Dead sounding round wounds

which? any examples?

 

Assuming by "dead" you actually mean "well-broken-in", I would suggest the GHS Balanced Nickels. Being pure nickel, they come out of the package with very little zing and stay that way for a long time.

 

Fender pure nickel, they go dead very quickly and the pure nickel means they sound deader than most dead rounds

 

Yup, the GHS Balanced Nickels!

 

I can send you some, lol.

 

GHS balanced nickels or Pressurewounds would probably get you there.

Or you may want to check out Ernie Ball colbalt flats. Currently my string of choice. They start in the warn in rounds territory with subdued highs. No zing or finger noise.

Chrome are similar as well.

 

In my experience, dead D'Addario pro steels sounded way more dead than boomers with the same amount of play in time. I had some ghs balanced nickels for a while but not as long as the former mentioned since I sold the bass they were on. I would say they held a good amount of high end for the time I had them. People have a pre conceived notion of pure nickel being a metal that ends up having a dull sound. That is a mistaken group think notion in my opinion.

 

Who said anything about pure nickel being "dull"? Warm and mellow but still with roundwound tonal characteristics.

The OP already indicated what he's looking for is "well broken in almost to the point of a flat, but keeping a roundwound character".

 

1. Take the current strings off your bass.
2. Place them in here.
3. Cover up with soil.
4. Let sit until Christmas.
5. Dig up, hose off and re-string.

VOILA!!!

 

GHS Bass Boomers

 

Have you thought about D’addario half-rounds or similar strings made by someone else? IME they sound much like dead round wounds pretty quickly.

 

I started using GHS Pressurewounds recently, and it gives me all the qualities you're looking for. Also, GHS Brite Flats are quite similar, but somewhere between a flat and Pressurewound. I use those on my Jazz Bass.

 

Glad I'm not alone in my preference for this sound.
The best thing I've found so far is GHS pressure wounds combined with just a little bit of foam under the strings. Not enough for the Motown sound, but just enough to tame the brightness and emphasize the fundamental.

 

why not go the other way round? go for a stainless steel flatwound. Unless you talking about feel of the string. I am at the same boat as you in the sense i prefer dead roundwound. I have been happy about my current setup with my GHS Stainless Steel Flatwound.

 

Years ago I used Fender nickel rounds, very old and dead … almost to the point that intonation was affected … switched to stainless flats, and never looked back …

I have all kinds of rounds that I have taken off of basses that came to me over the last 20 years … I will never use them, gave a few away to kids during lessons, but no longer teach so anyone that wants them, just cover the shipping … I cannot tell you what brands on most though

 

Have you tried the new Ra'Bella DeadWounds?

Sorry. I'm an idiot.

 

If you don't mind spending the money, try out the Thomastic flats. They sound great from new and just keep getting better with time. I wouldn't classify them as a dead string though, as many people tend to classify flat wounds.

 

The only dead rounds I have ever liked in my life are Dunlop Super Bright Nickels. To me, they are about as close to an idea I've hoped someone would make for years...roundwounds that sound like flats, or "flounds." They don't sound identical to flats, but if you play with a lighter touch, they do a credible imitation and they sound very dark and fat, plus they still have a good amount of roundwound zing when you need it.