Warmest roundwound strings

[SactoBass]

I used to use GHS Boomers, but once I made the switch to DR Sunbeams, I stuck with the beams. Good thick warm tone, and they last a long time. Great strings!!

I also use Ken Smith Compressors on one of my basses. Great warm tone, excellent feel (smoother than regular roundwounds), and easy on the frets.

I have not tried the Fender all-nickels.

I would have to say that my favorite strings are the DR Sunbeams, followed by the Ken Smith Compressors. I only play fretted basses, but if I played a fretless, I would go with the Compressors as they would be easier on the fretboard.

 

[IronLung1986]

rotosound 88's are flatwounds but i think they might be worth a shot, especially for the smooth jazz stuff. i guess mccartney used them on abbey road. anyway they look really intriguing on the website.

 

[laklandplayer]

Elixers.

 

[grifff]

I just started using DR FatBeams and *man* - Huge low-mid growl, not too much sizzle. I thought I'd never find a string I liked more than DR LoRides, but these take the cake.

+1 These are my favorite string by far...too bad they are more expensive than most other strings. They do sound great though.

 

[fretlessguy]

I have found Fender 7150 Pure nickels and GHS Pressurewounds to meet that category.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Thomastick SuperAlloy's
nickel plating on a nickel core (most nickel strings are just nickel plating on a steel core)
they're the only string i use anymore.

 

[eyecandy]

Fender 7150.. also Rocco Prestio's signature strings, I heard they have muted highs

 

[plangentmusic]

I can't believe they still make those "half-rounds." They're the WORST of both worlds -- not as smooth as flats, and don't have the snap of rounds. And they feel HORRIBLE.

To me. Nickel rounds are the best compromise. They maintain the roundwound tonality with a little less "zing." So if you want to sound like Squire or Miller, they're not for you, but for everything else they work well.

 

[P-oddz]

+1 Sunbeams!

I thought I remember them being a little bright at first, but man do they sound great used. My set has been sitting on my Jazz for probably just shy of a year now, and they sound so good and feel great to play too.

 

[strappa]

Thomastick SuperAlloy's
nickel plating on a nickel core (most nickel strings are just nickel plating on a steel core)
they're the only string i use anymore.

+1

The TI SuperAlloys are very warm and have a great tone

 

[darkstorm]

Rotosound. There stainless steel strings arent as bright as other stainless strings. There nickel strings as I remember are a little darker still.

 

[BassistForHire]

I like nickel roundwounds especially after you get enough oil and grime in the windings so they don't squeak but mostly I've used pressure-wound strings for the last 20 years (when the only place I could find them was the Carvin catalog). They sound like dirty roundwounds out of the box with more snap and less squeak.

 

[Gintaras]

Sunbeams are great. Also Search on the Dunlop Nickels in the string section. Lots of love for this string. I got a set a few months ago and love the sound. They are nickel over steel,

 

[Craig_S]

Sunbeams are great. Also Search on the Dunlop Nickels in the string section. Lots of love for this string. I got a set a few months ago and love the sound. They are nickel over steel,

I love nickel Dunlop strings.

 

[lmfreeman9]

DR NICKEL LO-RIDERS. I can't believe no one has mentioned them.

I use mostly flats, but by far Nickel is the only way to go for me on rounds. I am using some Markley Nickel rounds and about to try the Duncans, but so far Nickel Lo-Riders are the deepest sounding.

 

[Tusec]

The pure nickel Fenders are pretty dark sounding. I like them.

 

[Tom Howland]

I've tried them all.

1-DR Sunbeams
2-Ken Smith Compressors.
3-GHS Half-Rounds.
4-GHS Nylon Coated.

Now, DR Sunbeams are my favorite rounds
TI-Flats are my favorite flats.

 

[BassistForHire]

I use Sunbeams on all my acoustic guitar and have been meaning to try them on my 5 string bass but they are not advertised to fit 35" scale. They are pressure wound on a round core. What you end up with is the mass of a string a gauge higher... i.e. a .42 string has the mass of a regular wound hex core .43 and has the flexibility of a .40. Does anyone use them on a 35" scale?

 

[blindbassist]

Might I suggest Ernie Ball Slinkies. I can tell you from personal experience that they begin to darken noticeably after one week of solid use. They're geared more towards rock bassplaying, but here's a link to bass-strings.com where someone writes about how he was able to use them in a jazz setting: Link Removed

 

[Session1969]

Fat beams are warmer that Sunbeams , aren't they ?