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NSD: I finally tried the D'A Halfrounds

keyofnight

keyofnight

Jun 3, 2011
716
648
seattle, wa
#1
Some backstory. I have a Yamaha BBP35 that started developing some intonation issues with a set of D'A Chromes. I noticed that on this bass it felt like the tension on the Chromes was too high; it felt like I was fighting the bass, like I was losing a battle for sustain. So I threw a set of D'A nickel rounds on, and the bass came alive again: more resonance in the body, less tense feel, etc. The sound, however, was much brighter than I wanted from this bass. I wanted something with some growl and grit.

I got curious about D'A halfrounds because they seemed to have lower tension at around the same gauge as the Chromes, and I didn't want to have to go messing with the nut or anything like that. I heard so much conflicting information about halfrounds, with so many people saying "these strings are the worst of both worlds." But I wanted to try them myself. So, despite everything I heard, I bought the damned halfrounds.

Wow. Now I see why they're so controversial! THEY ARE W E I R D, MAN! But I like them a lot! Here are thoughts:
  • These sound woody, growly and bark-y, even unplugged. I love how articulate I sound/feel on these.
  • You really get what you give to these strings. A roundwound-like treble comes out when you dig in, and flatwound-like low mids come out when you ease up. I see why people say they're versatile.
  • They are less tense than Chromes, but not as loose as nickel rounds.
  • The sticky feeling is real. They feel like "fine pitched roundwounds," so they kinda grip onto your fingers a little bit. They're a new tactility entirely. I'm still getting used to it. I see why this was a deal breaker for some.
  • They are smooth, though, so I do get some of that flat-wound feel.
So, I don't think of these as the "worst of both worlds." I think of them as something else. I think the pitch that groundwounds are a "middle ground" between flat or round would disappoint anyone. For me, they're bark-y, tactile, chewy strings. I don't need them to be a middle ground, I need them to be right for the bass.

And I think these are a really good match for this bass. I'm willing to get used to something new for the sake of that. But I don't know, these strings might just get on my nerves after a few weeks. Who knows. But if I like these enough, then I'll try the Labella Super Polished and GHS Brite Flats to compare.
 
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#4
If you have the budget there are flats that have great complex tone and feel , low tension and intonate perfectly. Thomastik infeld JF344. That said after by deep dive into flats I’ve come back full circle to back rounds thanks to fender 7025 mediums. I had a set that i look off my jazz bass when it was brand new and put them on and was pleasantly surprised how beefy and warm my j bass sounded. D’A strings are way too bright!!!! better but also bright are strings like DR sunbeams but the string I never gave a chance is doing it for me. Lastly I’m not crazy about them on my P bass but they really work with a jazz bass but you.ve got to work that tone knob and find find the sweet spot.
 
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#6
I put the ball end of new Halfround strings in a machinist's vise, pull the string out to its full uncut length, and sand the string with scraps of old sandpaper 400 grit or higher. Then wipe the string down with strips of paper towel and naphtha until no more metal sludge comes off the string.

Smooths out the surface feel without killing the string. I don't mind doing it because the strings will stay on the bass a long time. A few extra minutes of work during restringing is not a big deal. It goes quickly - not as much of a chore as it might seem.
 
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#8
keyofnight said:
Some backstory. I have a Yamaha BBP35 that started developing some intonation issues with a set of D'A Chromes. I noticed that on this bass it felt like the tension on the Chromes was too high; it felt like I was fighting the bass, like I was losing a battle for sustain. So I threw a set of D'A nickel rounds on, and the bass came alive again: more resonance in the body, less tense feel, etc. The sound, however, was much brighter than I wanted from this bass. I wanted something with some growl and grit.

I got curious about D'A halfrounds because they seemed to have lower tension at around the same gauge as the Chromes, and I didn't want to have to go messing with the nut or anything like that. I heard so much conflicting information about halfrounds, with so many people saying "these strings are the worst of both worlds." But I wanted to try them myself. So, despite everything I heard, I bought the damned halfrounds.

