Rounds vs. Flats

[franvarin]

I know...this is a tired topic. But, I thought I throw this observation out there. For years I had used roundwound strings. I never liked them fresh because I found them noisy and not very easy to play actually. So, I switched over to Flats a while back. The tradeoff... well the bright sound. I did find a stirng that comes pretty close Ernie Ball Cobal Flats.

Well, I received a new bass for Christmas which of course came with rounds. So, I thought i'd just trying them. And yes, noisy and quite a bit different in terms of moving around the fretboard. I find my hands are much faster with flats probably because they are smooth.

When I did use rounds, I always used rotosound because I generally liked the tone and string life. So, my question is this. Are there any rounds out there which have a great bell type tone which are less noisy and easier to play? Or should I try halfrounds?

Thoughts?

 

[michael_t]

Are there any rounds out there which have a great bell type tone which are less noisy and easier to play? Or should I try halfrounds?

GHS Pressurewounds!

 

[franvarin]

GHS Pressurewounds!

From your experience Michael, what makes them different?

 

[Jeff Scott]

TI Jazz Rounds.

 

[franvarin]

TI Jazz Rounds.

Those are pricey, what's the lifespan like on them? The bass I'm referring to is a Ric 4003. So, I'm assuming the string on it from the factory are probably Ric light gauge.

 

[michael_t]

From your experience Michael, what makes them different?

What I love about the Pressurewounds is their tone has enough of the round-ish tone with all the punch and crunch, but without the zing. They're also much smoother in texture with less finger noise compared to rounds. Alloy 52 used for the wrap wire has a magnetically active property that makes them dynamically responsive.

Half-rounds are more flatwound-ish in tone with some brightness added. They can also feel sticky under your fingers, especially when they're new.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Those are pricey, what's the lifespan like on them? The bass I'm referring to is a Ric 4003. So, I'm assuming the string on it from the factory are probably Ric light gauge.

I had a set on a bass since mid 2008 and they were still fine when I sold the bass last year.

 

[franvarin]

What I love about the Pressurewounds is their tone has enough of the round-ish tone with all the punch and crunch, but without the zing. They're also much smoother in texture with less finger noise compared to rounds. Alloy 52 used for the wrap wire has a magnetically active property that makes them dynamically responsive.

Half-rounds are more flatwound-ish in tone with some brightness added. They can also feel sticky under your fingers, especially when they're new.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I might have to give them a try.

 

[franvarin]

I've had a set on this bass since mid 2008 and they are still going strong, albeit with a mellower, '60s punchiness to them now after so many years. Love 'em!.

View attachment 1023600
Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

Are you for real! BTW, that's a beautiful Ric, reminds me of my '75 Mapleglo I had many years ago.

 

[rumblejunkie]

Have you tried D'Addario Chromes ? Flats but brighter than the usual flatwounds .

 

[michael_t]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I might have to give them a try.

For your info, I use the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102), which I find to be very well-balanced both in tension and tone.

 

[franvarin]

Have you tried D'Addario Chromes ? Flats but brighter than the usual flatwounds .

I had tried Chromes a while back and was not too big a fan. I found the Ernie Ball cobalts much brighter, probably the brightest sounding flats I've eve heard.

 

[franvarin]

For your info, I use the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102), which I find to be very well-balanced both in tension and tone.

Thanks, I'll include them in my research.

 

[SactoBass]

I've had a set on this bass since mid 2008 and they are still going strong, albeit with a mellower, '60s punchiness to them now after so many years. Love 'em!.

View attachment 1023600
Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

Sure is purdy!

 

[SactoBass]

Are there any rounds out there which have a great bell type tone which are less noisy and easier to play?

I'm a huge fan of DR Sunbeams. They are nickel-plated rounds, and not as noisy as stainless steel Rotos like the Swing Bass 66 (IME/IMO). I gave groundwound/halfwound strings a try some years ago, and I didn't really care for them. DR Sunbeams seem to give me the tone and feel that I like, so I just stick with those and I adjust the tone knobs on my amp and/or bass to get the desired treble or darkness that a particular song calls for.

 

[franvarin]

Some people don't think so............................................

The bass certainly is, though!

LOL... Love the Avatar, that takes me way back. I bet there are a fair number of players on this site who have no idea who that is. ...just makes me old.

 

[SactoBass]

Are you for real!

Oh yes, Jeff is most definitely for real. (Don't be fooled by the antennae protruding from the back of his head......he just inherited those from Ray Walston.) Btw, I used to watch My Favorite Martian when I was a kid. I loved that show! I liked how he could levitate things using his index finger.

 

[SactoBass]

I knew Ray, back in the mid '80s.

What?? You *KNEW* Ray??

 

[SactoBass]

Yes, I did.

Way cool!!! I have always been a fan of his. Not only as My Favorite Martian, but also as Mr. Hand in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (he played that role PERFECTLY), as well as the role of "Applegate" in the 1958 musical "Damn Yankees."

(sorry everyone for the temporary derail.....back to rounds vs flats)

 

[franvarin]

I knew Ray, back in the mid '80s.

Here is a recording of the bass, above, when the strings were still pretty new.



Photo from the show, at Orion Studios, in Baltimore. The bass still had the original hi-gain bridge pickup in the bass at that time.
View attachment 1023631
Photograph Copyright © SAW 2008 All rights reserved.

Love where you guys had the bass in the mix. sounds great, gives me a good idea of the tone of the strings. Thanks a bunch! That's an awesome tune as well, nice chops!