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Ken Smith Slick Rounds

KYJazzy

KYJazzy

Nov 10, 2004
475
26
40
Lexington, KY
#1
Recently got a set of these strings. I am fully in the half-round market because theoretically they should be exactly what I'm looking for. I like really slick, smooth strings too for playability so when I heard of these I was like wow, these sound perfect.

they are SOOO sticky though. like unbelievably so. I saw a comment on here about them from a while back but I've also heard people complain that Chromes are sticky, which I do not find them to be. But these really are. My question is does this go away with playtime or are these simply goin to slow me down? Otherwise, I like the tone on them. They are fat, deep and have punch and some mellow-bright zing on the high end. Sound pretty good on my P-bass, I just want them to be...slick.
 
#2
I have been using the same set for almost 2 years now. I remember noticing the stickyness when I first got them, but I love the tone on them that i stuck with it. Now I don't notice it at all. Lately I have been playing a different bass with Roundwounds after 2 years of pretty much only playing the Slickwounds. Now when I pick up the slickwound bass I am blown away by how clumsy the strings feel, but then there is the tone. You will get use to whatever you are playing. The slickwounds still blow me away even after 2 years of playing on them. Once you get use to them, you will be fine.
 
#4
Literally like the highs are chopped off, but not really that extreem.

The sticky feel described above goes away as they break in...

Visual representation of the strings:

rwcmsr02a.jpg
 
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#5
I just tried a set for the first time and I'm happy with them. It didn't take long for the stickiness to go away...maybe and hour or two of practice time. I'm using a .106 set and they are fairly stiff. I'd recommend a lower gauge if you don't like a bit of tension.

The feel like flats, but don't thump like them. I've been a nickel user and these have SS steel sound quality. They're not bright and zingy like SS rounds can be. They seem to have the low mid thing going on that make them sound aggressive. They're worth a try for $23.
 
#7
I tried D'addario Half Rounds and found the tone to be really lifeless (very poor harmonic content), and the strings were not even sounding.
Did anyone have the same experience with D'addario and can confirm that the Smiths are noticeably better?
 
#8
Slick Rounds start out a bit sticky, but give them time.
Play a ton and slick them up with a bit of string lube...I've had the same set now for almost a year and they sound great.
 
#9
A 10-yr-old thread brought back to life! :D

Ken Smith Slick Rounds = Alloy 52 half-rounds (groundwound) = GHS Brite Flats.

I have the light set (45-98) of the Brite Flats on my Jazz bass right now and they feel nicely balanced without being too stiff or too loose. And yes, they do start out very sticky but it wears off eventually (maybe after a month).
 
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#10
michael_t said:
A 10-yr-old thread brought back to life! :D

Ken Smith Slick Rounds = Alloy 52 half-rounds (groundwound) = GHS Brite Flats.

I have the light set (45-98) of the Brite Flats on my Jazz bass right now and they feel nicely balanced without being too stiff or too loose. And yes, they do start out very sticky but it wears off eventually (maybe after a month).
Click to expand...
I tried the slick rounds and didn't like the G and D strings but loved the E and A. I had the 106 set and chalked it up to the difference with the 44 G. I like my gauge options with the Brite Flats better. Am I correct that the slick rounds and the brite flats are essentially the same thing?
 

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