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Why do roundwounds have less longevity than flatwounds?
- Thread starter TheIndieKid
- Start date
GHS Fast Fret will extend the life of nickel and nickel plated rounds.
They were designed to emulate upright bass strings.
Rounds have much more high end, which will erode in time. Flats don't have the high end to lose in the first place. Old rounds start to approach the sound of flats, but never really get there.
Rounds start out sounding good (bright) to the user, but transition to dull, which most users of round-wounds don't like, so the user changes strings to achieve brightness again.
Flats start out sounding less bright than rounds, which the user likes, and become even less bright, as they are are played, which the user likes even more, so the user doesn't change strings, because it doesn't achieve anything desirable.
The truth is that rounds don't have less longevity than flats, it's that round-wound users are less tolerant of the tone of of old rounds than flat-wound users are of the tone of old flats.
Flats start out sounding less bright than rounds, which the user likes, and become even less bright, as they are are played, which the user likes even more, so the user doesn't change strings, because it doesn't achieve anything desirable.
The truth is that rounds don't have less longevity than flats, it's that round-wound users are less tolerant of the tone of of old rounds than flat-wound users are of the tone of old flats.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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First, the round windings grab your fingers. Therefore, your fingers rub the plating (nickel, chrome, gold) off like, 30 times faster.
Second, gunk from your fingers gets trapped between the strings. Therefore, the resonant over tones get dampened.
Third, there's a small space between the windings, hence the separated wraps. Therefore, they are prone for corrosion.
Boiling strings will rust them. I have had stainless steel rounds break on me after a few boilings. I did it for 30 years or more and it brightens the string up for a short time only, but the best way to clean a roundwound is to soak it in denatured alcohol. The alcohol cleans between the windings and gets the oils and grit out. The link shows how to make the tube. I made one 15 years ago and its the best way of brightening up roundwound strings. Unbeatable method.
The Bass String Cleaning Tube | Bass Gear | StudyBass
The Bass String Cleaning Tube | Bass Gear | StudyBass
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Just my opinion, but generally speaking, folks who prefer roundwounds use them because they typically provide more fidelity compared to flatwounds. However, the high end fidelity lessens as roundwounds are played, and the only way to get that fidelity back is to replace them when they sound too dull.
I haven't used flatwounds in many years, but when I did, I used them for their fatter, smoother tone.
I haven't used flatwounds in many years, but when I did, I used them for their fatter, smoother tone.
Why do roundwounds have less longevity than flatwounds?
They do?!
I have not noticed that(no joke - My main bass has had the same set of rounds for 6 years now, 3hrs playing each day approx.).
They do?!
I have not noticed that(no joke - My main bass has had the same set of rounds for 6 years now, 3hrs playing each day approx.).
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JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
- Disclosures
- I suck, but nobody really notices
I use the Tone Gear String Cleaner, and the occasional Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes. Works wonders. Although, I also play gold rounds, which last hella long anyway.
I used to wipe my strings down with alcohol at the end of every gig. It seemed to prolong the brightness a good bit.
As others have said I always believed it was because of the windings collecting grease and dirt easier on rounds whereas flats are smooth.
I always heard that Eddie Van Halen boils his strings and dries them in the sun. But not to make them last longer. Just because he's EVH I guess.
There is this video of Marlowe with advice on how to clean rounds. I can't speak for its effectiveness I just use flats and don't worry about suck things.
I always heard that Eddie Van Halen boils his strings and dries them in the sun. But not to make them last longer. Just because he's EVH I guess.
There is this video of Marlowe with advice on how to clean rounds. I can't speak for its effectiveness I just use flats and don't worry about suck things.
I’ll bet that an ultrasonic cleaner with a non-aqueous solvent like the alcohol would be very effective.
Mr Scaggs nailed it perfectly, said it all with his comment.
I do have a few basses with flats, and they work well for the sound they achieve, but I really love all of the harmonically rich overtones only a fresh set of rounds can get. While I will leave flats on a bass forever, as the primary sound does not change much, I change out rounds every 2-3 weeks on my main players.
If they found a way to make the sound of a fresh set of rounds last as long as the flats do, I’d never change them either. But that hasn’t happened yet.
I do have a few basses with flats, and they work well for the sound they achieve, but I really love all of the harmonically rich overtones only a fresh set of rounds can get. While I will leave flats on a bass forever, as the primary sound does not change much, I change out rounds every 2-3 weeks on my main players.
If they found a way to make the sound of a fresh set of rounds last as long as the flats do, I’d never change them either. But that hasn’t happened yet.
