Recommend some half-round strings for me......

[BAG]

I just got an Ibanez SR1200 with the Nordstrom pickups. The strings on there at the moment are rounds of unknown provenance . The bass sounds good but It's a bit too bright and zingy.
I need to cut treble and mids to get a sound that isn't too toppy so I'm thinking i could put on some ground wound or pressure wound strings to get a smoother feel but still have plenty of brightness and they might tame the top end a little.

So, what would you recommend?

 

[bholder]

I like Ken Smith Compressors. FWIW. YMMV.

 

[Guild B301]

I 2nd the recommendation for Ken Smith Compressors strings. Compression wound. It takes just enough of the top-end 'zingyness' away.

 

[michael_t]

I need to cut treble and mids to get a sound that isn't too toppy so I'm thinking i could put on some ground wound or pressure wound strings to get a smoother feel but still have plenty of brightness and they might tame the top end a little.

So, what would you recommend?

If you want to keep some of the roundwound tone without the zingy brightness, try the Pressurewounds. I tried the Brite Flats (= half-rounds) and found them too flatwound-ish in their tonal character.

By the way, the Ken Smith Compressors, mentioned above, are the closest sibling to the Pressurewounds, both of which are Alloy 52 "rollerwound" made by GHS. I personally like the cool black silk on the PWs and their 37.25" winding length (ball end to silk) fits my 34" scale basses better than the 38" winding length on the Compressors.

 

[BAG]

How would the Ken Smith's compare to GHS Brite Flats or D'addario ground wounds?
I'd have to order the Smith's from overseas whereas the latter two are usually available locally.

Edit: posted at the same time as Michael above. Thanks Michael.

 

[michael_t]

How would the Ken Smith's compare to GHS Brite Flats or D'addario ground wounds?
I'd have to order the Smith's from overseas whereas the latter two are usually available locally.

GHS Brite Flats = Alloy 52 half-rounds (= groundwound) = Ken Smith Slick Rounds.
GHS Pressurewounds = Alloy 52 rollerwound = Ken Smith Compressors.

I have no personal experience with the D'A Half-rounds.

 

[buldog5151bass]

D'Addario. I have them on my Fender Jazz fretless, and it has a good deep Tobe.

 

[Gorn]

As a medium between rounds and flats, pressure wounds do it better.

 

[BassJuju]

In the words of Mr. Miyagi...

Play rounds, safe. PlaY flats, safe. Play middle, squish like grape.

Something like that.

Try some Dunlop flats and roll on.

 

[DirtDog]

I've preferred D'Addario ENR71s for many years now.

 

[telecopy]

I just got an Ibanez SR1200 with the Nordstrom pickups. The strings on there at the moment are rounds of unknown provenance . The bass sounds good but It's a bit too bright and zingy.
I need to cut treble and mids to get a sound that isn't too toppy so I'm thinking i could put on some ground wound or pressure wound strings to get a smoother feel but still have plenty of brightness and they might tame the top end a little.

So, what would you recommend?

I used DAddario half rounds for quite some time. I recently restrung the basses with GHS Half Brites and Pressurewounds. I like them both better than the DAddario. Seems to have better output. Maybe the nickel/iron alloy they use on the final wrap. Very smooth.

 

[Nebadon2000]

NPS Rounds like Fender 7250 I'm using at the moment may be all you need. All top string companies have good versions hex and roundcore [less tension]. The Pure Nickles may be a little softer closer to flats if you after old school sound mainly but you can get most NPS Strings for $16-30 I would give them a shot first.

From your description sounds like you have SS Rounds on SR1200 now.

 

[bolophonic]

I feel like GHS Pressurewound strings last a lot longer than D'Addario half-rounds.

 

[michael_t]

NPS Rounds like Fender 7250 I'm using at the moment may be all you need....

...you can get most NPS Strings for $16-30 I would give them a shot first.

I'm trying a set of GHS Bassics (NPS roundwound) 40-102 on my P bass right now. A clean crisp tone without being overly zingy or harsh. Not too shabby for $15.

 

[trothwell]

I really like GHS Brite Flats on my fretless bass, but would agree with the suggestion of GHS Pressurewounds to get a tamer roundwound sound. Or, I personally favor GHS Balanced Nickels which, although a roundwound string, do a great job sonically filling the space between flatwound and roundwound.

(Also consider the discontinued Labella Quarter Rounds, if you can find any.)

 

[Markzts]

I also vote for the GHS Pressure Wounds. They will tame the top end a little and you will also get a slightly smoother feel. I have tried Daddario half rounds and GHS Brite Flats and in my experience, they dull the tone too much and I found the tone string to string inconsistent - the ghs pressure wounds do not suffer from this. GHS balanced nickels are also not as zingy as most roundwounds and to me, they have the most consistent tone across all four strings, so they might be worth a listen....

Edit - just saw trothwell's post above mine and totally agree with his GHS balanced nickel comments.

 

[Iristone]

I found that, sometimes, pressurewounds can actually have MORE zing than rounds due to their extended life. My experience was with Roto 55s and SIT Silencers, so these might not be the first choice for taming a bright bass.

 

[Beetfarm615]

FWIW compressors have purple silks and ghs pressurewound are black. It may sound vain but the purple doesn't coordinate with all finishes.

 

[michael_t]

In the words of Mr. Miyagi...

Play rounds, safe. PlaY flats, safe. Play middle, squish like grape.

I personally favor GHS Balanced Nickels which, although a roundwound string, do a great job sonically filling the space between flatwound and roundwound.

GHS balanced nickels are also not as zingy as roundwounds and to me, they have the most consistent tone across all four strings, so they might be worth a listen....

According to Mr. Miyagi, "balance" is everything.

 

[Flatwound]

If you want some "zing" or brightness, I wouldn't recommend Brite Flats. I have them on a bass right now, and find them to have strong mids and a strong attack. But as far as being "Brite", no dice. They are darker than some flats I've tried.