Which rounds for a flat guy?

[Mike Vee]

My main player is a P-bass with LaBella Low Tension Flats. I just got another P-bass to put rounds on. Looking for that Smiths / R.E.M. style tone for a bit of variety in my playing...learning some new material. I want something with a medium light tension and "easy" on the fingers.

Recommendations? Thanks.

 

[Eddie Jones]

The very best for what you are looking for. TI Jazz rounds. Hands down the best in feel and suppleness. They will spoil your fingers. But they do have a small weakness. They don't slap very well.

 

[Mike Vee]

The very best for what you are looking for. TI Jazz rounds. Hands down the best in feel and suppleness. They will spoil your fingers. But they do have a small weakness. They don't slap very well.

I'm concerned they may be too floppy.

 

[dedpool1052]

I'm fond of GHS boomers once they loose the initial new-string zing.

I've got a handful of new sets in my stash.

I'd have no problem giving you a set to try out.

 

[marchone]

My main player is a Fender Jazz Bass strung with TI flats. Roundwound strings I have on a Telecaster Bass are Rotosound 66s. Best of both worlds IMHO.

 

[CallMeAl]

I’ll throw out DR pure blues. Punchy mids, not overly bright, smooth winding that’s easy on the fingers, round core. Or Sunbeams if you want a more scooped, polite tone.

 

[bassdude51]

I like these although they are technically not full rounds.

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[TomB]

I’m mostly set up with flats for blues gigs - works well. But I also have some rock and newish country gigs as well. For that I’m going in a completely new direction, for me anyway. I’m setting up a PJ with stainless strings. I’ve only ever used them well-worn, but kinda liked the sound. We’ll see what new Dunlop stainless rounds bring.

 

[michael_t]

I like these although they are technically not full rounds.

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As a former flatwound enthusiast, I initially loved their smooth feel and lack of finger noise, only to realize they weren't give me the tone I needed (= roundwound). Since I've always hated the feel of rounds, I needed a string that gave me the roundwound tone without the roundwound feel. That's when I discovered GHS Pressurewounds, which have been my #1 go-to ever since.

 

[Mike Vee]

I'm fond of GHS boomers once they loose the initial new-string zing.

I've got a handful of new sets in my stash.

I'd have no problem giving you a set to try out.

thanks for the kind gesture! ill get back to you if that's how things go. appreciate it.

 

[Mike Vee]

As a former flatwound enthusiast, I initially loved their smooth feel and lack of finger noise, only to realize they weren't give me the tone I needed (= roundwound). Since I've always hated the feel of rounds, I needed a string that gave me the roundwound tone without the roundwound feel. That's when I discovered GHS Pressurewounds, which have been my #1 go-to ever since.

I have some (used for a day) Pressurewounds in the drawer actually. i was never a huge fan, but that's when i was trying to cover flats and rounds with one string - which just isn't possible. Now that I have a dedicated roundwound bass, these just might be prefect.

 

[Mike Vee]

My main player is a Fender Jazz Bass strung with TI flats. Roundwound strings I have on a Telecaster Bass are Rotosound 66s. Best of both worlds IMHO.

I think Rotos is what I'll try if the GHS don't work out, and then off to DR XL nickles lastly.

Thanks all!

 

[michael_t]

I have some (used for a day) Pressurewounds in the drawer actually. i was never a huge fan, but that's when i was trying to cover flats and rounds with one string - which just isn't possible. Now that I have a dedicated roundwound bass, these just might be prefect.

Did you mean you already have a dedicated flatwound bass (with La Bella LTF), you can now use the Pressurewounds as your "roundwound" on the other P bass?

If I had two P basses to work with, I would put flats on one and PWs on the other and call it a day.

 

[Mike Vee]

Did you mean you already have a dedicated flatwound bass (with La Bella LTF), you can now use the Pressurewounds as your "roundwound" on the other P bass?

If I had two P basses to work with, I would put flats on one and PWs on the other and call it a day.

yep, exactly. sorry for the confusion haha.

that's the plan, hope it works.

 

[cavemanbass]

I'm concerned they may be too floppy.

Try the extra long JR. E is .101. Still fairly light but much more substantial than the long scale JR. But you will have one half to one wrap on tuning post with no silk.

 

[GIBrat51]

I'm concerned they may be too floppy.

I can't speak to the long scale TI Jazz Rounds, but the longer-than-most-medium-scale-strings "Short scale" set on my Gretsch Broadkaster - which happily wears most long scale strings like it was made for them - doesn't strike me as "floppy" at all. They aren't quite as stiff as the flats that I normally play with a pick, but they're stiff enough to work OK. However... they may strike you as too expensive; they are the priciest rounds I've ever bought. But, they're definitely the nicest rounds I've ever bought; and, if they last anywhere near as long as their flatwound cousins? They'll be worth the price...

 

[Nebadon2000]

Markbass Ultimate Soft Touch

 

[el murdoque]

Check out Elixir. Their coating makes them last a long time and they are very easy on the fingers.
They are not super bright out of the box, but sound like a set that has been played for a week.
This sound stays for months, though.

 

[Element Zero]

Love these.

 

[GrapeBass]

I initially had the intention of getting a P just to put rounds on but was lucky enough to get one that already had worn in flats, needless to say I kept those flats on that P and wound up waiting for a companion P that I could wrap some rounds on. I found a nice P and immediately put on the classic Rotosound RS66LF Swing Bass 66 Stainless Steals simply because it is the classic round wound P bass sound. If that's what your looking for, tonally, I'd just say go for it!