Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why do roundwounds have less longevity than flatwounds?
- Thread starter TheIndieKid
- Start date
Rounds = Champagne & Beer.
Flats = Fine wine.
Flats = Fine wine.
Hey, there was about 300,000 bottles of, now 100 year old, champagne in a sunken boat off Finland or somewhere like that I believe that, people thought were the crux of alcoholic drinks. In fact some of the selling prices were obscene. So hey, it’s still down to opinion haha!
DR Hi Beams. The round wound that lasts forever.
EB Cobalt Flats. The flat that pretends to be a round wound, that last forever.
EB Cobalt Flats. The flat that pretends to be a round wound, that last forever.
The truth of the matter is I have no idea what I'm talking about as I know absolutely nothing about alcoholic beverages.
And the truth is here, I don’t either, but I know random facts like that, so uh, if there’s a Talkbass General Knowledge quiz in the miscellaneous forum, count me in.
I somehow accidentally upset a Rotosound genie once (apparently this is true). He cursed me so that every time I touch a Rotosound roundwound string the whole set immediately goes dull.
D'Addario Chromes and Fender NPS do not have such malevolent forces.
D'Addario Chromes and Fender NPS do not have such malevolent forces.
Roundwounds have all those valleys in between all those ridges to collect skin, oil and general gunk that makes them get dull. Flats are smooth. Just in case you wanted someone to answer your question.
That's about it in a nutshell.
END OF THREAD.
HaHaHa!
I think the 'Rotosound Genie' has cursed many a bass player, myself included. 
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I can't get a set of rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings to die.Then again, I only play the Yamaha BB424x out once every 4 months or so....HaHaHa!
Some people like broken in, dull rounds - so rounds could last until one breaks.
Glenn Fricker did a video where he explain that you can make old roundwound strings brand new just by boiling them. And it actually works ! Never checked tho... The boiling water just remove all the dirt and dead skin. So i guess it's the dirt that stuck in the gaps of the roundwound strings that make them less clear.
Can’t fix oxidation though, and now I think of it, I suppose that’s what makes flatwounds dull. I’ve always found boiling only works for like half an hour, then the strings are back to their previous deadness.
Last edited:
It's kind of an illusion that they last longer.
It's because the desired sound from rounds, the twang and the zing, only lasts so long. People tend to change out rounds more often because they are chasing after this sound. There are stories of producers making the bassist change strings every take.
People tend to like the warmth of flats more. But they have the same twangy break in period as rounds. If you like bright, twangy flats, you can be like Steve Harris and change them often.
I've kept rounds on basses for ages at times. They take on warm flatwound characteristics (although, not quite as deep sounding). Some people desire this sound, like Ben Sheppard.
That, in a nutshell, is it. In addition, the above mentioned valleys where corrosion can occur since they're hard to clean.
It's because the desired sound from rounds, the twang and the zing, only lasts so long. People tend to change out rounds more often because they are chasing after this sound. There are stories of producers making the bassist change strings every take.
People tend to like the warmth of flats more. But they have the same twangy break in period as rounds. If you like bright, twangy flats, you can be like Steve Harris and change them often.
I've kept rounds on basses for ages at times. They take on warm flatwound characteristics (although, not quite as deep sounding). Some people desire this sound, like Ben Sheppard.
That, in a nutshell, is it. In addition, the above mentioned valleys where corrosion can occur since they're hard to clean.
I can't get a set of rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings to die.Then again, I only play the Yamaha BB424x out once every 4 months or so....
I burned my 66 5 string set in around 30-40hrs of playtime. Granted, it took me cca. a week to do that.
The true way of boiling strings is to add detergent as well. It really does clean up the string. Nickels will corrode faster but ss strings will be much easier to go through this procedure. Boiled this way they will easily sound nice and zingy for cca. 5-10hrs of playtime.
They will never sound truly brand new though but it’s a great way to get some new life from strings for some side gigs where you want a fresh string sound bit don’t want to spend big bucks for a fresh set. I saved tons of cash doing this myself.
