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roundwound strings question

Johntheson

Johntheson

Guest
Apr 10, 2011
201
7
Newport News,Va
#1
I'm a 63 year old 6 string player who had to basically all but give up the 6 stringers because arthritis set in and I just couldn't get past the close string spacing without sounding sloppy. I switched to bass 4 years ago, and I love the bass equally as much as I do the 6 string life I've had. All my basses (Fenders, Rics, and 1 Hofner, all have flatwounds on them. I just bought a used Fender bass (the only one I have with a maple FB, and it has new roundwound strings on it now. I bought this bass because I wanted a maple board bass, and I wanted one that I can keep roundwounds on so I can have the choice of both, flats and rounds when needed. The RW strings (Fender stock strings) feel like barb wire fences to me when I slide across them. What sets are available out there that sound like RW's, but feel somewhat closer to a flatwound feel? I thought about some tapes maybe; even some of the black nylons. I'd appreciate hearing your input on this. Thanks.
John Sr.
 
#2
Johntheson said:
The RW strings (Fender stock strings) feel like barb wire fences to me when I slide across them. What sets are available out there that sound like RW's, but feel somewhat closer to a flatwound feel?
Click to expand...

GHS Pressurewound - The wrap wire is flattened to an oval shape, making it noticeably smoother under your fingers than a typical set of rounds. They do sound more like rounds than flats, except without the annoying (at least to me) top-end zing of rounds. I love the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102) for being well-balanced both in terms of tension and tone. Highly recommended! :thumbsup:

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(NOTE: The term "Pressurewound Flats" is somewhat misleading; they really should be called "oval-wound". ;))
 
#3
If Fender nickels are hurting your fingers, I don't know if pressure wounds will make that much of a difference. Labella makes white nylon tapewounds that are very bright. Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are also very, very bright. Both options are nearly as bright as rounds.

You could also try to give the nickels some time if you like how they sound. Eventually you'll get used to them.
 
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#4
If you want the Zing & Twang of roundwounds, you'll just have to get used to the roughness of the round wrap wire. Actually Fender's Nickel Plated Steel rounds are among the smoothest roundwounds on the market. You want to feel really rough strings? Just throw on a set of Rotosound Swing Bass 66's. You'll be saying "my these Fender rounds are soooo smooth"!

As @michael_t recommended, GHS Pressurewounds are unique.
Review: GHS Pressurewounds ~ Tangy Not Twangy
You might try a set of coated rounds for smoothness to the touch and they still sound like rounds. I've never liked nylon taped strings, but to each their own. As always your mileage may vary.
 
#5
You might try a lighter gauge roundwound to reduce the amount of pressure you need to fret a note.

You also might try Elixir strings. The protective coating is kind of slick feeling and they stay bright for ages.
 
#6
Gorn said:
If Fender nickels are hurting your fingers, I don't know if pressure wounds will make that much of a difference.
Click to expand...

To me, the Fender NPS rounds are just like D'Addario XL Nickels, which I find quite a bit rougher than the Pressurewounds. As a flatwound enthusiast, I tend to be very fussy when it comes to finger noise and the overall surface texture. Sure, the PWs are not flatwound-smooth as such, but they're noticeably smoother and quieter (finger noise, that is) than any rounds I've tried without sacrificing too much of the round-ish tone.
 
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#7
Thanks for all the suggestions. I really do love the flatwounds as my main string, but some songs/styles just almost require the roundwound type of sound. I'm going to look into all your suggestions and see where that takes me. I know that most/all roundwound players probably see no problems with the feel of the stock Fender strings, but I don't really care for them myself. Thanks again.
 
#9
I'd suggest:

DR Pure Blues nickel rounds. Very smooth feeling and sounding round without too much bite. Softer tension compared to most rounds. Sounds great on a Jazz Bass, which is what I've got them on right now.

D'Addario Chromes - not so much brighter (IMO) as a clearer sounding flat with plenty of high end and as silky textured to the fingers as it comes. Sound fantastic on the right PBass IMO. This is the string that finally bumped my long time fave GHS Pressurewounds from my everyday PBass. Even (possibly) better are the Tomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats which are the most midrangey and complex sounding flats you'll ever find. The TIs have a noticeably lower tension that a lot of players don't like. And at ~$75 per set, they're expensive relative to almost everything else that's out there. So they're a bit of a risk if you haven't heard and played them before. I've got two PBasses. One of them always has a set of TIs on it.

