i know nothing!

[bassbrother666]

hey there fellow lowfriends, so i don't know nothing about bass strings, i heard you talking about "ohh, that niquel string is so good" and "this roundwound strings are so fantastic"
What are the differences between the different tipes of strings?
Thank you in advance

 

[tylerwylie]

Stainless steel yields a brighter sound and resists corrosion better than Nickel, in most cases are usually rougher on hands and frets. Nickel is usually smoother, less top end which gives the illusion of more midrange, and easier on hands and frets.

Round core = more flexible, will require more relief in the neck or higher action to prevent buzzing. Sounds better in my opinion though and I still have my action way down low.

Hex core = stiffer, can get away with less relief in neck and lower action.

Roundwound = outer wrap is of a round shape. Brighter sound, more sustain usually.

Flatwound = outer wrap is flat. More mellow tone and less sustain.

Tapewound = outer wrap is nylon on flat or roundwound. Less tension, cool sounds that can be hard to describe.

Pressurewound = outer wrap is compressed to an oval shape before wrapping on string. Between rounds and flats, closer to rounds in tone and feel.

Groundwound / Halfwound = outer wrap is ground flat. Between rounds and flats, closer to flats in tone and feel.

Taperwound = thickest strings (usually B, sometimes E and A as well) have a slim section that passes over the bridge before coming to their full thickness.

 

[mcblahflooper94]

Round wound strings sound a lot more bright, and give a more defined pitch to them.

Flat wounds, a little less uncommon, are a little lower almost, and callus your fingertips a little more and are a pain to work with if you're not used to them. They do not give as much of a defined note.

Half wounds are a little of both.

Do a search, there is a whole sub forum of information on strings.

 

[zoonose]

Flat wounds, a little less uncommon, are a little lower almost, and callus your fingertips a little more and are a pain to work with if you're not used to them. They do not give as much of a defined note.

You must have tried some sorry-ass flats...

 

[Gorn]

Flat wounds, a little less uncommon, are a little lower almost, and callus your fingertips a little more and are a pain to work with if you're not used to them. They do not give as much of a defined note.

Yah, don't let this sway you. This gentleman clearly had a bad set of flats, or just a strange perspective on life.

 

[cnltb]

Stainless steel yields a brighter sound and resists corrosion better than Nickel, in most cases are usually rougher on hands and frets. Nickel is usually smoother, less top end which gives the illusion of more midrange, and easier on hands and frets.

Round core = more flexible, will require more relief in the neck or higher action to prevent buzzing. Sounds better in my opinion though and I still have my action way down load.

Hex core = stiffer, can get away with less relief in neck and lower action.

Roundwound = outer wrap is of a round shape. Brighter sound, more sustain usually.

Flatwound = outer wrap is flat. More mellow tone and less sustain.

Tapewound = outer wrap is nylon on flat or roundwound. Less tension, cool sounds that can be hard to describe.

Pressurewound = outer wrap is compressed to an oval shape before wrapping on string. Between rounds and flats, closer to rounds in tone and feel.

Groundwound / Halfwound = outer wrap is ground flat. Between rounds and flats, closer to flats in tone and feel.

Taperwound = thickest strings (usually B, sometimes E and A as well) have a slim section that passes over the bridge before coming to their full thickness.

I'm on round core strings(and exposed core) and rather low action with a near zero relief neck...but a nut that some have described as high-ish.
I too prefer round core to hex in tone and feel.

 

[Grissle]

A sticky for Oldies and Newbies like the one above describing general string type, construction and attributes could be really cool IMHO. Yay/Nay?

 

[Salamenster]

yay