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D'Addario Halfround tacky issue.

S

Ski3223

Mar 27, 2010
184
2
Norman, Oklahoma
#1
I put D'Addario half rounds on my Stingray. Love the tone and the sound, very bright with a good amount of that punch when I dig in deep (not as much as the flats of course, but it was worth the switch).

However, I'm having some trouble with the feel of these strings. When I do slides (which I do quite a bit of since I do some pretty melodic playing at times) my fingers seem to "stick" to the strings. I'll start to pull to move my finger and it will just stay there.

I'm guessing this is a 'ground wound' issue. It seems logical that this would happen with a larger surface area touching the finger than rounds but a less smooth surface than flats.

Does anybody have a solution for this issue? Maybe along the lines of a rub or something similar I can do? OR is there another half round string that wouldn't give me this problem. I have pretty good callouses so I don't think its a finger issue.
 
#4
They do have a little extra pull - more so than rounds and flats, but it goes away.
I'm not sure if it's because the strings break in or if one just gets used to the feel and the body compensates.
I've used D'addarrio & GHS Halfies since the 80s and it's not an issue for me.
I'd say if you like the tone and tension of the string, then just give 'em a little time.
I use rounds and Chromes as well depending on the axe.
 
#7
Ski3223 said:
Got it! It's tearing up my fingers in the meantime though! Which really sucks but the sound is worth it. So no immediate fix eh? Just have to deal with it?
Click to expand...

My index finger tip gets a wee bit tender after a change but IMO they are well worth it. Like I said I've been using them for at least 5 years.
 
#8
I just put some on last week for the first time. The tackiness goes right away, or your fingers adjust or something. I didn't have any issues with them tearing my fingers up, but then again, I've cultivated a very light touch thanks to years of tendinitis and CTS. So, you might try a lighter touch, but otherwise, give them a week or so and see how you feel about it after that.
 
#9
kreider204 said:
I just put some on last week for the first time. The tackiness goes right away, or your fingers adjust or something. I didn't have any issues with them tearing my fingers up, but then again, I've cultivated a very light touch thanks to years of tendinitis and CTS. So, you might try a lighter touch, but otherwise, give them a week or so and see how you feel about it after that.
Click to expand...

Yeah I havent gotten to play on em too much yet. Slapped em on then had to go away for a week. So hopefully they'll break in soon. I was playing flats so admittedly my fingers got a little "soft." The main reason I switched was because I love to slap (I'm not great at it though) and I play a lot of RHCP stuff so I have to keep that high end not too heavy.
 
#10
HA, this is going to seem a little silly, but I tried it just to see what happened.

I took the scouring side of a yellow sponge (the usually green part) and ran it down the strings twice and now they are a lot less tacky. Well that was easy. Sorry for the shortcut to all the "break em in" posts :D
 
#12
Ski3223 said:
HA, this is going to seem a little silly, but I tried it just to see what happened.

I took the scouring side of a yellow sponge (the usually green part) and ran it down the strings twice and now they are a lot less tacky. Well that was easy. Sorry for the shortcut to all the "break em in" posts :D
Click to expand...

Yikes, I hope it was a dry sponge!
 
#15
Hey, newish bass player/ old guitar player here. I'm going to be laying down some parts on folk/acoustic soul recordings that will be very exposed, was thinking of using flatwounds to reduce squeak, but also want some definition. Do half-rounds actually make your slides squeak MORE than rounds because of the edge, or do you think they're a good idea for this application? Thx!
 
#18
I tried the halfrounds today before a gig after hearing they were made better than a few years ago when i first tried and hated them.
I tried the TBer's green scrub pad trick and it did work decent to take the grab down some. I used a spry of finger-eze on them and did the show. They were more punchy then my reg Chromes and brighter not as warm thou but close. I did enjoy the bit of growl i got on some songs and a twist of tone knob gave me a Chrome's like warm tone quickly. I think i am going to keep them on for now. The nickel did turn my fingers black by the end of the gig but i am sure that will end soon.
 

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