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Killing round wounds faster

meisi

meisi

Nov 29, 2024
1,303
2,567
#1
How do I take the sheen off a set of nickel round wounds without hours of playing?

I’m coming from 20yr old strings but I’m looking to make my new set sound about 3-4 boils old, if that makes sense.

Any pro tricks for those who don’t like the clang clang but prefers the feel of nickel rounds?
 
#6
meisi said:
Dr pure blues in this case...
Click to expand...
DR Pure Blues are nickel-steel alloy, and as such, they're designed to retain their initial brightness longer than most nickel rounds.

If you want a nickel roundwound that starts out sounding like already broken in, I would suggest either DR Nickel-LoRiders (nickel-plated steel on a hex core) or GHS Balanced Nickels (pure nickel on a round core). They break in quickly and settle into punchy warmth without a zingy top end.
 
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#7
michael_t said:
DR Pure Blues are nickel-steel alloy, and as such, they're designed to retain their initial brightness longer than most nickel rounds.

If you want a nickel roundwound that starts out sounding like already broken in, I would suggest either DR Nickel-LoRiders (nickel-plated steel on a hex core) or GHS Balanced Nickels (pure nickel on a round core). They break in quickly and settle into punchy warmth without a zingy top end.
Click to expand...
lol, my 25yr old set of strings referenced is a set of nickel coated low riders.

Looking for a comfy set for a livingroom bass with low hours. I thought the pure blues felt plenty soft but they are so dang bright

A LPF fixed them but I’d like less drastic measures. Lol.
 
#9
michael_t said:
If you like the softness (= flexibility) of round cores, try the DR Sunbeams, which were already recommended earlier.

I can also recommend the GHS Round Core Boomers, which are also warm without too much zing up top even when new.
Click to expand...
I used to live and die for boomers on my fender jazz. I only switched to DR bc of 35” scale.

I’ll give the sunbeams another look. I ignored them because sun implied bright in my mind.

Otherwise I may settle for lo riders but I don’t love their touch. I’m running 45-125 if it matters. 40-120 was ok but the B had poor harmonics.
 
#10
meisi said:
I used to live and die for boomers on my fender jazz. I only switched to DR bc of 35” scale.

I’ll give the sunbeams another look. I ignored them because sun implied bright in my mind.
Click to expand...
The Boomers (both regular and Round Core) used to be 36.5" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk) long ago, but now they're 37.25", which should be long enough on a 35" scale as long as they're top-loaded.

The Sunbeams are definitely brighter overall than the Round Core Boomers.
 
#11
michael_t said:
The Boomers (both regular and Round Core) used to be 36.5" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk) long ago, but now they're 37.25", which should be long enough on a 35" scale as long as they're top-loaded.

The Sunbeams are definitely brighter overall than the Round Core Boomers.
Click to expand...
Bass in question is a USA peavey cirrus, so top loaded.

I have silk wrap trauma. Lol.

Last set I bought was 25yrs ago bc I had a bad experience. I still have an unused unknown black silk set in the case.

Will look into boomers. They were my fav until I went daddario on my guitars.
 
#13
Here are the stats of the Round Core Bass Boomers from the GHS bass string tension guide.

GHS Round Core Bass Boomers

Winding Length 37.25”

(C)
RC-DYB30/C3/.030/33.20lbf

(G)
RC-DYB40/G2/.040/36.20lbf
RC-DYB45/G2/.045/42.60lbf
RC-DYB50/G2/.050/54.30lbf

(D)
RC-DYB55/D2/.055/33.20lbf
RC-DYB60/D2/.060/37.90lbf/npoas
RC-DYB65/D2/.065/46.00lbf
RC-DYB70/D2/.070/52.80lbf

(A)
RC-DYB75/A1/.075/36.40lbf
RC-DYB80/A1/.080/43.20lbf
RC-DYB85/A1/.085/49.30lbf

(E)
RC-DYB95/E1/.095/35.02lbf
RC-DYB100/E1/.100/38.20lbf
RC-DYB105/E1/.105/40.80lbf
RC-DYB115/E1/.115/45.30lbf/npoas

(B)
RC-DYB126/B0/.126/32.00lbf
RC-DYB130/B0/.130/35.50lbf


*lbf = tension in pounds force
*npoas = ‘not part of a set’
 
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#18
If anyone wants my mysterio boomer set.

25yr old NOS and cut and wrapped for 35” cirrus. Silks sit right on the nut. I still have them.

Ordered some med light boomer rounds.

Had chipotle aioli fried chicken sandwich for lunch.

LFG.

Lol.
 
#19
Find a bassist friend in your area and ask for their old strings when they put on new ones? It's a half-facetious answer half-serious one. You can skip breaking in the new strings by getting used ones, not new ones. And i know A LOT of bassists consider their Round-wounds dead after the initial brightness wears off, but long before they're actually dead-dead. They'll be taking off stings that are already halfway to where you want them.

Only thing would be making sure their strings are cut the right length for your bass with the same tuning peg layout.
 
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#20
This might sound a little odd.. but here is a suggestion. Lend your bass to a guy that has a perspiration / body chemistry/ hand sweat issue. Funny, yeah- but I've seen a bass with a brand new set of rounds that were absolutely dead after a local bass player borrowed my friend's bass for a few tunes at the local jam. I learned that most of the locals knew better than to lend their bass to him, unless they wanted dead rounds.
 
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