Pressure wound vs. Half wound

[SCOMan]

Hi All,

As a noob I'm keen to experiment with different strings and the tones they give. That being said bass strings are expensive and I'm already looking to buy my 3rd set of strings in as many months in my quest to find what's right for me.

I am interested to try a pressure wound or half round string as a half way between rounds and flats. Lots of favourable posts of the forum talking about GHS pressure wounds and SIT silencers but I couldn't find a direct comparison of the two. Given they have different manufacturing processes are there any preferences - is there much tonal difference between them, do they have very different feel to the finders? Is there a clear preference?

Thanks

 

[Jon Moody]

I can't comment exactly on the SIT Silencers, but from their writeup, it sounds like they are made just like the GHS Pressurewounds. For the Pressurewounds, the last wrap of the string is rollerwound (i.e. run through rollers), which slightly flattens the wrap wire to a more oval shape. This gives a smoother, less "squeaky" feel to the strings, and a slightly mellower tone than the roundwound counterpart.

SIT Silencers use nickel-plated steel; GHS Pressurewounds use a magnetically active Nickel-Iron Alloy.

Now, "pressure wound" strings are usually lumped in with halfrounds and groundwounds, but that isn't correct. Half/groundwound strings are roundwounds that are then ground smooth. Completely different process.

 

[SCOMan]

Ahh, i was under the impression the SIT silencers were ground wound but I got them confused with the Labella Quarter rounds I was also considering. Thanks for the information.

 

[Mikhail1]

SIT Silencers are really good strings that I have used in the past. The ground wounds that SIT make are called Power Flats but I have never used them. I have used GHS Brite Flats which are ground wounds but they were not for me. I much prefer compression wounds to any and all ground wounds but you'll have to try them to see if your taste are like mine. Good luck!

 

[Ur2funky]

I tried the SIT Silencers for the first time last night on the gig, never tried the GHS, sorry. I love the feel of flats because roundwounds tear up my hands (I have strange skin that never callouses). I'd say they sound and feel half way between flats and rounds. I think they're gonna work for me. $19 delivered.

I've never tried half wounds, but have read awful things about them. I'd stick will pressure wounds over those.

 

[SCOMan]

Think I'll give the silencers a go then. I'm a fan of SIT strings, I have all my guitars strung with them (acoustic, electric and bass). I currently have Power Wounds on the bass but I wanted to go back to a lighter gauge and whilst I was at it give this type of string a go .

 

[Fernando Costa]

I use hafs D'addario ENR in my fretless basses, it has a very strong lows and mids, a lots of growl. I put a set in a fretted bass and the tone was quite reasonable. No sound of slip fingers or frets noise, really a “noiseless” sound, poor bright for sure. Nickel strings are very comfortable but rusts very fast if you do not take care of them.

 

[SCOMan]

I picked up some SIT Silencers today and my first impressions are really good. Slightly silky texture to them but other than that feel very similar to the Powerwound strings I was previously using but with significantly less noise. Not as bright for sure, but not dull by any means. Actually my bass was a little bright sounding anyways so these suit perfectly.

 

[timobee4]

GHS Bright Flats 40-100 on fretless as well as fretted (for some recording session I may swap out for DR Sunbeams round wound 40-100, very seldom) for me these half wound GHS Bright Flats work in almost all blues, rock, jazz, etc situations. Not for slapping that's for sure. ( that's the job for the DR sb ) I also run some 2000 grade wet/dry sandpaper up and down few times and I get such silky smooth finish OMG

 

[Unemploid]

i use d'addario half round medium 50 - 105 long scale on my gretsch g5123b. i try the third biggest gauge they offered, the one i'm using is the second, and next time i'll try the biggest gauge. i really like 50 - 105 on this bass. i'm hoping 55 - 110 will sound better. if not, i'll be sticking with this set. they are made with pure nickel.

i heard good stucc about the ghs

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I've used the SIT Silencers, GHS Pressurewounds, and D'Addario Half Rounds in addition to numerous round wound and flat wound strings.

Comparing pressure-wounds and ground-wounds: Pressure-wound are more similar to a round wound tone, but not quite as bright, and significantly smoother. Ground wounds are more similar to flat wounds, but have very "sticky" feel to them from where they've been ground down. I've heard the GHS Brite Flats are smoother than the D'Addario Half Round, but some people have said the Brite Flats are also "sticky". Pressure wounds are the opposite...we're once very round wound, but are significantly smoother to the touch. If I had my druthers I'd avoid the ground wounds and go with the pressure wounds only.