Wow. Now I see why they're so controversial! THEY ARE W E I R D, MAN! But I like them a lot! Here are thoughts:
  • These sound woody, growly and bark-y, even unplugged. I love how articulate I sound/feel on these.
  • You really get what you give to these strings. A roundwound-like treble comes out when you dig in, and flatwound-like low mids come out when you ease up. I see why people say they're versatile.
  • They are less tense than Chromes, but not as loose as nickel rounds.
  • The sticky feeling is real. They feel like "fine pitched roundwounds," so they kinda grip onto your fingers a little bit. They're a new tactility entirely. I'm still getting used to it. I see why this was a deal breaker for some.
  • They are smooth, though, so I do get some of that flat-wound feel.
So, I don't think of these as the "worst of both worlds." I think of them as something else. I think the pitch that groundwounds are a "middle ground" between flat or round would disappoint anyone. For me, they're bark-y, tactile, chewy strings. I don't need them to be a middle ground, I need them to be right for the bass.

And I think these are a really good match for this bass. I'm willing to get used to something new for the sake of that. But I don't know, these strings might just get on my nerves after a few weeks. Who knows. But if I like these enough, then I'll try the Labella Super Polished and GHS Brite Flats to compare.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the review.
 
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#9
If they are anything like the Pressure Wounds the tonal characteristics will probably change after they break in, and they will likely loose some of the higher end harmonics and "bark." The feel probably won't change, nor will the low/mid characteristics. I'd be curious if they last as long as the Pressure Wounds (i.e., forever?).
 
#10
I absolutely hated how they feel!

From what you posted I think you would be WAY better off with GHS Pressure Wound strings. A way better feel under the fingers and tone wise probably my favorite string. They lay somewhere between flats and round wounds. You get the punch and articulation of regular round wounds but without the high end zing. And like I said they are so smooth under the fingers!

Check out both these videos. Both basses are strung with GHS Pressure Wounds



 
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#11
ClassicJazz said:
I absolutely hated how they feel!

From what you posted I think you would be WAY better off with GHS Pressure Wound strings. A way better feel under the fingers and tone wise probably my favorite string. They lay somewhere between flats and round wounds. You get the punch and articulation of regular round wounds but without the high end zing. And like I said they are so smooth under the fingers!

Check out both these videos. Both basses are strung with GHS Pressure Wounds



Click to expand...

I love the GHS Precision Flats for that outta the box, thumpy oldschool flat tone. I've considered the Brite Flats on another bass that I want more definition on, but your post has me wanting to skip that and try the PW's instead. Caught my eye since the bass they'd be going in would be a PJ bass too :bassist:
 
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#13
BassicJazzy said:
If they are anything like the Pressure Wounds the tonal characteristics will probably change after they break in, and they will likely loose some of the higher end harmonics and "bark." The feel probably won't change, nor will the low/mid characteristics. I'd be curious if they last as long as the Pressure Wounds (i.e., forever?).
Click to expand...
Brite Flats are nothing like Pressurewounds in that their basic tonal character is more "flatwound" even when new, while the PWs retain their "broken-in roundwound tone" for a long time.

D

Thread 'Ghs: BRITE FLATS vs PRESSUREWOUNDS'

hey guys, could you tell me some differences between those two or share some of your experience? which one do you prefer?

Cheers!
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#14
KevInDaBassment said:
I love the GHS Precision Flats for that outta the box, thumpy oldschool flat tone. I've considered the Brite Flats on another bass that I want more definition on, but your post has me wanting to skip that and try the PW's instead. Caught my eye since the bass they'd be going in would be a PJ bass too :bassist:
Click to expand...
Here's another video using my other Kramer which is just a P-Bass setup using the PW strings. One thing to note they may sound brighter since those basses have aluminum necks. But on wood necks they sound oh soo good!

 
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#19
I just ordered some Ernie Ball half rounds this weekend. Kind of curious how they'll be. Hate the way new round wound strings sound, but I love them when they get broken in and are dull sounding.
The Thomastik set I have on one of my basses feel great though. I just switched back to playing bass after several years, so tlhis will be fun to figure out if i go back to what I always used or if I find something new.
 

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