Bought a bass and need to ID its strings

[Bruiser Stone]

I bought a Jazz bass, and the strings that were on it have gold-red-black-green ball ends for EADG, no silks, just tapered ends, and if they are rounds, they are the smoothest rounds I’ve ever played. They feel like a light gauge, .100 at most for the E.

Going by the ball end colors, I’m guessing D’Addario. They aren’t as smooth as La Bellas, but they sound more like flats than they do rounds. Without silks and given their flexibility, I can’t really put them in the flats category entirely. Do I have D’Addario’s half rounds?

I don’t care for them on the Jazz, but they sound more than decent on my P bass. Not sure if they are a lock for me yet, but it would be nice to ID them in case I sell them.

 

[michael_t]

Based on those ball end colors, D'Addario for sure.

As to what type, close-up pics of the strings would help. They could be well-worn-in XL Nickels, or possibly half-rounds as you say.

 

[gigetto]

Prosteel? Because are softer than Nickel but not so smooth...less than Roto 66 but more than Nickel.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Based on those ball end colors, D'Addario for sure.

As to what type, close-up pics of the strings would help. They could be well-worn-in XL Nickels, or possibly half-rounds as you say.

A couple at the bridge and the nut. When I first played them, I thought Elixir because they were so smooth I figured they were coated (I’ve never played Elixirs, so maybe I’m mistaken). For comparison, they are much smoother than Hi Beams/Sunbeams, and similar to the texture and tactile feel of TI Jazz flats, but stiffer.

 

[michael_t]

A couple at the bridge and the nut. When I first played them, I thought Elixir because they were so smooth I figured they were coated (I’ve never played Elixirs, so maybe I’m mistaken). For comparison, they are much smoother than Hi Beams/Sunbeams, and similar to the texture and tactile feel of TI Jazz flats, but stiffer.
View attachment 3978198 View attachment 3978199

They do look like half-rounds to me.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

They do look like half-rounds to me.

Thanks. It’s hard to imagine any rounds being this smooth. The reviews for these seem pretty meh, but to my ears, they aren’t half bad.

 

[Vinny_G]

Thanks. It’s hard to imagine any rounds being this smooth. The reviews for these seem pretty meh, but to my ears, they aren’t half bad.

D'Addario ENR Half Round strings have excellent ratings on every site I've seen.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

D'Addario ENR Half Round strings have excellent ratings on every site I've seen.

I’ve read a few that describe them as an uninspiring compromise betwixt rounds and flats. I suppose the negative perspectives always stand out from the positive ones...or maybe I’m just inclined toward pessimism this week.

But with my two cents in hand, I happen to like them on my P bass.

 

[Cutter8]

They certainly look like D'Addario Half Rounds to me, which are not a string you should judge from experience with just one bass. I have had basses that love 'em and basses that hate 'em. I didn't like them at first, but it turned out the issue was that those strings just didn't happen to play nice with the first bass I tried them on. Tried them on another bass and thought the were great. Have had them on a number of basses since then and they were great on some and terrible on others, without much middle ground.

 

[Killing Floor]

Certainly Dads by the ball colors. Sounds like halfs. Nice strings.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

They certainly look like D'Addario Half Rounds to me, which are not a string you should judge from experience with just one bass. I have had basses that love 'em and basses that hate 'em. I didn't like them at first, but it turned out the issue was that those strings just didn't happen to play nice with the first bass I tried them on. Tried them on another bass and thought the were great. Have had them on a number of basses since then and they were great on some and terrible on others, without much middle ground.

I rather like them. Even if they don’t stay on the Precision, I’ve got a kit-Ric project long overdue for completion, and I imagine these sounding nice on it.

 

[JimmyM]

Back in the 70's I hated Half Rounds because I was all about rounds. Tried them again a few years ago on a lark, and they weren't as bad as I remembered. Not my favorites for sure, but they're better than I thought they'd be.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Back in the 70's I hated Half Rounds because I was all about rounds. Tried them again a few years ago on a lark, and they weren't as bad as I remembered. Not my favorites for sure, but they're better than I thought they'd be.

They sound better than they feel. Kind of a weird tackiness under the fingers. I still think the faux Ric could be a good match, but I dunno.

 

[JimmyM]

They sound better than they feel. Kind of a weird tackiness under the fingers. I still think the faux Ric could be a good match, but I dunno.

Agreed.