Update on my strings situation

[Arii Tahamena]

okay yikes. im back with an update about my strings making red marks on my fingers apparently called calluses?
I have gotten quite a few replies and I have come to the conclusion that
I do not have any allergy to my strings.
The strings on my bass are roundwound.
And the redness and calluses? can be caused by how much pressure I'm putting on my strings.
But now that I cleared this up I need a bit more help.
So should I keep my current strings or get flatwound strings?

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Get your fingers replaced, they are the problem... It's a joke, this is just normal that your fingers are reacting to the strings. If you like the sound of the bass with the roundwounds, try it out for a little while and your fingers should adjust and your fingers will be fine, just a little harder on the tip of them but that is normal... If you end up not liking them and combined with the fingers building calluses, go for the flatwound and give that a shot...

 

[soitainly]

One of the things that beginning guitarists and bassists need to learn is how much pressure is enough. At first it is a struggle and until you build calluses it's going to hurt. But if you keep at it a few weeks, and learn to apply just enough pressure to get the job done, then the pain pretty much goes away. The calluses are something you want, it is your body's response to wearing off the skin, making it thicker. I am not so sure that flatwounds are going to be any easier, the tension may be more. If you like rounds, keep them. There is no need to play till you bleed, show some restraint on how long and hard you practice and before you know it, you will probably never worry about pain again.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

okay yikes. im back with an update about my strings making red marks on my fingers apparently called calluses?
I have gotten quite a few replies and I have come to the conclusion that
I do not have any allergy to my strings.
The strings on my bass are roundwound.
And the redness and calluses? can be caused by how much pressure I'm putting on my strings.
But now that I cleared this up I need a bit more help.
So should I keep my current strings or get flatwound strings?

I started out using flatwounds and I remember when I switched to roundwounds it took some time for my calluses to get tougher. I recommend that you keep playing them and see how your fingertips feel after a few weeks.

I'm interested to find out if your strings' outer winding is stainless steel, nickel plated steel, or pure nickel. I know stainless steel has a sticky feel to me, and they also feel more abrasive to me, so I've used nickel plated roundwounds for many years. They typically feel a little smoother to me.


Here's a few options, should you find your calluses don't toughen up enough for you to continue using the roundwounds that are currently on your bass:

I've read many reviews for DR strings, and that they use a smaller gauge outer wrap wire, which a lot of users say has a smoother texture. DR strings might be something for you to look at in the future.

There's also compression wound strings. SIT, Ken Smith, and GHS offer strings were the outer wrap is ran through rollers to smooth the edges of the outer wrap. I'm a big fan of GHS Pressurewounds, and their texture is slightly smoother feeling to me versus most roundwounds. But keep in mind that compression wound strings have a different tonality to roundwounds.

Then there's groundwounds. I used them for quite a few years after using roundwounds for many years. They have an even smoother feeling texture than compression wound strings. They have a tonality that's quite a bit more mellow sounding than roundwounds, approaching a flatwound tone with a little more top end. Some folks despise them from what I've read here, I personally like them on a few of my basses.

Then there's flatwounds. Typically the smoothest feeling string. Of the brands I've used, I find their tone to be the most mellow, but they're a lot more versatile than you might expect. I've played in Rock bands using them and they served me very well. And there's different brands of them that offer more top end, D'Addario Chromes, TI's, Rotosound 77's, etc.

 

[Slater]

So should I keep my current strings or get flatwound strings?

If you like the sound of the roundwound strings, stick with them and let your fingers toughen up. Just limit your playing time so that it doesn’t become too uncomfortable for you to play. You can also try lighter gauge (smaller) strings. They should be a little easier on your fingers.

There are also pressurewound strings that are roundwounds, but the windings are squashed, so the strings feel smoother.

But, if you think you want that flatwound sound, go for it.

There are so many string choices now, that even veteran bass players are changing strings all the time. It’s like finding the right tool for the job, that also suits you best.

 

[michael_t]

okay yikes. im back with an update about my strings making red marks on my fingers apparently called calluses?

Just to clarify, are you talking about your fretting fingers or plucking fingers?

And the redness and calluses? can be caused by how much pressure I'm putting on my strings.

One of the crucial elements of playing comfort is a bass that's properly set up for the type/size of strings you're using. For example, stiff strings that are set up with a high action would require more force to press down, resulting in discomfort for the fretting hand. Setting up your bass with a low action and playing with a lighter touch would reduce the stress on both hands.

So should I keep my current strings or get flatwound strings?

As a former flatwound enthusiast, my suggestion to you is to choose the type of strings based on your tonal needs instead of how they feel. When I first discovered flats, I loved the way they felt under my fingers with smooth surface texture and no finger noise. However, I've since come to realize the flats don't give me the tone I need for what I do.

A couple of people have already mentioned the GHS Pressurewounds, which happen to be my favorite. They still give you a roundwound tone, but with a smoother feel. The light-gauge set (L7200) should be easy enough on your finger tips.

 

[crucislancer]

okay yikes. im back with an update about my strings making red marks on my fingers apparently called calluses?
I have gotten quite a few replies and I have come to the conclusion that
I do not have any allergy to my strings.
The strings on my bass are roundwound.
And the redness and calluses? can be caused by how much pressure I'm putting on my strings.
But now that I cleared this up I need a bit more help.
So should I keep my current strings or get flatwound strings?

Roundwounds certainly have a rougher texture, though some roundwounds aren't as rough as others. Any idea what brand of string you are using? For a less rough feel, I recommend D'Addario XL Nickel Plated Steel strings.

I also highly recommend getting a complete setup on your bass, with a lower string action. Also, work on a lighter touch on your fretting hand. With some practice you can gauge just how much pressure you need to keep the string on the fret and produce a note, and eventually it will become second nature. I don't even think about it now, but I know that I don't put nearly as much force on the strings when fretting as I did 20 or 30 years ago.