In my opinion, the GHS are the superior of the two when compared to Silencers. Here's a fun fact for you: Ken Smith Compressors are pretty much identical to GHS Pressure Wounds, only the silk is purple instead of black and the B string is taper wound.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I should add that SIT Silencers are a little "grabby" like ground wounds. GHS Pressurewounds are significantly smoother and are my top choice of strings for my fretless bass.

 

[Ur2funky]

Thanks for the input DaveAceofBass. Looks like I need to try the GHS Pressurewound!

EDIT: GHS Strings ordered!

 

[fretlessguy]

I think you will enjoy them. I prefer them to SIT silencers for the feel and the tone. Great strings!

 

[TomB]

I can agree with the kudos for pressure=wound vs. ground round, and also that GHS & Ken Smith seem similar, if not identical. I've never tried SIT. Pressure wounds are a nice choice for taming overly bright basses while maintaining a good mid-range presence.

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Thanks for the input DaveAceofBass. Looks like I need to try the GHS Pressurewound!

EDIT: GHS Strings ordered!

Good for you! If you've tried Silencers, you'll immediately know the difference!

 

[Ur2funky]

I played two sets on a bass that had EB Slinkys and on break I threw on the GHS Pressurewounds for the remaining sets. Wow, great! My new strings! Soo much easier on your hands, but not much of a tonal change unlike the Silencers were. I had an identical bass with the Silencers on it at the gig. The GHS are smoother and much brighter. BIG Thumbs UP!!! Not to mention the SITs came with a dead "A" string.
Thank you DaveAceofBass for the recommend!!!

 

[SCOMan]

I had to take back the guitar I had the silencers on, with the replacement i gave the pressure wounds a try. Completely agree that there is less of a tonal change from the stock strings with the GHS's, I also love the black nylon winding on the ends - nice touch GHS. I've now put GHS strings on all my guitars .

 

[Deacon Blues]

Even though this thread has been untouched for over a year, I have to thank you all for saving me a lot of time, money, and possibly aggravation! I've spent well over forty (approaching fifty, actually!) years playing only fretted instruments, both 4- and 5-string...mostly Fenders. Back in the '70s, I went through a Roto-Sound phase, tried a variety of strings, then settled, about ten years ago, on GHS Bass Boomers. A couple of years ago, on a whim, I tried Ernie Ball Cobalts and now won't use anything else! Recently, though, I finally decided to take a serious stab at fretless. I found an excellent deal on a very basic Yamaha 4-string that plays like a dream! After fitting it with a Bill Lawrence (Wilde) P-46 pickup, and all new electronics (the reason I got such a great deal is that it sounded absolutely horrible! LOL), I'm having a blast exploring a whole new world of bass playing!

It quickly occurred to me, however, that the roundwounds that came with the instrument would, over time, tear the hell out of my new favorite toy's wonderfully slick rosewood 'fretboard!' I didn't want to go to flatwounds. I learned how to play with flatwound strings and, although they were kind to my 'virgin' fingertips, so many years ago, the style of music I play demands the brightness, clarity, and 'bite' of a round-wound string (for electric blues and early-'70s-influenced blues-rock a la Cream, Led Zep, etc.). After reading this thread, the choice, for me, is a no-brainer! GHS Pressure-Wound it is!! Bonus: They're inexpensive and easy to find! Unless that all somehow mysteriously goes horribly wrong, problem solved!! ...and i'm so happy that my eldest son (also a bassist/guitarist) turned me onto this site! Thanks again, guys!

I have only one remaining question: I have always played fairly stock medium-light-gauge strings (45-100). With the fretless, should I look for lighter? Heavier? Same? I don't usually care for the feel of a super light D and G, but I want to get the best out of the instrument. Thanks in advance!

It is so cool to be almost 64-years-old and still have that 'kid-at-Christmas' feeling of anticipation when I pick up an instrument! Who knew that simply omitting frets from a bass could do that?? I hope it's something that you all someday get to experience!

Cheers!!

 

[michael_t]

I have only one remaining question: I have always played fairly stock medium-light-gauge strings (45-100). With the fretless, should I look for lighter? Heavier? Same? I don't usually care for the feel of a super light D and G, but I want to get the best out of the instrument. Thanks in advance!

My recommendation: ML7200 (44-58-80-102) for the best balance both for tone and tension. Not too heavy for my 58-yr-old left hand, not too floppy for my right hand.