Dark rounds

[buldog5151bass]

I've been playing seriously since the 1980s. Back them, I used bright strings (Roto Swing steels). Recently, I've been going with less top end (Swing nickels, Lo Rider nickels).

What is a round core option with a similar stiffness/tension, but even closer to flats?

Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

What is a round core option with a similar stiffness/tension, but even closer to flats?

GHS Balanced Nickels are pure nickel roundwound on a round core. Warmer and darker than nickel-plated steel rounds (such as the two mentioned above), and the round core by GHS is firmer in feel than the round cores by DR.

 

[40Hz]

I’m a little hesitant to make this suggestion since they’re expensive strings to take a chance on. However, either the Link Removed Jonas Hellborg signature rounds or (don’t be surprised) flats might be what you’re looking for.

Hellborgs are wound to produce a lot of fundamentals while cutting back on the overtones produced. It’s the overtones that produce that jangle that brightens up the tone. The end result is a an unusually clear sounding string that responds well to EQ tweaking and effects if you use any.

The downside is they’re made by a small orchestral string maker in Italy. And they’re priced accordingly. Right up there with TIs. A 4-string set averages $80 for the rounds and $150 for the flats last time I bought them.

DR originally made Hellborgs and they were a lot more affordable. You can still find some NOS sets floating around if you do a search. But much as I’m a big DR string fan, the newer Dogal set is manufactured differently and (IMO) sounds and plays even better than the originals. But it’s a big investment either way.

Here’s the rounds:





And here’s the flats. Definitely not your usual flat sound:



If you do progrock or are into soloing, the rounds are pretty amazing. They cut through anything. This video can give you some idea of the highs and lows you can get from the roundwound set.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I’d suggest either GHS Roundcore Boomers or DR Sunbeams. Both are relatively inexpensive and easy to find online.

 

[GTHintz]

Round core boomers were the darkest strings ive ever tried. If you need lows, mids and beefy tone youll like them. Otherwise maybe halfrounds like sit silencers or groundwounds would be your thing.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I’d suggest either GHS Roundcore Boomers or DR Sunbeams. Both are relatively inexpensive and easy to find online.

I love how Sunbeams sound, but the are round core, much floppier.

 

[Grinderman]

GHS Balanced Nickels are pure nickel roundwound on a round core. Warmer and darker than nickel-plated steel rounds (such as the two mentioned above), and the round core by GHS is firmer in feel than the round cores by DR.

This is what I came to say.

 

[MrAB4003]

I recommend the Rotosound 55s for what you're looking for. They're not rounds (they're pressurewounds), but they're the next darkest string after broken in nickel rounds.

 

[GIBrat51]

I’d suggest either GHS Roundcore Boomers or DR Sunbeams. Both are relatively inexpensive and easy to find online.

^THIS^ I'll second the DR Sunbeams - the short scale ones I had on my 30" Warmoth Mini-Precisions, anyway. The low end I got from those things was... well, not at all what I was expecting. My only experience with Boomers is with the hex core version; long scales on my Gibson T-Bird (they are pretty much the de rigueur rounds on a T-Bird), and the short scale version on my '82 headless Kramer Duke. By far the most low end of any rounds I've ever played. I can't imagine that the round core versions would give much of that up. A little more flexible would be the only difference, probably...