I might be getting some-eeeeek-roundwounds! Recs?

[J-Mags]

I've been a dedicated flats user for a couple of years, but I recently got a Tagima J Bass. I initially put Dunlop 40-100 Flats on it, but I felt that it sounded a little tame and hollow, and the strings were a lighter than I prefer. I replaced the Dunlops with GHS Precision Flats 45-105, and they were a much better sonic match, but the feel is insufficiently sporty for a J-Bass.

The reason I use flats is because in my band, I primarily play with a pick, and the sound of a pick on round wound strings is grating and messy to me, but after trying out a succession of basses, I've determined that nothing is gonna come close to my Mustang for pick-and-flats sound, so I'm thinking of getting some roundwounds. Any recs? I'm looking for something with lots of mids and lows and medium tension. My favorite rounds so far are Boomers, if that's anything to go by. Please recommend a gauge if you're recommending a string. Thanks!

 

[trothwell]

GHS Balanced Nickels. I would suggest the medium set.

 

[Erik Asma]

Daddario or GHS balanced nickels.

I like the daddario a lot smooth to the touch too and sunbeams, but those would be to floppy I think, judging you like boomers. Which are on the stiff side.

 

[40Hz]

GHS Balanced Nickels. I would suggest the medium set.

Agree. Those are a very good choice for an initial foray into roundwounds. DR Sunbeams are another good choice.

Nickel or nickel plated wraps over a round core sound great and are easy on the fingers.

 

[J-Mags]

Daddario or GHS balanced nickels.

I like the daddario a lot smooth to the touch too and sunbeams, but those would be to floppy I think, judging you like boomers. Which are on the stiff side.

I should clarify that I can't remember if I used Boomers on a short or regular-scale bass. I will say that 45-105 Precision Flats were too stiff.

 

[InnerBass]

Curt Mangan nickels or Galli nickels are my go to rounds.
I’m not much for steel wraps.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Pressurewound ML7200, 44-58-80-102.

Tight, punchy lows with crunchy mids, they occupy a sweet spot between flatwound and roundwound both in terms of tone and feel. Plenty of the roundwound tone with some grit and grind when you need it, but without any of the zingy brightness. Or, they can be tamed down to a mellow sweetness with a simple EQ tweak. Their hex-core stiffness is also better suited for pick playing than any of the round-core strings mentioned above.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

SIT Powerwound Nickel!

 

[TC.65]

Yeah try the GHS Balanced Nickels. They converted me from flats.

 

[micguy]

The balanced nickels are one step away from flats. Should you decide you need to go a step or two further, the GHS "brightness bar" is a decent guide to further steps.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I find the GHS Balanced Nickels to be a good entry-level round from being primarily a flats user.

Edit: It seems as though a few of us agree on this.

 

[vid1900]

Dunlop Super Brights are usually on sale for $9.99, so they are a low cost experiment that a lot of players love.

(they are not bright sounding at all, I don't know why they are called that)




https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-DBSBN...rds=dunlop+bass+strings&qid=1576780851&sr=8-1

 

[oren]

+1 on the Dunlop Super Brights (which aren’t particularly super bright). I like the nickel ones, though the steel ones kick ass on one of my Jazz basses.

I also recently put a set of GHS Boomers (which I used for years back in the 80s) on a passive PJ and I’m liking them quite a bit.

 

[maeda]

GHS Balanced Nickels. I would suggest the medium set.

Balanced nickels are great, if you look those and boomers give DR Sunbeams medium gauge a shot too, or round core boomers

 

[Jaimelarumba]

Dunlop Super Brights or Rotosound Swing Bass66 (40-95) have the strongest mids of any rounds I've used

 

[jthisdell]

Another vote for the DR Sunbeams. If you want rounds you should go all in and get rounds. I keep thinking of getting another bass just to set one up with rounds.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

I love Rotos for mids, the grind, the feel, and even when they lose the initial zing. They are also a little higher tension, and with a Cool Ultra Sand pick, it takes off some of the racket and tames the top end. For more low end, DR Pure Blues.

 

[SactoBass]

Another vote for the DR Sunbeams.

Biiiiiiiiiiiig +1 on DR Sunbeams!

I've been playing DR Sunbeams for over 25 years. I love those strings!

 

[micguy]

I think we should all welcome the OP to the bright side.

 

[mrjim123]

Can't go wrong with GHS Round Core Bass Boomers. I prefer them over Sunbeams because they have more bottom; for you I would probably recommend at least the medium gauge set as they are low in tension.

GHS Balanced Nickels also sound great; even their light gauge set is somewhat high in tension.

From GHS site (note that GHS also publishes string set tensions):