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Pressure Wound vs. Ground Wound

Ryan Mohr

Ryan Mohr

Oct 23, 2007
3,032
26
#1
I know this topic has been covered, but it has not been covered in detail. I know that pressure wounds are roundwounds that have been compressed and flattened, and ground wounds are roundwounds that have been ground on the surface. Fairly obvious differences in construction.

But, the differences in feel, look, and tone have not been addressed. I am mostly concerned with the differences in tone.

Here are the strings I am considering:

Ground Wound
GHS Brite Flats
Ken Smith Slick Rounds

Pressure Wound
GHS Pressurewounds
Ken Smith Compressors

I am especially interested in which strings are better suited tonally for a fretless bass because I am getting a fretless SX P bass soon.

Thanks!
 
#4
I don't like the feel of groundwounds.
I LOVE the feel of Ken Smith Compressors.
I have used them on fretted basses for years, and I use them on my fretless Zon Sonus Special. They have plenty of MWAH without being as over-the-top as DR SUnbeams.
I really like the sound and feel of those strings.
 
#6
kesslari said:
I don't like the feel of groundwounds.
I LOVE the feel of Ken Smith Compressors.
I have used them on fretted basses for years, and I use them on my fretless Zon Sonus Special. They have plenty of MWAH without being as over-the-top as DR SUnbeams.
I really like the sound and feel of those strings.
Click to expand...

Thanks! What don't you like about the feel of ground wounds? Also, how do the compressors sound different than normal nickel rounds? Fatter and mellower?
 
#12
Greenboy - I saw your post on GHS Pressurewounds and Ken Smith Compressors. I am pretty much convinced to try them. Between the two, which is slightly warmer/mellower/darker? I know you said they are simlilar, but there have to be a few differences tonally.

Kenny Allyn said:
Loved the Pressurewounds ... hated the groundwound.

The Pressurewounds are silky smooth and have a great "growl" on a P-bass with a pick! Still have them on my LeCompte VB bass ...

:) ...
Click to expand...

Great! Good compromise between rounds and flats for you? I'm interested in trying these on my Jazz now...
 
#13
It's been 10 times and maybe more (cue Led Zep) that I've posted about 'em in depth. Compressors and Pressurewounds are the same, with lightest sets a little closer to roundwound feel and sound, and the heaviest sets a little closer to flatwound thump. Only their B strings truly differ (one is taper, one is not).

But all this yap about something as cheap as strings is tedious - which is why I rarely post any more. Anyway. No amount of yapping beats JUST BUYING what intrigues you and giving it a fair run on your own gear, with enough time to experiment with gear settings and to acclimatize your ears and hands.
 
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#14
greenboy said:
But all this yap about something as cheap as strings is tedious - which is why I rarely post any more. Anyway. No amount of yapping beats JUST BUYING what intrigues you and giving it a fair run on your own gear, with enough time to experiment with gear settings and to acclimatize your ears and hands.
Click to expand...

My favorite string manufacturer is Status Graphite. I use their groundwounds on my Fender Jazz, and black nylon tapewounds on my Tacoma Thunderchief. Whenever I get a new bass, I buy one set of each kind of strings and try them on the bass to see how it sounds and feels. No better way to reach an informed decision!
 
#15
not to confuse matters in any way, but perhaps you could consider TI Jazz bass strings. These are some of the nicest sounding roundwounds for fretless that I have ever used. The are truly round wound, but are so "flat" that they don't feel roundwound at all. They are also VERY light (e=80!) with a fairly light tension .. so they are a bit "rubbery" ... but boy do they sound good, and once you adjust your right hand to the lightness, they are a real pleasure to play.

OTOH, if you have a real aggressive right hand technique, the lightness of the gauge may not work for you.

I have used ground rounds and pressure rounds and did not care for the ground rounds at all ... very sticky feeling and they just seemed like a bad compromise between round wound tone and feel of flats.

good luck
 

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