• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is there such a thing as warm, clear round Wound?

i switched to Elixir Nickels for all my basses and guitars.

i've been through a lot of string brands over the years.

from BASS PLAYER

Hadrien Feraud

Basses Two Ken Smith Signature 5-strings (buckeye maple and spalted maple), fretless F Bass BNF 5-string, Mayones Jabba Classic V, Fodera Beeze Elite 5-string, fretless Godin A5
Amps Markbass Little Mark III head, Standard 104HR cabinet, Mini CMD 151P combo, Traveler 102P cabinet
Effects Morley EOV Optical Volume Pedal, Markbass Octaver, Markbass Mini Distortion, TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato, TC Electronic Helix Phaser, DOD FX22 Vibrothang
Strings Elixir Nickel Plated Steel (.040, .060, .075, .090, .135)
Other Gruv Gear bass cases
 
GHS Pressure Wound are warm and clear.
Agree with this - I am primarily a flats guy; but occasionally want a bit more zing without the round wound sound. I have a set of these on my Reverend Decision and like them alot. Can come close to flats with the tone rolled off, but with tone up they cut through without sounding "clanky" like most rounds do to me.
 
I have Rotosound pressure-wounds on my Precision - they have a nice warm sound but more bite than flats, and feel great to play. I think they are the Solo Bass 55 set and have green silk ends. They are much lower tension than the same gauge flats of course.

I tried D'Addario half-rounds and found them to be very bright and with an odd sticky feel - or maybe that's just me?
 
The best I know are the nickelwound R. Cocco strings, but they may no longer be available. DR Sunbeams are pretty good this way. Also once played a bass loaded with some sort of Thomastik rounds that totally fit your description, but they felt like a normal gauge, rather than the thin TI jazz rounds mentioned earlier in your thread. If the Coccos are truly gone, I might try some Sadowsky Nickelrounds. I really love the Sadowsky flats...
 
I realize you specifically mentioned you want rounds, but there are also some nice flatwounds that have a certain round wound character. Check out chromes and cobalts. The chromes will have more high end than the cobalts.

I used Rotos 77s (flats) for years and about two years ago switched to D'Addario Chromes. They are brighter than the Rotos, but still deliver that nice, warm sound. But with some additional punch. They also have more of a non-reflective surface which is helpful for me with stage lighting....don't get the reflective glare from my strings when I need to visually check positioning. I now use the Chromes pretty much exclusively on my four and five string fretted basses. I do use tapes on my fretless and acoustic basses. If you want more info about that, please feel free to message me.

Hope this is helpful.

Koog
 
  • Like
Reactions: JamWithEggs
Im looking to find a warm round wound that offers warmth and clarity with tamed top end. I don't like zingy or harsh highs.
No. That string does not exist, at least not as a round wound. Jumangi! Jumanji! Jumanji!
20111103121107A.jpg
 
La Bella White Nylon Tape Wounds might be exactly what you're looking for. I tried them at NAMM when they came out and was really impressed. Lots of definition but none of that clank or zing in the top end. Not for me as I like the aggression from uncoated rounds but seem to be what you've described.
 
  • Like
Reactions: campbems
Just noticed the post before mine about finger noise. This is a plus for me in favor of flats. It is a major contributor to me using flats. That and the additional string tension, which in many cases translates to more punch.

Regarding finger noise: I'm a flats user first and foremost, but do use rounds occasionally and when I do, it's usually DR. One of the biggest reasons is the higher number of outer wraps, which are also smaller than pretty much any other round, contribute to having less finger drag and finger noise...almost like a pressure wound but with much more zing and flexibility (due to DR's core wire). They seem to have the lowest amount of finger noise and unwanted harmonic content when compared to so many other brands right out of the box. Balanced fundamental with just enough zing to enhance clarity. When they break in, they're even better.
 
This. I have tried tons of strings and come back to these every time. They are just versatile. It's the best way I can describe them. They can get some zing if you dial it in. But they can also warm up very nicely. I have probably tried 30 brands/models of strings. It takes me about a gig to put a set of XL nickels back on my bass.
Yeah. I've tried other strings, but I keep coming back to the XLs.

I've tried their steel strings, too, but those just sound too "cold" for me.