D’Addario half round string review

[thebassbuilder]

I just put these on my SX Ursa II medium scale. They sound good but feel like the E and A strings are flat wound while the D and G sound more like round wound. So I am currently having mixed feelings about them. I almost want to put round wounds on the E and A strings and feel this would be a good balance. I know over time they will probably mellow out and be more balanced with one another. Let me know if anyone else has experienced this?

I will say they feel silky smooth and have a nice slinky tension that I like and not stiff like flat wounds I have played. I almost feel Flats are brighter than these.

 

[michael_t]

My only experience with "half-rounds" (= groundwound) is with the GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron), vs. pure nickel on the D'A.

The light set (45-56-77-98) is very nicely balanced across all four strings both in tone and tension. The only thing I didn't like about them at the beginning was how sticky they felt, although the stickiness did wear off eventually.

 

[JTE]

Neither D'Addario Half-Rounds nor GHS Brite-Flats are flatwound strings. Rather, they are modified rounds. The start with a round wrap wire just like regular rounds, and polish it grind the outer surface so the string feels flat to the touch, but vibrates like a round. I used both brands, and Dean Markley Ground Round Wounds a lot from '77 until about '89 when I decided they weren't the best of both types, but (for me) a combination of the things I liked least in both rounds and flats.

I did like the GHS Brite-Flats better than the D'Addario, due to the more balanced tension feel and sound string-to-string. I used the same gauges the Abe Laboriel used on his fretless MM Saber, the bass that he used for most of his movie and TV work. That was the sound of those chase scenes on the "CHiPS" TV show. The D'Addario ones I used were the HR-72 set (both the nickel and stainless versions) 55/65/85/105.

 

[Linnin]

I tried them once (once) in 1985. Was expecting the best of both rounds and flats, but completely disappointed with the worst of both worlds. They keep making 'em so someone likes 'em.

 

[michael_t]

I tried them once (once) in 1985. Was expecting the best of both rounds and flats, but completely disappointed with the worst of both worlds.

I can't speak either for or against the D'A Half Rounds as I have no personal experience with them. But as far as the GHS Brite Flats go, you'd be surprised how similar they sound and feel to the Fender 9050 flats once well broken in.

 

[Aidil]

I tried them once (once) in 1985. Was expecting the best of both rounds and flats, but completely disappointed with the worst of both worlds. They keep making 'em so someone likes 'em.

exactly...

Tried D'A HR in 2015, which eventually led me to, what I should have gotten in the first place, the Chromes. Even tried learning to like them by putting on a fretless, which still failed meeting my expectation.

Can't understand who likes them either. I say they are minority, at least in this board. While OTOH, D'A decided to cease product the FlexSteels despite I read mostly praises here.

 

[thebassbuilder]

Update on the D'A half rounds. I have an email into them now on the A string. I was playing my bass the other night and lowered the action some more with these strings as I was not happy with the attack/tone of the E and A strings compared to the D and G strings (He said G String, ha ha...). Once lowered I was able to get the E string to balance out more tone/attack wise with the D and G but the A string sounds dead and thuddy. I am not sure if it got twisted or what is up but it sounds as if the A string if 2 inches off the board. It has no tone or attack what so ever. So I hope D'A will be able to help fix the problem. I am still mixed on these strings regardless but time will tell.

 

[michael_t]

There was another thread lately where the OP was talking about the E and the A sounding weird on a Mustang PJ bass. As it turned out, it was the issue with not enough break angle at the nut as a result of E and A strings sitting too high on the tuning post. Once the part being wrapped around the post on those two strings were pushed down to make sure the last wrap coming out toward the nut was as close to the bottom as possible, the problem was gone. You might want to check to make sure that's not what's happening with yours.

Also, make sure all the witness points (= saddle, nut and the tuner post) are properly set.

 

[thebassbuilder]

I wanted to give an update to the string issue I was having with these strings. I emailed D’A and they sent me a new A string. I have replaced it and all seems to be back on track. I am thinking the last string could have gotten twisted or something. Regardless they hooked me up and cannot be more pleased with them as a company. I also love these strings. To me they bring out the great tone of the bass but keep the fret and finger noise down. These are winners for me. Once I get my p bass project bass complete, I may put those on it and go back to rounds with this j style. Any I am happy with the bass, strings and company.

