Roundwounds for my jazz

[4StringDave]

Hi everyone

I know this may have been discussed quite a lot, but since we're in lockdown mode I'd like to take the opportunity of your advice....

After many years of using nickel rounds (Picato, then for the last 10 years XLs) I decided to try out a seet of flats, namely Fender 9050Ls. I find the Fenders good for the 60s band I'm in, but on my other jazz bass I'd like a nice set of rounds.

Here are some relevant points:
- I normally like well worn-in strings, so longevity is not a huge concern, unless they fall off a cliff after only a couple of months
- I never slap - fingerstyle 89% of the time, palm mute/thumb 10%, 1% pick
- I tend to play my jazz either with both pickups up full, or with the bridge pickup turned down a bit
- Music styles - Country rock, blues, pop....

To describe my ideal sound, it would be fairly flat, with good low mid punch. I don't like too bassy/boomy where the note gets muddy, and I'm not fond of any type of mid-scoop effect (which the XLs seem to give when new). So far, from reading topics in this forum, I've narrowed it down to the following:
- GHS Boomers
- GHS Pressurewounds
- GHS Bassics
- EB Slinkys
- Fender 7250s

I'm not sure about availability as I'm in France

I've also been thinking about Pure Nickel strings, but I'm not sure if they would have too soft an attack..?

Am I thinking along the right lines? - any advice appreciated....

 

[michael_t]

To describe my ideal sound, it would be fairly flat, with good low mid punch. I don't like too bassy/boomy where the note gets muddy, and I'm not fond of any type of mid-scoop effect (which the XLs seem to give when new). So far, from reading topics in this forum, I've narrowed it down to the following:
- GHS Boomers
- GHS Pressurewounds
- GHS Bassics
- EB Slinkys
- Fender 7250s

Can I suggest one more to be added to your list based on the description of what you're looking for?

DR Nickel Lo-Riders.

 

[4StringDave]

Can I suggest one more to be added to your list based on the description of what you're looking for?

DR Nickel Lo-Riders.

Thanks! It's gonna get expensive! :-D

 

[michael_t]

Thanks! It's gonna get expensive! :-D

Out of the three GHS offerings you mentioned, the Bassics would be the closest to the Nickel Lo-Riders in their tonal characters. A punchy low-mid with a clean, crisp top end without being bright in a zingy kind of way. They both sound their best when broken in.

It comes down to what's more readily available where you are.

 

[4StringDave]

I'll need to have a look at Thomann and the other big internet suppliers

 

[Vinny_G]

All the strings mentioned so far are available in these shops:

• Cordes Express (France)
• Strings Direct (UK)
• Lord of the Strings (Netherlands)
• Thomann (Germany)

Good luck

 

[CallMeAl]

I like XL and Fender 7250 both more than slinkies. Too floppy and clanky.

I’ve just fallen in love with GHS Pressurewounds. They hit a lot of the marks you describe, but I’m thinking you’re looking for something brighter here (though I think you’d really like them. )

Haven’t tried the other GHS strings on your list, so I can’t rule those out. But my gut says 7250s

 

[Stan_da_man]

Rotobass nickels might be worth looking at too. I'm pretty sure I saw them in the music shop last time I was in Paris.

 

[Dan_reeves]

From your description, I thought of nickel Elixir's.

 

[RocknRay]

Are stainless steel round wounds in consideration? Rotosound Swing Bass are pretty versatile and lose their initial zing pretty quickly, then settle in to something like you describe, with a midrange unlike any other. There are (were?) plenty of professionals that use(d) them for everything. They sound great on a Jazz.

 

[cableguy]

Are stainless steel round wounds in consideration? Rotosound Swing Bass are pretty versatile and lose their initial zing pretty quickly, then settle in to something like you describe, with a midrange unlike any other. There are (were?) plenty of professionals that use(d) them for everything. They sound great on a Jazz.

^^^THIS^^^^

As long as the string doesn't have to be nickel.....

 

[HolmeBass]

I’ve been very happy with DR Sunbeams, nickel round wounds. Not too zingy, they mellow out in a few days, then they last quit a while with a gradual darkening/deadening. It is so gradual I have to be careful to change them soon enough. I usually leave them on for 3 to 6 months; I’d say the ideal for me is probably 4 months.

 

[sotua]

+1 for DR Sunbeams.

 

[onamission]

I'm using some Fender 7250's on my Jazz, like them very much. Price and performance are great. I was a EB Slinky user but decided to try some new stuff. Can't go wrong with Fenders, DR Lo-Riders, Rotosound 66.

 

[FantasticFour]

From your list I'd pick the Fenders. But I'm not so sure why you've let out so many options.
DR nickel lo-riders are fantastic strings and my go-to strings for any Jazz, but you may want to have a look at the Sunbeams as well.

 

[wardak]

DR Pure Blues might be worth a look. I went for custom gauges in these, i.e. “balanced tension” (details in another thread)

 

[hennessybass]

I'm a flats player, but recently tried rounds on my jazz.

I tried the DR Pure Blues. Also tried the GHS Pressurewounds. I like the GHS strings a lot more. To me they had more of the low-mid punch than the Pure Blues.

I'm back to flats, but if I was to have a second jazz with rounds, it would be the Preasurewounds.

 

[silky smoove]

Any reason you didn’t include GHS Balanced Nickels in your initial list? It’s just my preference for strings on my Jazzes speaking here, but they have surpassed all other strings for my taste on a Jazz.

 

[Chicken Wing]

La Bella RX Nickle. They sound great new and great worn in.

 

[BobKos]

I am a DR Hi-Beams / Fat Beams fan for sure on my Jazz Basses but I think they're a bit more agressive than the OP wants. What came to mind for me was TI Powerbass Rounds. I have a set on an Ibanez SR500 and they are really smooth sounding. For the OP - I don't like EB strings except on EB basses. The Fenders are good too - at least the old ones were. I have read that they are now different than what they were a couple years ago.