LaBella Copper White Nylon Tapewounds - complex mids, nice solid bottom and just enough top to make it interesting. Very unique (and comfortable) feel unlike anything else out there. You could also try their Gold White Nylons for something brighter if that's you thing. I prefer the coppers over both the golds and the straight white nylons. But that's me. I personally never once like a nylon tapewound string until I tried these coppers. And I've tried just about all of them. Most never made past a day or two before I pulled them off. These coppers have become one of my favorite strings almost overnight. Highly recommended.
 
#10
I think I'm going to try a set of the copper white tapes for starters. I texted Jason and he said they had some more coming in later next week. If I have to go thru several sets/types of strings, then so be it. Not that I'm rich but music/playing is so much a part of my life that if I'm not gonna outfit my basses with what makes me sound and play the best; then I'm a half stepper from jump street. Thanks again guys. I'll post about the results.
 
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#11
I recently came back to round wounds on my p

I like the Dunlop lights 100 - 40

Great feel and they bring out all the nuances in a p

They don't have a long life but after trying several flats and tapewound over the last few years, it felt like coming home

Nothing against the flats but they have their limits and contrary to some popular opinions on this forum, round wounds can sound awesome on a p

Rossa
 
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#12
What gauge do you play? I've always played ultra lites because I never noticed a big tonal differences in bigger strings...I just noticed my.left hand hurt more and worked harder than necessary. As a brand I've ayed Ernie Ball Slinkys for years and years. For rounds they seem a bit easier on the hand then any other brand I have tried... GHS,D'addario, tried playing Blue Steels for awhile but they are just too expensive and don't last that long for the money. Good luck and hope you find something that works.
 
#14
Jbassrockboy said:
I recently came back to round wounds on my p

I like the Dunlop lights 100 - 40

Great feel and they bring out all the nuances in a p

They don't have a long life but after trying several flats and tapewound over the last few years, it felt like coming home

Nothing against the flats but they have their limits and contrary to some popular opinions on this forum, round wounds can sound awesome on a p

Rossa
Click to expand...


+1 I used to be in the flats only for P basses club I also used to think the thicker the string the deeper the tone and the Labella Jamerson set was my go to then I discovered GHS Bass Boomers and wow my P became a different instrument with just a slight turn of the tone knob I can go from Reggae to Punk without using any pedals. I keep forgetting they are rounds because they are so smooth and I love the G string it isn't tinny or shrill. Another plus is the lack finger noise these strings are the quietest round string I've tried they're also inexpensive. I just bought a pair of Bass Boomers Round Core strings for my Jazz I haven't installed those yet I can't wait to see what they sound like.
 
#17
I just recently tried out the GHS pressurewounds and the Labella Gold Tapes, both strings on a P bass (currently use chromes on the P bass, I have two P basses).

The Labella golds were the most comfortable easy to play string ever, and no finger noise at all and super smooth, more so than flats. Problem was they lacked in the tone department as they were not as bright as I would have thought, they were not as deep or punchy as my chromes.

The GHS pressurewounds were almost the complete opposite. The tone was absolutely amazing to my ear. Low and punchy but still bright moder type of tone. The downside was the finger noise and the rough feeling to my fingers - but I have to say I have only played flats for the last several years so I am sure my fingers would adjust to the feeling and I believe with technique and breaking the strings in and finger ease spray the finger noise could go down a lot.

Two questions I have:

Are there any tapes that are deeper and brighter than the labella golds? In other words if they could make a string with the tone of the GHS pressurewound but the feel of the tapewound then I would pay $200 dollars for strings like that because that to me would be heaven.

I have heard good things about Boomers and nickel elixirs. How do the coated boomers and coated elixirs nickels compare to the pressurewound in terms of brightness, finger comfort and finger noise?

Thanks.
 
#20
michael_t said:
I thought "groundwounds" were basically the same as "half-rounds". Are they THAT bad?

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Click to expand...
To be fair @michael_t, YES! I tried a set of D'Addario groundwounds in 1985 or so. What tommy rot! They were supposed to be the best of both the roundwound and flatwound worlds. They were anything but! The very worst of all worlds is what I say.

I've not tried GHS Brite Flats, nor do I want to. Thank you very much.
 

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