Round-wounds for an old flats guy?

[FritzM]

I'm an old guy and I just ordered some Thomastic JR's. However, if you want a higher tension, smooth sounding nickel round, I would suggest the Stringjoy 45 -105. They have way too much tension for me though.

 

[Sam Reese]

Intonation on the flats has been a problem over the years (especially with stops/chords)

This is sometimes caused by the strings bending over the fret (fretted) or poor finger placement (fretless).

 

[gmarcus]

What is the issue with intonation? I've played flats for a long time and never had this problem......or don't know what to look for. I always set the intonation on my bass when changing strings.

 

[FerK]

Anyone else read the thread title "Roundwounds for an old fat guy" ? I thought he was talking to ME !

 

[tb-player]

I'm thinking of giving rounds a "go", as I get back into bass. Flats, with pick generally, has always been my thing, but intonation on flats is an issue.

My problem with rounds has always been that they sound like piano strings to me (I do not like piano), and not the warm muffled sound of a double-bass. Also, round-wounds don't seem to last as long.

Still, with active electronics, I can probably tone-down the "piano sound", and get a bit more "growl" as well. Plus, better intonation. Intonation has always been my only problem with flats.

Question: What are some good rounds that "last and last", have a warm (not bright) sound, with good intonation, and higher tension like flats. I don't like "mushy" strings, since I learned on flats. I don't care about the brightness wearing off as strings age; I'd roll-off the highs anyway. I just want warm sounding strings that last and last for years, and can take lots of dirt and grime (think: eating fried chicken while playing). I am hoping the only reason rounds tend to get replaced frequently is due to brightness (which I do not care about), and not because windings slip, and intonation suffers.

I assume I want nickel rather than steel, but don't know how hex core vs. round affects sound, or what brands "last and last". I am hoping to find "my strings" without too much experimenting. I don't like to fiddle too much with the truss-rod, since I have seen necks/rods go bad. My poor '72 Jazz that I screwed-up the neck on in the '70s...

Compared to flats, all roundwounds will sound bright & scratchy, right out of the package.

A logical option might be D'Addario Half-Rounds. Darker tone, less string noise, but a baby-step in the direction you're looking.

 

[BassBrass]

I like DR Pure Blues for this.
"I'll be a suck egg mule" Rio Lobo (also Red Barber the great baseball announcer) means, I am incredulous:

 

[swarfrat]

If they're too bright, why are you worried about how long that brightness lasts? Intonation goes out long after the initial brightness wears off

 

[ric4682]

I can't believe this thread has made it this far without someone suggesting GHS Balanced Nickels. Higher tension, warm thick tone, long lasting. They seem like the perfect string for the OP.

 

[petrus61]

I'd go with regular GHS Boomers or Fender Pure Nickel. Both eventually evolve into a low-mid fundamentally focused sound after lots of playing time, IME. It might sound counterintuitive, but you can also achieve this with plain old Rotosounds, depending on the bass.

Edited to add that contrary to the oft repeated folklore, there does indeed come a time when flats lose their mojo. Eventually after much use, the intonation will suffer and some weird harmonic overtones might develop. They aren't gonna break, but they aren't gonna sound good forever either, IMO. YMMV, etc.

 

[Pimmsley]

Slightly off topic but I just put a set of Fender 9050ML flats on my Sterling Ray34 after 8 years on slinky rounds and it's a revelation, love the sound of those bright flats on the bright sounding bass, the ML's have a decent amount of tension, above a 45-105 round set.
I have GHS Precision flats on another passive SCPB bass and it's a great thumpy funk machine with med-low tension but the Fenders sound very different and have a wonderful bite to them... maybe try some Fender flats?

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

That's an active PJ, isn't it? I personally would never put flats on an active 5-string PJ. So, now I do see your point about wanting to find a suitable roundwound alternative.

I would suggest the GHS Pressurewounds for what you seek.

Both active and passive, but I prefer active as a rule.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Myself, I like old school Rotosound Swingbass 66.

Not because they sound like flats but, because they are a classic round wound sound. They do mellow out of the piano sound, that's why John Entwistle changed them often, to keep that piano sound.

I like the sound after they mellow, I keep them on.

That probably doesn't help you at all though

+ one on changing rotosound swing bass 66. On my EB3 I got about 2 gigs out of them before I'd snap the A and D strings off at the bridge. That was back in the 70's when I wasn't as nice to my bass as I am today.

As for the "piano sound" I can still take care of that after about 20 minutes alone with them..... which is why I don't use them any more. I much preferred them right out of the pouch.

 

[swarfrat]

Ernie Ball. They'll pass for rounds pretending to be flats in a week

 

[ad9000]

I'd vote for GHS Balanced Nickels. Even brand new they don't have much of the typical "boinginess" of round wounds, and after a bit of playing time they mellow out somewhat while remaining very responsive with a pointed attack, if that makes sense. They are also very well balanced (hence the name, I guess) and they have the amount of tension I like, which is medium high. I'm typically not a fan of nickel strings, but these have won me over.

 

[59jazz]

I've been a flatwound junkie for 10+ years. I have various sets of: Dogal Jaco, Chromes, Dunlop, TI Jazz, LaBella LTFs, Labella, Fender 9050s, GHS Precision flats (my go to), Ernie Ball Group IIIs and Cobalts; I like them all. Out of all of those, I really like the texture of the EB Group III's.....not real keen on ultra smooth or shiny flats.
Sterling Ball....if you're out there, please offer round Core Group III flats, I'll buy them by the case. Thanks!