Looking for dull sounding round wound bass strings

[LegsMahoney]

Hi there,

I've been a long time flatwound user for many years now, trying multiple kinds on my Jack Casady Epiphone bass and I love the tone and feel of them.

However, recently I came across a really old set of dead round wound strings I had lying around and undecided to put them on with some foam under the bridge for more dampening. I was really impressed by the sound and they even cut through the mix more at band practice.

I was wondering, is there rounds you can buy that are already close to dead and dull sounding that could come close to this tone? I also enjoyed the tension of them, they were slightly easier to play than the flats I'd been using.

I've had a look for answers but found quite a lot of conflicting information, so I thought I'd ask myself.

Thank you!

 

[Freight Train]

I switched to flats around 13 years ago but I'm definitely no expert on them and haven't tried that many, but from what I have tried the LaBella Deep Talkin' stainless steel flats and their tape wounds gave the most satisfying dark thumpy mojo, at least for what I was looking for. Also hear great things abut Pyramid Golds but good God they are pricey.

 

[BGroovy]

GHS Pressurewounds

 

[michael_t]

I was wondering, is there rounds you can buy that are already close to dead and dull sounding that could come close to this tone? I also enjoyed the tension of them, they were slightly easier to play than the flats I'd been using.

Well broken-in set of pure nickel rounds. GHS Balaced Nickels or Fender 7150's. Pure nickel is warmer to begin with and ages better than nickel-plated steel, which most "nickel rounds" are.

If you want to speed up the process of "aging", you can try this...

Thread 'Eucerin Skin Cream Kills Strings DEAD!!!'

Jun 27, 2019

Nothing else even comes close for deadening flats. Eucerin Aquaphor does OK at it, but it's only OK. And forget the other medicated formulas. Plain white Eucerin cream is the ticket for making your new flats thumpy quickly. Store brand substitutes are fine as well, but some can be runnier than others.

Takes a couple overnight applications and wipedowns to really work, but the first application takes care of the worst of the zing while the second makes them sound like they've been played in by a sweaty person for a month or two. Even works on zingy-when-new Chromes. Results were more...

• JimmyM
• Replies: 334
• Forum: Strings [BG]

• 

 

[tindrum]

GHS Boomers are pretty dead at hello (the E is DEAD at the start) and they quickly get to a very thuddy point but unlike a set of old, worn strings they’ll stay in tune and intonate. I think they’re the most worthless strings made (and I’ve tried them many times in several basses) but they’ll fit what you’re looking for.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Boomers... I think they’re the most worthless strings made...

Don't tell that to Jimmy "Flim" Johnson, who uses the Boomers on his Alembic.

I have a couple of sets on order for my P bass.

 

[Docduval]

Just eat chips and pancakes every time before playing and you should be good with any string.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Taking bets on whether the OP is ever heard from again he he.

 

[5StringBlues]

Lownerd

 

[Lammchop93]

GHS pressurewounds for sure. They sound like dead nickels.

 

[CochinoBass]

Get some Rotosound 66s and start playing them, in about 10 minutes they will be dead.

 

[tindrum]

Get some Rotosound 66s and start playing them, in about 10 minutes they will be dead.

Almost true! Last set I put on I played for about 15 minutes and they sounded AMAZING. Picked up the bass the very next day…..absolutely worthless thud. We are talking they could barely play in pitch. If you buried them in the yard for a year they might’ve sounded better. It wasn’t me as strings usually last me a month at minimum and certain brands for 2-3 months.

 

[Nuisance]

Taking bets on whether the OP is ever heard from again he he.

Yup....smacks of AI bot.

 

[5StringBlues]

Earlier AI told me l had a triple bypass in 2020.


Huh?

 

[michael_t]

GHS pressurewounds for sure. They sound like dead nickels.

They sound like "already broken in" nickel rounds. Not "dead and dull" as such.

 

[Thumpin6string]

What's the point?? Why would anyone want dead rounds??

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Dead rounds can actually sound good on some basses. High output snarl machines like my L-1000 for example.

I’ve only let one set get really dead and I sorta regret changing them.

 

[ValleyBass77]

GHS Boomers are pretty dead at hello (the E is DEAD at the start) and they quickly get to a very thuddy point but unlike a set of old, worn strings they’ll stay in tune and intonate. I think they’re the most worthless strings made (and I’ve tried them many times in several basses) but they’ll fit what you’re looking for.

I dig the way Boomers sound very non-roundwound. It’s all subjective, but Boomers may be what the OP is looking for.

 

[Yahboy]

Hi there,

I've been a long time flatwound user for many years now, trying multiple kinds on my Jack Casady Epiphone bass and I love the tone and feel of them.

However, recently I came across a really old set of dead round wound strings I had lying around and undecided to put them on with some foam under the bridge for more dampening. I was really impressed by the sound and they even cut through the mix more at band practice.

I was wondering, is there rounds you can buy that are already close to dead and dull sounding that could come close to this tone? I also enjoyed the tension of them, they were slightly easier to play than the flats I'd been using.

I've had a look for answers but found quite a lot of conflicting information, so I thought I'd ask myself.

Thank you!

GHS boomer, balance nickel or Shadow black nickel.

But I prefer both well broken in Fender 7250ML 45-100 and Pre-2010 Gold silk 7150 pure nickel 40-100. Both E string still keep same tonal as the rest without dead or lifeless.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Ghs boomers. The juicy fruit of strings