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Semi flat wound strings...who uses them?

#6
GHS Brite Flats on a fretless Fender Jazz bass. I've tried these strings on a couple of other basses, and wasn't super impressed, but they sound great on this one.

I've also tried D'Addario Half Rounds on this fretless bass. I think, same general sound, but the Brite Flats seem to have more punch, more energy. I suppose it's the nickel-iron alloy material.
 
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#9
michael_t said:
BFs (groundwound) provide the retro flavor I want out of my P-bass without some of the quirks of flats.
Click to expand...

I just installed a brand new set of GHS Brite Flats (45-98) on my P bass yesterday. This is my third time trying this set.

First time was on my Jazz, and it was a total bust as I was caught off guard by their unpleasantly sticky feel. Besides, they seemed to suck the J bass character out of my J bass. 3 wks and they were off.

Second time was on my Precision, and it was slightly better as I learned to deal with the initial stickiness. But I eventually decided they weren't the right thing as I was looking to get the "80's rock" tone out of my P at the time, and they turned out to be a little too "flatwound" in their tonal character for what I wanted. 3 wks and they were off.

The main reason why I wanted to try them again is I've been spending more time lately playing oldies from the 70's (where my musical roots are) and wanted to get a slightly more retro flavor out of my P bass than I was getting with the Pressurewounds without going all the way back to flats. And it's interesting how a slight shift in one's focus can change the whole perspective on the string choice; all of a sudden, my P bass is sounding exactly like I want it to sound!

I have a feeling these BFs will stay on for more than 3 wks this time around. ;):thumbsup:
 
#12
I'm on my 4th year with GHS Pressurewound. I've used Ken Smith Compressors (which many said they are the siblings of the Pressurewounds) and like them too. Prior to these, I had tried D'Addario HalfRounds but didn't like them.

I have no longer (the regular) Pressurewound on my electric, but the Pressurewound Bronzes aren't going anywhere from my ABG.
 
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#13
michael_t said:
Some people call the GHS Pressurewounds "semi-flat"; I would call them "semi-round" as their tonal character is more roundwound than flatwound. ;)
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No one calls them that.
Most call them whats on the package.
Pressurewound.Groundwound.Flatwound.Halfwound.
No one calls them "semi"anything.
 
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#14
Watchootognbout said:
No one calls them "semi"anything.
Click to expand...

I do. ;)

Just trying to make a point about the Pressurewound being more roundwound in their tonal character than flatwound. That's all. The technical term for them is "rollerwound" according to GHS.

GHS Graphics PW.png
 
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#15
Play mainly rounds, like especially ELX170. Just slapped some D'Addario Half-Round on a P-bass to try those out:
+ Less tension and more "bouncy" than D'Addario Chrome, especially on E & A strings, which I prefer.
+ Strong fondamental, very little overtone
+ Reasonably priced
- Unexpected stickiness. Weird at first, quickly got used to it.
- Much closer to flats than rounds, wish they were brighter.
 
#16
callmejs said:
- Unexpected stickiness. Weird at first, quickly got used to it.
- Much closer to flats than rounds, wish they were brighter.
Click to expand...

GHS Brite Flats (half-rounds) I put on my P bass two days ago are already feeling nice and smooth after a few hours of good workout yesterday. And yes, they do sound more like flats than rounds, but that's okay by me because that's exactly what I expected (and wanted) from these puppies.
 
#17
callmejs said:
Play mainly rounds, like especially ELX170. Just slapped some D'Addario Half-Round on a P-bass to try those out:
+ Less tension and more "bouncy" than D'Addario Chrome, especially on E & A strings, which I prefer.
+ Strong fondamental, very little overtone
+ Reasonably priced
- Unexpected stickiness. Weird at first, quickly got used to it.
- Much closer to flats than rounds, wish they were brighter.
Click to expand...
I'm interested in the comment about "less tension and more bounce" than Chromes. I haven't tried half-rounds in ages, but for D'Addario users, is that a general impression? What about Brite Flats? More flexible than, let's say, Chromes?
 
#19
TomB said:
What about Brite Flats? More flexible than, let's say, Chromes?
Click to expand...

As a general rule, half-rounds are slightly stiffer in feel than rounds of comparable gauges but not quite as stiff as flats like the Chromes.

The light set of the Brite Flats (45-56-77-98) do feel stiffer than the light set of the Pressurewounds (40-54-76-96), although the difference in the actual tension (as in pulling weight) is only about 5 lbs. What I do like about both of these sets is they're nicely tension-balanced overall.

PW L7200:

G 040 - 37.2 lbs.
D 054 - 36.5
A 076 - 39.3
E 096 - 34.2 (Total 147.2)

BF L3075:

G 045 - 38.3 lbs.
D 056 - 35.9
A 077 - 39.3
E 098 - 38.8 (Total 152.3)

Just for comparison...

D'A Chromes ECB80 (40-95)

G 040 - 37.83 lbs.
D 060 - 46.49
A 075 - 42.58
E 095 - 36.20 (Total 163.10)

D'A Half Rounds ENR70 (40-95)

G 040 - 36.90 lbs.
D 060 - 39.05
A 075 - 32.27
E 095 - 31.23 (Total 139.45)
 

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