can you recommend me nice stiff rounds?

[williamk]

hi all
I'm switching to rounds on my bass, but I like the stiffness of the flats I have right now...are there rounds out there that are nice and stiff? If they sound good, last long and don't cost too much, that would be even better!
thanks!

 

[williamk]

ps: I like very low action

 

[PlungerModerno]

hi all
I'm switching to rounds on my bass, but I like the stiffness of the flats I have right now...are there rounds out there that are nice and stiff? If they sound good, last long and don't cost too much, that would be even better!
thanks!

You can guarantee the rounds will take a little getting used to... .45 flats typically have more tension than .45 rounds...

Now, finder* noise and coarse feel will take some adapting to compensate for...

My recommendation, Roto 66's Nickels. Warm, fairly taut with a medium gauge... try a high gauge if you don't mind stainless steel. WARNING: steel 66's eat frets. You need steel frets or extremely light touch.

*finder? my finder must have slooped.

 

[PlungerModerno]

ps: I like very low action

Rounds won't go as low IME. But if you play light and love fret clank!!!!

 

[williamk]

Rounds won't go as low IME. But if you play light and love fret clank!!!!

I don't mind the fret clack!
also, I'm used to rounds' I've played them a lot, so it's really finding the set that will feel the closest to flats, not sound like them!
also, my bass is a dano, I doubt is has "good" frets...

 

[mmbongo]

Maybe try something like DR DDT's which are designed for down tuning. I imagine they are quite tight tuned standard.
Link Removed

 

[CrewsControl]

I'm pretty happy with DR Nickel Lo-Riders. Hex-core, quite stiff. Steel Lo-Riders, too, but Nickel feel better to the touch.

 

[DingoBlues]

+1 for Lo riders or maybe GHS Boomers.

 

[mmbongo]

+1 for Lo riders or maybe GHS Boomers.

Boomers are definitely stiffer than LoRiders. LoRiders are actually not very stiff at all, just stiff compared to low tension strings like Sunbeams or HiBeams.

 

[BLDavis]

Boomers= barbed wire fence.

 

[williamk]

Boomers= barbed wire fence.

they hurt...?

 

[Mike M.]

Boomers= barbed wire fence.

Wow! I didn't find that true at all with Boomers. For me I found them to be rather smooth.

 

[PlungerModerno]

I'm pretty happy with DR Nickel Lo-Riders. Hex-core, quite stiff. Steel Lo-Riders, too, but Nickel feel better to the touch.

I'm gonna have to try the nickel DR's next time I change rounds... Nickels always feel smoother and seem to give a more 'thick' middy tone.

Some people are allergic, so be somewhat cautious!

 

[deeptubes]

I have a set of Fender 9120 nylons on my fretless. Just did a squeeze test, and I think they're a little stiffer than my D'Addario 160's. They feel super smooth, last forever, and sound surprisingly bright. But, my fretless has a piezo pickup, and that might accentuate the tone difference.

 

[Toptube]

So far the stiffest rounds I've used are Daddario XLs and GHS progressives.

Progressives are super smooth, though (relative to most rounds). So they trick you into thinking they are lower tension than they actually are.