't like the feel of flats anyway.