 

[iiipopes]

I wanted to give an update to the string issue I was having with these strings. I emailed D’A and they sent me a new A string. I have replaced it and all seems to be back on track. I am thinking the last string could have gotten twisted or something. Regardless they hooked me up and cannot be more pleased with them as a company. I also love these strings. To me they bring out the great tone of the bass but keep the fret and finger noise down. These are winners for me. Once I get my p bass project bass complete, I may put those on it and go back to rounds with this j style. Any I am happy with the bass, strings and company.

I also had some issues last year:
1) a couple of E strings died prematurely as you describe your A string issue;
2) a couple of 45's sets actually had 40's for the G string.
Customer service got right on it and I had replacement strings that week.

Not to derail the thread, but now with much more competition, the companies have stepped up, and I have been very pleased with both D'Addario and GHS through Jon Moody, who contributes to this board. Both companies are taking feedback very seriously and I can tell the QC and feel of the strings of each company is better than it was even just a few short years ago.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Stainless steel Half Rounds on a fretless ZON Sonus Special 5, recorded through a tc electronic SCF into the board.

Not too shabby sounding, both the strings and bassist.



Here is a live studio recording of the ZON and Half Rounds.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I used to use them a lot on my 4001 in the mid to late '70s in my Top40/Disco band.

 

[JamesBass78]

I put a set of the D’Addario half rounds 45-105 on my Flea jazz bass and the early returns are great. For perspective I really didn’t like chromes (which I normally like) on the same bass as they dulled out the J bass sound. The half wounds feel smooth and a nice Goldilocks tension on them. They have that hip flats sound with some rounds grit/growl/definition. Definitely excited to hear how they fit in the band mix. Really like how they sound solo!

 

[michael_t]

I posted earlier in this thread about my experience with GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 half-rounds) on my J-bass, which wasn't the most rewarding experience.

I just put a new set of BFs on my P a week ago, and wow, what a difference! This turns out to be a prime example of how a set of strings that are only so-so on one bass can work wonders on another. Just enough of the flatwound goodness for my P bass to sound like a P bass should but with the clarity and definition of a roundwound. This is the first time I'm more than half-enthused about half-rounds.

Looking forward to putting them to the test in a live band setting this weekend.

 

[Rikema]

I wish D'Addario would manufacture Half Round set of 45-105, which is my preferred gauge on all my basses. I put the ENR71 45-100 (45 65 80 100) on an old Squire P Bass, and I am impressed with the stickiness and learning curve. Unlike with flats where I can slide in and out of notes on any string, the Half Rounds require more of conscious lifting note per note. I don't know if I'm a convert, but gaining knowledge through experimentation with sets of strings and brands is important.

 

[ryco]

Old thread. I've been using D'addario Half Rounds on my fretless Ripper since the late '70s. Was using RotoSound Swing 66, but was leaving grooves in the ebony fret board. Tried flats but they were just too thumpy - was wasting a lot of energy pulling for attack. I tried GHS Brite Flats, but didn't care for the weird guaging. I really like the ENR72 which is a little heavier guage 50, 70, 8, 105. Like with flatwounds, I hardly ever change them = break a string, change the set.

 

[ryco]

correction edit: D'A ENR72 = 50, 70, 85, 105.

 

[Ed455]

I have put half rounds on two 5-strings, a StingRay and a Lakland 55-02. Both times the B string was completely dead. They others sounded fantastic. True flatwounds sounded WAY brighter. It's bizarre.

 

[stefaniw80401]

I love the ENR71 set on my Carvin BB70. Been on for a couple of years now. I forgot that were sticky out of the box -- they feel really good now and sound beefy but still have enough snap for slap style. By comparison, I just put GHS pressure wounds ML7200 set on my USA Geddy Lee jazz, and I think they're still too rough and a bit clanky -- more on the round wound side than ground wound. I think i may go for the ENR71 set on my GL.

 

[bthiemann80]

I had a set of ENR71 strings lying around and recently put them on a Squier CV Pbass. Man, I am kicking myself for waiting so long to try these out! What a great sound! Reminds me a little of TI jazz flats, could be the pure nickel outer wrap? It def has some magic of it's own going on and I am desperate to try them on a jazz bass. Only recorded with them so far, but the sound fit so perfectly in the mix. Thick, even sound all around on the Pbass. Looking forward to using them live.