Does anyone else love dead rounds?

[Justin Urry]

Does anyone love dead rounds? I myself love them much more than new rounds. Who else is with me?!

 

[Oneirogenic]

I definitely do. I like my Hi-Beams well broken in. I make sure to keep them clean so they still have plenty of edge but I can easily dial it back and they stay in this sweet spot for ages. I really don't like dead nickel rounds though.

 

[Red Four]

I do too. New rounds sound harsh and metallic to me, while flats don't seem to go quite far enough into round sonic territory for me. (I haven't tried half-rounds, groundwounds, or pressure wounds to date.) I'm quite glad I'm not stuck on the brand-new sound, as it saves a ton of money. Once they break in, I've found they can have quite a long and consistent life if cared for. I never really understood the "changes strings after every show" mentality.

 

[friendlybass]

Ernie balls for me
leave em on for 1-2 years.

 

[Pilgrim]

They are nearly as good as dead flats. I don't like new rounds at all.

 

[BassinCT]

I prefer well-broken in nickel rounds. No zing, but they still sustain and intonate properly. Sunbeams age well, but I am looking forward to seeing how the new Pure Blues change over time.

 

[GregT]

Strings can be changed?

 

[rodl2005]

Love em. Especially on a P bass.

 

[Luckydog]

Dead, no. To me, dead means you cant even hear a note. Just a "thup" sound. And you get totally lost in a mix. Broken in, yes. Best state of affairs is a good set of flats for many applications. At least with flats you can get a kick in the gut punch. Rounds with no note have nothing....

 

[Linnin]

Dead rounds are road kill. None of the tone and all of the screech that never goes away. They stink just like the stench of a car squashed skunk. So No, I Do Not Like Dead Rounds.

 

[michael_t]

No more rounds for me - DEAD OR ALIVE.

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[shrimpflea]

Before I switched to flats many yeas ago, I loved dead rounds. I really liked GHS Boomers...they died real quick and sounded better as they got more deader.

Flatwounds vs. Roundwounds

 

[billgwx]

Rounds minus zing (does that qualify as dead?) are perfect for me. Quickest way to get there for me has been with GHS Boomers.

 

[Marko 1]

Glad to hear good things about the Boomers-- I got a couple sets real cheap somewhere, I think Best Buy on-line clearance last year, and they’re going on my ATK305.

 

[Qlanq]

Yeah, Dad XL's lasted 8 months on my bass. Only changed them because the E string was getting quieter. Dark, middy growl.

 

[Schlyder]

Dead rounds ... and flats. Hate new strings.

 

[GIBrat51]

I don't; not at all. Mainly 'cause you have to start with rounds to get there...

 

[lowerclef]

Dead rounds or flats are the way to go for me! Love 'em. New rounds can sound fantastic too, but it's not my sound.