What's your favorite Roundwound?

[mexicanyella]

I haven't been playing bass long enough to go through multiple string sets, but the couple-year-old set of Dunlop nickel-plated rounds I have on my Squier P (.045-.105) really sound good to me now that they've mellowed. Dealing with their bright twang while trying to get my technique together was unpleasant at times, but I'm a little better now and the strings, while not muddy and indistinct to my ear, are pleasantly darker.

I don't mind the roundwound feel now that I've got calluses. But I plan to try DR Sunbeam rounds, and D'Addario Chrome flatwounds and GHS Cobalt flatwounds one of these days.

 

[smogg]

D'Addario is my go to. Toss up between Nickle XL-BT and the EXP coated nickels. I use the XL170BT set (45-60-80-107) + 130. I use the single string option (at BSO) to build coated sets, 45-60-80-105-130. As others have stated I occasionally check out other brands but always come back to D'Addario. The coated sets are easy on the fingers and I still get that signature XL tone.

 

[Blueinred]

Oh yeh, forgot to mention: The Roto roundwounds will keep me out of jail if I ever
get fingerprinted for a pawn shop bass heist: They will never be able to read my LH finger tips

Now, that right there is funny.

I don't care who ya are, that's funny.

 

[bassliner50]

Dean Markley Blue Steels (medium 2676.) I can coax great tone from 'em and they last and last.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

I'm still trying to find my favorites!

 

[Desuh]

Rotosound NICKLE Swing 66. The blue packaging, not the awful ones they sell at guitar center. I'm a flats guy, but the RS66LDN are killer.

 

[jalapejoe]

Is it just me but dont nickles seem more aggressive and punchy? I use to only use SS and now I just love nickles way more?

Sincerely,
Joey

 

[petrus61]

Is it just me but dont nickles seem more aggressive and punchy? I use to only use SS and now I just love nickles way more?

Sincerely,
Joey

I think nickel rounds tend to have a bit more low mid emphasis, which can = "punch". That said, I find SS to be more aggressive, but everyone's definition is different!

 

[jalapejoe]

Dean Markley Blue Steels (medium 2676.) I can coax great tone from 'em and they last and last.

Actually the Blue Steels are my favorite SS string totally agree.

 

[REMBO]

orotund swing bass 66's

 

[Thrillhouse]

Rotos. All the reasons I love them have already been said. I will say that I spent the better part of the last year or so trying every brand/type of string I could get my hands on and ended up going back to what I had been using before I started experimenting: plain old RS66LDs.

 

[hondo4life]

EB Regular Slinky. Why use anything else?

 

[2tonic]

GHS Bass Boomers 40-95. Started using em in 1972, never found a reason to stop. Have a Status that wears B-52's (30-50-70-90) but those are getting hard to find in sets.
Tried Roto's, Dean Markleys ( ice?) and some sort of copper wound piano type strings where only the core wire goes over the bridge saddles (possibly D'Addario?) back in the 90s. Nothing worked as well FOR ME as boomers.

I might add that when touring I changed strings twice a week and Boomers could be had for $12 a set when you were buying 20~30 sets at a time. JMTC

 

[Laurent]

Ernie Ball Super Slinky.
The pink wrapper is not the most manly but their tone is ferocious!
You can't upstage a classic.

 

[John Wentzien]

Roto 66 standard Stainless Steel.

 

[detroitbasscity]

Nothing like the thump of the La Bella's with a .52 to whatever the other gauge is.

Buying a new American Standard p bass tomorrow, what rounds should I put on them?

 

[comatosedragon]

Rounds?
I have quickly come around to DR Hi-Beams (light gauge).

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Ernie ball hybrid slinky 45-105. I've been using them forever. I put a set of Dunlop super brights on one of my p's. Not bad, still haven't decided if they are the one for me though.. I found them a little too light feel wise.

 

[petrus61]

On my current main bass? Never thought I'd say this, but Daddario XL 45-100 nickel. I've knocked them for years, but I can't deny what they do for this bass in both feel and tone. Still searching for the perfect set for my 5.

Disclaimer: I may have a different favorite next month. I'm a total string whore.

 

[mmbongo]

After trying them all....


Dunlop Super Bright Nickels.
Lower tension like a round core, but with the snap and stability of a hex core. No clank or zing, just pure clarity with a nice crunch in the mids and a huge clean bottom end. They sound like a clear blue sky on an autumn day, and they last forever. I usually end up replacing them when I forget how long I've had them on! Usually 6-8 months or so.