NSD: I finally tried the D'A Halfrounds

[Isaac_James]

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'

Apr 21, 2018

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

Cheers!

• dante360
• flats ghs vs
• Replies: 227
• Forum: Strings [BG]

• 

The process for making GHS Brite Flats or D'Addario Half-Rounds is also totally different than the process for pressurewound strings. The only similarity between them is that they're both marketed as being in between rounds and flats in their sound.

 

[Isaac_James]

Ernie Ball half rounds? I'm not even sure if Ernie Ball actually have half-rounds in their lineup...unless it's something new.

Only thing I can think of is the cobalt flats, they're often described as flatwound strings that sound like roundwounds (I don't think they do, even if they are brighter)

 

[Bagelish]

Ernie Ball half rounds? I'm not even sure if Ernie Ball actually have half-rounds in their lineup...unless it's something new.

Oops sorry, they were D'Addario I ordered. I'm used to getting Ernie Ball for guitar.

 

[michael_t]

Only thing I can think of is the cobalt flats, they're often described as flatwound strings that sound like roundwounds (I don't think they do, even if they are brighter)

The EB Cobalt Flats do have the appearance of half-rounds due to the tiny gaps between the outer windings.

 

[Swerve]

I like the half rounds too. The only negative for me is the gunky feel, but that went away after a few days. I wouldn't have named them half rounds though, more like 20% rounds. They are much more like flats to me. There are brand new flats that are brighter than half rounds.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I’ve used them twice, both times on fretless basses. First set lasted me about 6 years. I think I’m coming up to about a year now on the set currently on my telebass. I like them for what they are.

Like most flatwounds, if you take some rubbing alcohol to them it will really reduce that stick grippy feeling.

 

[michael_t]

I wouldn't have named them half rounds though, more like 20% rounds...

They're called "half rounds" because when the outer round wire is ground down to a flat surface, what's left is "half of the round wire".

That being said, I do agree with you "half rounds" are more "flatwound" than "roundwound" in their tonal character.

 

[wintremute]

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.

Thank you for your review. I've been using GHS Brite Flats as my main strings for years, so I'd be curious what you have to say when you compare the two.

 

[michael_t]

I've been using GHS Brite Flats as my main strings for years...

Just curious... How often do you change them?

 

[keyofnight]

They're still making them so somebody must be buying.

Riis

Every time someone buys a set, a TBer pops out with an ad-read for GHS Pressure Wounds.

 

[2strings2frets]

Sound and feel is subjective,we each have our own preferences. I tried half rounds on my SR 650 but did not like them on it. I put the same set on my Schecter Custom 4 and really,really like them, they are permanent residents there. The stickyness wears off after awhile. I may try a new set on my Jazz in the future, your needs may vary.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

I use the Da'ddarios right now. I like the harmonics that remain after the grabbiness goes away- really great for fretless. Really helped clean up the sound and allowed me to drop my action a bit.

 

[keyofnight]

Sound and feel is subjective,we each have our own preferences. I tried half rounds on my SR 650 but did not like them on it. I put the same set on my Schecter Custom 4 and really,really like them, they are permanent residents there. The stickyness wears off after awhile. I may try a new set on my Jazz in the future, your needs may vary.

+1 This is the real lesson here. My BBP35 needed strings like these. I had flats and rounds, but I needed something else.

I use the Da'ddarios right now. I like the harmonics that remain after the grabbiness goes away- really great for fretless. Really helped clean up the sound and allowed me to drop my action a bit.

This gives me hope that I will like them even more after they break in a little more. I would switch on my fretless too, but I'm learning not to mess with a good thing.

 

[brstma]

I haven’t tried these yet but I currently use the SIT semi flats and like them a lot. They sound and feel much more like rounds than the GHS pressure wound IMO (except for the smoothness)

 

[Iristone]

I tend to think of these strings as especially growly flats, instead of half-round half-flat (that would be any tapewound) or smooth rounds (that would be Rotosound 55 or SIT Silencers). They give a good Rotosound 77-type tone with a bit lower high-mids and more mid-mids, sort of as if the pickups get overwound.

 

[wintremute]

Just curious... How often do you change them?

About every 3 years.

 

[wintremute]

Just curious... How often do you change them?

These are about 2 years old:

 

[michael_t]

About every 3 years.

I keep thinking how much money I could save by changing my strings every 3 yrs instead of every 3 mths.

These are about 2 years old:

Very nice... I love the tone you get out of the Brite Flats! What bass do you have them on?

I've been a 100% finger-style player so far, but I've recently taken interest in learning to play with a pick. I'm thinking these would probably be great to play with a pick on. I happen to have a set of the BF saved from the last time I tried them on my Ibanez SR650E. Maybe I should give them a second chance.

 

[Root 5]

I always shake my head when I hear people say that half rounds are “rough” and “too grippy” and feel ‘awful.’

ONE wipe with a cloth soaked in isopropyl (rubbing) acohol will make the half rounds feel almost as smooth as flats and the ‘grippy’ feel will be gone!

I like half rounds because they have a deep fundamental and can give me enough brightness in most situations. From soft ballads to hard rock I can do it. And they last forever! You can’t kill them!

 

[keyofnight]

I tend to think of these strings as especially growly flats, instead of half-round half-flat (that would be any tapewound) or smooth rounds (that would be Rotosound 55 or SIT Silencers). They give a good Rotosound 77-type tone with a bit lower high-mids and more mid-mids, sort of as if the pickups get overwound.

I think you cracked the code on why people like (and don't like) the sound of groundwounds.

I really did get the "half-round / half-flat" vibe from the different LaBella tapewounds I tried out so many years ago. They're much brighter than most people let on. I haven't tried roller/pressurewound strings, but it seems like they sound like a roundwound and they feel smooth. These (and maybe all) groundwounds really do feel like growly flats, and maybe if we think of them that way, we could all make peace with them.

I always shake my head when I hear people say that half rounds are “rough” and “too grippy” and feel ‘awful.’

ONE wipe with a cloth soaked in isopropyl (rubbing) acohol will make the half rounds feel almost as smooth as flats and the ‘grippy’ feel will be gone!

I like half rounds because they have a deep fundamental and can give me enough brightness in most situations. From soft ballads to hard rock I can do it. And they last forever! You can’t kill them!

I wiped them with alcohol today. They are less grippy, but they still have stiction. I'm already used to it, and it's already starting to wear in.