Semi flat wound strings...who uses them?

[AboutSweetSue]

Those were truly exceptional strings. It's a shame they were discontinued, but I think it speaks to the demand of this type of string. LaBella is a small company compared to GHS and D'Addario and can't afford the dead weight of the folks aren't buying. I remember buying one of the last sets from BSO (at the time) and by the time I wanted another set for a different bass, they had been 86'd. Somewhat OT, but Labella's Deep Talkin Rounds were also amazing and unique in that they were constructed literally the same exact way, with the same machines since the 70's. They were probably the last real connection to what a vintage round would have played and sounded like.

I heard that they are still made but by custom order only in batches of 36. I don't know how true this is. Regardless, I searched and searched without any luck and then all of the sudden there are 98 QRs available on a site that Michael T pointed out and one available on EBay for $25. There is also a NOS set of Deep Talkin' Rounds on EBay for $20 (as of yesterday). The rounds don't pop up often, at all. I'm not a rounds guy, but if they are the last connection to vintage rounds...I may need to grab those out of curiosity.

 

[dagrev]

I've been using GHS Pressurewounds for years. I have them on two basses currently and they are "the" string for those basses, but they sound really good on others as well. I suppose they feel closer to flats but sound more like rounds. I've tried ground wounds several times and at times they sound OK, the grippy feel I just can't endure. I have not tried the GHS version, and likely won't unless I am given a set to try. Most all purpose type strings are blah, but GHS PWs are very much well suited to do many things well.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

That one set of vintage construction rounds is a medium scale set. How would that do on a Gibson Sg? Any info welcome.

 

[woodyng2]

I had a set of daddario half rounds on my Rick Cheyenne ii.
They sounded great, a smoother roundwound sound with a flatwound feel, but i've discovered
I don't like the relative stiffness of daddario strings in general.
I sold that bass, and am in the process of replacing the chromes, xls, etc on various basses i still have.
On my Rick 4000, I just replaced a set of chromes with pressurewounds,which have a great smooth feel,
and a very grindy RW sound.

 

[MrLenny1]

Tried them several times and just did not make it ofr me.
I'm stuck on R/W.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have tried a few different "pressurewound" strings, and at least two different "groundwound" strings, and the only one I liked were the Ken Smith Slick Round (which are groundwounds). I use those on one of my fretless 5-strings and they work great for that bass.
All the other sets reminded me of why "hybrid" bicycles are such a frustrating idea: Because they're a compromise, rather than a brilliant synergy, between the strengths of their constituent halves.

 

[woodyng2]

I have tried a few different "pressurewound" strings, and at least two different "groundwound" strings, and the only one I liked were the Ken Smith Slick Round (which are groundwounds). I use those on one of my fretless 5-strings and they work great for that bass.
All the other sets reminded me of why "hybrid" bicycles are such a frustrating idea: Because they're a compromise, rather than a brilliant synergy, between the strengths of their constituent halves.

Exactly. I just prefer to have some basses with flats, and some with rounds.
(Although I have found Labella Copper White tapewounds to have great characteristics of each type
in one string).

 

[J-Mags]

I've been using GHS Pressurewounds for years. I have them on two basses currently and they are "the" string for those basses, but they sound really good on others as well. I suppose they feel closer to flats but sound more like rounds. I've tried ground wounds several times and at times they sound OK, the grippy feel I just can't endure. I have not tried the GHS version, and likely won't unless I am given a set to try. Most all purpose type strings are blah, but GHS PWs are very much well suited to do many things well.

I think they get really smooth over time. I played some on a friend's bass that were several years old, and they were as smooth as anything. I've never been able to make it past the stage with the weird feel and my hands turning black.