Pressurewounds, Pressurewounds...

[mikewalker]

So... how are these strings nowadays??

I tried them once back in the late 80s or maybe early 90s and got NASTY metal slivers in my fingertips. Sworn off them!

But lately they seem to be fairly popular, so I'm assuming they must have figured out how to make them properly now?

And assuming that is true - I'm wondering who makes the SMOOTHEST FEELING set?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

The best. Try nickel iron alloy ones.

You sure you were not thinking half rounds?

 

[michael_t]

GHS Pressurewounds = Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) "rollerwound".

"Nasty metal slivers"? Can't be the same string you were using. Maybe you're thinking of "groundwound" (half-rounds)??

 

[michael_t]

"Rollerwound" (pressurewound) = the outer round wire is compressed into an oval shape. No grinding involved in the process.

"Goundwound" (half-round) = the outer round wire is ground down to a flat surface. This involves grinding, possibly resulting in residual "metal slivers".

 

[mikewalker]

Yes... I suppose they probably were "ground-wound", come to think of it. I'd like to find the smoothest-feeling strings that sound more like rounds than flats! Or maybe some new kind of rounds with super-fine windings that don't feel like 'rotosound-rasps'... ??

 

[michael_t]

I'd like to find the smoothest-feeling strings that sound more like rounds than flats!

I would recommend the GHS Pressurewounds for that. Their basic tonal character is still round-ish enough, but with a smoother texture.

GHS Brite Flats (groundwound) would actually be closer to flatwound in their basic tonal character than the PWs. I tried the BFs last summer for three weeks, but ended up going back to the PWs because I needed a roundwound tone but without some of the roundwound annoyances, such as excessive zing up top or finger screech.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

So... how are these strings nowadays??

I tried them once back in the late 80s or maybe early 90s and got NASTY metal slivers in my fingertips. Sworn off them!

But lately they seem to be fairly popular, so I'm assuming they must have figured out how to make them properly now?

And assuming that is true - I'm wondering who makes the SMOOTHEST FEELING set?

IMO GHS Pressurewounds are the greatest strings in the universe. Their outer texture isn't completely smooth, as in a flatwound, but it's smoother feeling than any brand of roundwounds I've used. And their sound is much closer to a roundwound than a flatwound.

And their lifespan is incredible. They'll mellow a bit, then they just last and last.

I believe SIT also makes a compression-wound set, but I've never tried them. I'm not sure if they have a smoother surface feel than GHS'.

 

[michael_t]

IMO GHS Pressurewounds are the greatest strings in the universe. Their outer texture isn't completely smooth, as in a flatwound, but it's smoother feeling than any brand of roundwounds I've used. And their sound is much closer to a roundwound than a flatwound.

And their lifespan is incredible. They'll mellow a bit, then they just last and last.

I believe SIT also makes a compression-wound set, but I've never tried them. I'm not sure if they have a smoother surface feel than GHS'.

There are three that I can think of that would fall into the "rollerwound" category, the main difference being the outer wrap wire.

GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors = Alloy 52 (nickel-iron alloy).
SIT Silencers = Nickel-Plated Steel.
Rotosound Solo Bass 55 = Stainless Steel.​

I'm a huge fan of Alloy 52 for its responsive nature with extra punch and crunch.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

There are three that I can think of that would fall into the "rollerwound" category, the main difference being the outer wrap wire.

GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors = Alloy 52 (nickel-iron alloy).
SIT Silencers = Nickel-Plated Steel.
Rotosound Solo Bass 55 = Stainless Steel.​

I'm a huge fan of Alloy 52 for its responsive nature with extra punch and crunch.

Oops! Typo on my part. I posted "Compression-wound. Yes, I should've typed: "Roller-Wound".

And yes, Michael, I definitely agree: Punch and Crunch with GHS Pressurewounds.

And they provide a very pronounced midrange as well.

 

[Real Soon]

Busting a Lazarus on this thread...

I'm a brand new fan of these strings, though I've had them on one bass already for a few months. So, a fan twice over. The bass in my profile pic has them and I'm not looking back.

(I've another P that is now kitted with flats, so all bases are covered, so to speak)

 

[RumbleBot]

Just put my first set of pressure wounds on my main bass and so far I love them!. It's a six string that's tuned drop d and drop a that I string 0.028, 0.040, 0.060, 0.080, 0.105, 0.125. I was able to build a set of pressure wounds with 0.028, 0.040, 0.062, 0.080, 0.106, 0.128 and I love them!. Had to do a bridge setup due to the different brash angle over the saddles, but didn't take long.
I'm finding them still plenty bright but with a better fundamental, which is great because I play favoring my bridge pickup. A fan of the texture as well!

 

[RumbleBot]

Also, I was able to get a lower action from the new setup with these strings vs rounds. Wasn't expecting that.

 

[Real Soon]

Finding out they slap surprisingly well, least in the fresh stage I've got em in. I'm not a slap head, really, but am working on diversifying my portfolio of skills, and the P with pressurewounds was my weapon of choice tonight. And sounded pretty phenomenal. Who knew?

 

[Tosh]

My Godin A4 Ultra got a set of ML7200 Pressure-wounds yesterday. Wow, why didn't I do that months ago?

They're fantastic for this bass!

I also have the bronze pressure-wound strings on my acoustic.

 

[Minus]

I tried Pressure Wounds several years ago and loved the sound, however I recall the tension seemed quite tight, which I didnt care for.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I have them on two of my sixers.
My fretless Tune and my G Style.

 

[2milehighspike]

I like them as well. I use them on my Stingray Special BFR fretless. Very punchy with just enough brightness yet still sounding like flats. Highly recommended!

 

[CarlMega]

Holla. My pressure wounds arrived today. I want to like them & give them a fair shake - what do you think is the best bass for a try out? PJ (currently labella flats), Jazz (lo-riders), Kiloton (boomers). I'm leaning to the Kiloton which is sort of string ray like.

 

[RumbleBot]

Holla. My pressure wounds arrived today. I want to like them & give them a fair shake - what do you think is the best bass for a try out? PJ (currently labella flats), Jazz (lo-riders), Kiloton (boomers). I'm leaning to the Kiloton which is sort of string ray like.

Personally, I'd leave the labella flats on the PJ and put the pressure wounds on the jazz or kiloton.

 

[jeff62]

There are three that I can think of that would fall into the "rollerwound" category, the main difference being the outer wrap wire.

GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors = Alloy 52 (nickel-iron alloy).
SIT Silencers = Nickel-Plated Steel.
Rotosound Solo Bass 55 = Stainless Steel.​

I'm a huge fan of Alloy 52 for its responsive nature with extra punch and crunch.

Can't stand the Roto's but +1 for both the GHS Pressurewounds and the SIT Silencers. These are the only two non-flats strings that I use across my non-flats basses. GHS are more "forward/aggressive" than the Silencers, which tend more towards "mellow rounds". Both age extremely well too!