Chromes flat wounds vs D'Addario half rounds

[AaronVonRock]

I've been using Chromes (medium) exclusively for the past 4 years. I still dig everything about them but am curious to try some half rounds. For reference, I usually play with the tone knob on the bass almost at 0% and use lots of fuzz and overdrive. Anyone have experience or anecdotes about D'Addario half rounds, specifically how they compare to Chromes? Thanks.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Of the two string types, the half-rounds sound more like rounds. They have the piano-like ring, especially when played open. The high end is a lot different from Chromes, even though Chromes are one of the brighter flat wounds put there.

The other major difference; as Chromes age, they slowly get more mellow, but keep some of their type of high end for a long time. The half-rounds die like round wounds. When they go dead, they have no high end left. The half rounds are more like round wounds in most ways except for feel and finger noise. The Chromes are truly flats in all ways. I don't know what other details I could mention. I really like the half-rounds while they are still fresh, but I don't like them when they go dead. I like the Chromes when they are new and like them almost as much when they are a couple years old.

 

[Aidil]

I've had both strung on the same bass (not at the same time of course)... and I prefer the Chromes all the way.

Initially I had Chromes on fretted and D'Addario Half Rounds on fretless for about a half year. Then I switched them over, being now the Chromes have stayed on that same (fretless) bass for more than a year, and the Half Rounds had already been taken off the (fretted) bass and replaced by Pressure Wounds, which turn out to be the definite goal that I have been searching, round wounds that feel smooth close to flat wounds.

The Half Rounds aren't as smooth as Chromes. They both had sticky period but the Chromes got smooth faster and stay smooth up to now, while the HR stickiness had never really gone. My HR low B was dead faster than the others, no ring / overtones, no sustain, while the Chromes low B still retains its sustain up to now.