Not to bright roundwounds?

[BigBadBen67]

Which roundwounds have subdued treble / hi mids? Have bought Jazz bass with EMG pu's. Bass is very nice but I find emg's a bit too bright/ clanky.
I am not looking for thumpy bass but more low mids /mids.
Recommendations?

Maybe someone else has mentioned it, but I would give the GHS Pressurewounds a try. They are definitely rounds but are more muted. I like them because they cut down on string noise, especially when you shift. And they have a wonderfully big, fat fundamental.

My only caution is that they are on the stiff side. I'm running a set of Mediums right now and plan on moving to the medium/light gauge.

 

[gazzatriumph]

Thank you for advice. After 45 years of playing professionaly I think I figured by now how to use "those knobs".
This is string section and question was about strings. Please refrain from off topic advice.

After 45 years professional playing I would have thought you would know what strings to try by now. The chap was only trying to help.

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

Have you tried the Optima Chromes? They cost a leg, but I think they may work for your purpose.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

DR Sunbeams are pretty mellow but sound great

 

[bassdude51]

If not already mentioned...........pressure wounds. I tried out a set of GHS Pressure Wounds and I REALLY LIKE THEM! Brighter than flats, less high end oriented than rounds.

Good luck on your quest for your desired sound. String experimentation is a timely and expensive trial and error.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Most NPS strings are not 'Zingy' Steels yes

recently had Fender 7250 fairly smooth even before break-in
Now on my 2nd set of Markbass Ultimate Soft Touch great balance right out of package

 

[Paul New]

Thank you for advice. After 45 years of playing professionaly I think I figured by now how to use "those knobs".
This is string section and question was about strings. Please refrain from off topic advice.

Yes, but are you sure the amp is plugged in?

I haven’t read the whole thread, but I’m sure many will recommend Sunbeams. Those and Thomastic Jazz Rounds are the only round wound strings I can tolerate. The Thomastics are drastically different from any other string, because they are so flexible I guess, and are very warm.

 

[jake bassist]

After 45 years professional playing I would have thought you would know what strings to try by now. The chap was only trying to help.

After 45 years professional playing I would have thought you would know what strings to try by now. The chap was only trying to help.

My question was very concise and precise. Strings .....not treble pot.
Assuming that I ,or anybody else, does not know what the Treble pot is for, sounds rather l"smartassy"

 

[jake bassist]

Yes, but are you sure the amp is plugged in?

I haven’t read the whole thread, but I’m sure many will recommend Sunbeams. Those and Thomastic Jazz Rounds are the only round wound strings I can tolerate. The Thomastics are drastically different from any other string, because they are so flexible I guess, and are very warm.

Oh shi#, have to plug it too ? Ha ha
Yeah, it looks like it's gona be Sunbeams. I ordered few sets for new fretless anyway. Using Hi beams on my other basses, so it's familiar teritory.
Thanks

 

[mikewalker]

GHS Balanced Nickels

SETS - BALANCED NICKELS

 

[eriky4003]

Great mids live in the wrongly named Dunlop Super Brights. Based on my readings, the DR Pure Blues or Sunbeams would meet your criteria.

 

[jake bassist]

Great mids live in the wrongly named Dunlop Super Brights. Based on my readings, the DR Pure Blues or Sunbeams would meet your criteria.

You're totaly right about wrongly named Dunlop SB. Tried them few years ago. I'll check sunbeams with those EMG's. Using hi beams on all other basses anyway

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I have several J-basses strung with various strings;

Ernie Ball Slinky Flats are magic on a Jazz Bass. Not rounds, but fit your description.
They are, IMO, the only flat that can pass for a round.

Pressurewounds are a really good fit on a Jazz. Also Lo Riders, which are consistently mentioned here.
I really liked Elixir Nickels as well - possibly more so than the Lo Riders.
Balanced nickels are a little tricky (I think) on a Jazz. They are mellower, but can lack "presence" compared to the others I've mentioned.

I've tried the Thomastik Jazz Rounds. For whatever reason, they weren't what I was looking for. YMMV.

Rotosound's Roto Bass nickel-plated rounds

very underrated, although my experience with these has been more on Ps - but they do fit the bill.

 

[Fynn]

I doubt that different brands of roundwounds would make enough of a difference to change what you are trying to change. There's only so much you can do with the slight varitations in how strings are produced.
If you don't mind me asking, why don't you just use your EQ? You talk about how you only use your pre very sparingly, but why? What's wrong with radical cuts? Do you like the timbre of the pickups? I'm not one to suggest changing pickups, because that only makes minor differences too, but if you don't like making easy changes.
Another idea I had, you could add an EMG preamp. I don't know all the different names of those (BTS, BQC, BQS... so on), but there's definitely some that can help you with the frequencies you'd like to change, without having to mess around with your preamps.

 

[Slevage]

Thank you for advice. After 45 years of playing professionaly I think I figured by now how to use "those knobs".
This is string section and question was about strings. Please refrain from off topic advice.

I often roll my tone knob off a bit more with new strings. I add the brightness back in as needed. For me, this works for every brand of string I’ve used. I would be disappointed if any new string didn’t respond this way.

 

[skycruiser]

To bright or not to bright? That is the question.

 

[jglunt]

Because they're seldom mentioned and because this is a question about more mellow roundwounds, I thought I'd bring up Elixir nickel wounds. They're great sounding strings, nicely balanced, not too bright (IMO), and they last a long time. They're expensive, but not overly so, especially considering they'll last 3-4 times as long as other roundwounds. Their coating is so thin I don't even realize it's there. Comfortable to play. Slightly less finger noise than your average round wound.

 

[Upstate SC Bass]

I am crazy about my DR Pure
Blues strings and they last a long time too
I do however use a light gauge 5 string set 40-120
not using them for that reason but I saw that Victor uses DR strings and said they sound like they have been on there for a couple of days even when brand new.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I have bought and sold 2 nice fender jazz basses because of the sound not being big enough. I am in my 3rd fender p bass but still struggle trying to escape the generally muddy sound. I am using stainless strings and playing on top of the pickup now. I know you said round-wounds, Ever tried low tension flats ? Play more toward the neck?

 

[jake bassist]

I doubt that different brands of roundwounds would make enough of a difference to change what you are trying to change. There's only so much you can do with the slight varitations in how strings are produced.
If you don't mind me asking, why don't you just use your EQ? You talk about how you only use your pre very sparingly, but why? What's wrong with radical cuts? Do you like the timbre of the pickups? I'm not one to suggest changing pickups, because that only makes minor differences too, but if you don't like making easy changes.
Another idea I had, you could add an EMG preamp. I don't know all the different names of those (BTS, BQC, BQS... so on), but there's definitely some that can help you with the frequencies you'd like to change, without having to mess around with your preamps.

Bass already has BQC onboard pre. IME too much EQ completely changes sound character of pickups, bass itself and my fingers. I use onboard pre flat
or +/- 1- max 3 of center. Just a bit to adjust for particular stage/venue.
Hell, my perfect amp would have only two controls, power and volume!
In previous post "logdrum" already helped me with explanation about EMG preamp. I never used EMG and didn't know that there are two trim switches for high frequency response. That and nickel strings should do it.