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!

 

[LegsMahoney]

I Apologize as well, @LegsMahoney !

Glad to have you aboard!

And I have a very old set of rounds on my Jazz bass and they sound great.

Haha all good, might be me giving off bot vibes.

Yeah, definitely some magic with the dead rounds, best of both worlds type of thing with them. Find new rounds far too zingy

 

[LegsMahoney]

I have a set of the 66s and they have been on one of my P basses for almost 14 years. They sound great…..at least for me. Although I do get compliments from other musicians on my tone.
I know this doesn’t help you in your search but, i just to add it to the conversation.
I typically play a heavier type of music and they seem to work out.

That's helpful, thank you. I don't play heavy music necessarily but I do play quite heavy, so may be similar.

 

[micguy]

GHS Pressurewounds

Their balanced nickels are billed as less bright than the Pressurewounds. Which means I've never tried them, but I trust their description.

FYI, strings all lose brightness over time - fast at first, then they are fairly stable for a long time. You do not want strings that sound perfect right out of the package, as they (like all strings) will be duller in short order - there are lots of comments on forums about "strings that die fast" - those are people that bought the wrong strings (for them). The longest string life is obtained by buying strings that are, out of the pack, a bit too bright for your taste.

 

[LegsMahoney]

I've had a set of GHS Balanced nickels on my jazz bass for 5 years and can't bring myself to change them as they sound so good. They're dull like flats but maintain individual note clarity and definition. They are just as balanced as their name states.

Yeah that sounds like the kind of thing I'm looking for

 

[LegsMahoney]

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

These old strings were like the perfect middle ground between flats and and rounds. They had a the dull thump of flats but they had a little growl to them and they stood out in the mix more at band practice. I push the gain through a pre amp and it's got that old school thumpy/fuzzy Rolling Stones sound to em. It's a matter of time before I break one of the strings though

 

[GwenOnBass]

I have never heard any roundwound string deader than dead Pressurewounds. Those are too dead for even Miracle Max.

 

[Major Seven]

I think you're onto something

I would buy used TI jazz rounds. $100+ is just too much to experiment.

 

[tpaul]

I would buy used TI jazz rounds. $100+ is just too much to experiment.

People sell used strings in the TB classifieds all the time. Including TI Jazz Rounds.

 

[Lo-E]

GHS Balanced Tension would fit the bill. GHS Boomers would be my second choice.

there are lots of comments on forums about "strings that die fast" - those are people that bought the wrong strings (for them).

In some cases, sure. Maybe even in most cases. There are, however, strings that die a lot faster than others. I’m not talking about breaking in; I’m talking about dead, lifeless, won’t intonate, shot, time to replace.

 

[Stan_da_man]

It's an increasing thing I think. Sign up. Ask a question. Vanish.
If my suspicions are valid, i reckon it's a bit scary that a bot is taking notes on all the responses to generate an answer to a search query on the topic down the track. Call me paranoid he he
Happy to be proved wrong. A nice pic of the OP's bass sporting one of the suggestions would be nice

Foam doesn't go 'under the bridge' to damp strings either. Under the strings, on top of the strings, or both.

Please go outside and get some fresh air. Must reek in that basement.

 

[micguy]

In some cases, sure. Maybe even in most cases. There are, however, strings that die a lot faster than others. I’m not talking about breaking in; I’m talking about dead, lifeless, won’t intonate, shot, time to replace.

Strings that won't intonate come from one of two causes - either you've worn off a significant amount of metal (which takes a long time) or they are full of gunk, which means you're either playing with dirty hands, or you're sweating profusely - neither of those things is the fault of the strings - any rounds treated that way will "die" fast.

Flats are a bit more immune as the gaps are smaller than with rounds, but then again, they start out dead.

 

[TomB]

I have never heard any roundwound string deader than dead Pressurewounds. Those are too dead for even Miracle Max.

I agree. It takes a year or so, but then they fall off a cliff.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Please go outside and get some fresh air. Must reek in that basement.

Been very sweaty weather lately. So very smelly he he

 

[Yahboy]

I would buy used TI jazz rounds. $100+ is just too much to experiment.

No worry, dead DR Sunbeam sound close to worn in Ti JR.

 

[TomB]

Here’s a generic observation that might get me in trouble. In turning over used basses, I observed that (for me) deadish stainless rounds have a more useful “long life” than deadish nickel wounds. Some older Dean Markeley stainless strings (I thought) kept a certain rubbery goodness almost indefinitely. Nickels (and 5250), not so much. …just an observation for this thread.

 

[Bassa Nova]

Fender 7150 Pure Nickel Rounds. These are my go to rounds. I like the sound of flats and feel of nickel rounds.

 

[bassboysam]

Here’s a generic observation that might get me in trouble. In turning over used basses, I observed that (for me) deadish stainless rounds have a more useful “long life” than deadish nickel wounds. Some older Dean Markeley stainless strings (I thought) kept a certain rubbery goodness almost indefinitely. Nickels (and 5250), not so much. …just an observation for this thread.

i think nickel are going to corrode more while SS is more resistant which keeps them in better shape despite losing their zing.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Just puts gently used set of GHS Pressurewounds back on my main J bass after. Might try the Vaseline trick if they don’t settle down in a couple weeks.

 

[e-flat]

I love dead rounds, and while I’m a big fan of DR Sunbeams and Nickel Low Riders, a dead set of GHS Boomers is hard to beat… they have that ultra thick low mid punch.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

A music store I frequent is having a food for strings drive tomorrow, donate canned food item and get a free restring on 6 string guitars and 4 string basses. A couple friends of mine who work there are going to save some used sets of roundwounds for me, if they can remove them intact. I know, a desperate move. But trust me, I’ve had worse ideas.