Switching from rounds to half wounds

#21
GHS Pressurewounds are a good choice. One of my favorite strings since I like a roundwound sound but don’t always want that edgy quality. I usually keep a set on a PB. Good all around string that works with any style of music.

If you want to think outside the box, a set of LaBella Copper White Nylons is a possibility. Much to my surprise, these have become one of my all time favorite strings. Surprising since I usually didn’t much care for tapewounds at all until these came along.

Nice complex mids and just a hint of subtle brightness combine for a very smooth sound with none of the muffled quality you get from traditional black nylon tapewounds. Zero finger noise too.

Lots to like. Highly recommended.:thumbsup:
 
#22
I have to admit that the scratchy feeling you get from new D'Add Half-Rounds can be annoying, even if I'm fine with it (I noticed it actually makes me want to practice more :cool:)
It usually wears off after a few days, couple of weeks at the most.
And I agree with whoever said they're the dream strings for a single coil Precision.
I probably wouldn't pick them for soapbar active pickups, but then it could be worth a try, who knows.
No experience with the pressureW as I have get what I want from the Half-Rounds. But GHS Precision flats are a treat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VoodooJazz
#24
It all depends on how much high mids and highs you want (or don't), as well as how smooth a feel you want. I have bright flats, half rounds, and PW's on my 3 basses, and like them all. I play a lot of blues, so the BF's and HR's get a lot of play time. If I had to pick one string I'd go with the most versatile, which I see as the PW's. They are pretty bright at first, but get mellow as they break in. I was running GHS Precision flats for a few years, but as they were ALL about the fundamental, I found then lacking a touch of complexity (harmonics) That I get w/the BF's and HR's. It also depends on your bass. Strangely a certain bass seems to like a certain string, while another bass may not. YMMV
It's a good problem to have.....sort of like: should I date blondes, brunettes, or red heads? I vote try them all! :D
 
#26
mbart203 said:
Hi guys,
I'm looking to get away from round wounds but don't want to go to flats.

I'd love to hear your opinions on half wounds and pressure wounds.

I'm looking to get smoother sliding with less noise.I'm hoping that half wounds will give me sort of the best of both worlds. I'm also aware of the importance of technique and I'm working on that too.

I play across several types of music including rock and at church, I play a contemporary Christian style.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm VERY disappointed in you! :(
 
#27
Just ordered a set of D’Addario Half-Rounds for my Yamaha TRB6-P from our friends at bassstringsonline.com.

Been thinking about trying flats/half-rounds with my 6-string for some time and seeing this thread gave me the extra incentive to finally give it a go. Can’t wait to hear the results. I’ll post a review when I’ve played a gig or two on them.

Good example of this same pairing of string/instrument:
Line by Line - YouTube
 
  • Like
Reactions: Joedog
#28
Which of the recommended strings here (PW, D'Add half-rounds, Cobalt flats, etc.) do folks like best on an acoustic/electric? I strongly prefer smooth feel and want a full, rich sound (to accompany bluegrass and such) without the harsh brightness some acoustic strings can have. Any thoughts appreciated. Happy holidays, DM
 
#29
Dee-man said:
Which of the recommended strings here (PW, D'Add half-rounds, Cobalt flats, etc.) do folks like best on an acoustic/electric? I strongly prefer smooth feel and want a full, rich sound (to accompany bluegrass and such) without the harsh brightness some acoustic strings can have. Any thoughts appreciated. Happy holidays, DM
Click to expand...

None of the above.

Instead, look here: New from GHS: Pressurewound Bronze
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yahboy and Member8675309
#31
Settle a debate for me, I have been told that the only way to get a really good fretless “mwah” sound, aside from the obvious plucking and fingering technique, is with rounds. I just picked up a Musicman fretless with a pau ferro board. I want that good “mwah” but I don’t want to chew up the fretboard. I have owned other fretless and have only used rounds, but this is the first time I’ve owned one with a pau ferro fretboard. Usually they’re maple, ebony or ebenol. I’m by no means a full time fretless player, but I do love the sound of fretless and would like to put a lot more time in on my new bass. Anyway, what strings do you fretless players recommend for maximum mwah and minimum fretboard wear?
 
#32
I would not put roundwounds on a fretless that I cared about for the reason you state. The mwah does not just come from the strings, as you undoubtedly know (technique, bass, pickup, EQ), so you should be able to achieve that with any non-round string, just will depend on what tone you're after to determine which string you want. Rob Allen only puts LaBella black nylon tapewounds on his fretless basses (which are chambered), for example, and they sound fantastic with mwah in spades. TI jazz flats work great too, with more tonal complexity. Good luck, DM
 
#36
Orion1985 said:
Just out of curiosity, what round wounds are you coming from? I ask because if you are coming from stainless steel rounds you might just be looking for nickels. I went from SS to half-wounds and it was too much of a change for me. Broke in nickels ended up being what I was looking for.
Click to expand...
I've been using Fender Nickel Rounds 45-105
 
#37
Yahboy said:
Elixir Nano or GHS PW.
Elixir tone just like few weeks old roundwound sound ,but more open sounding, longer sustain and keep that tone lasting.
PW will lose the some brightness and bring some amount of thick Low-MID.
Click to expand...

I've tried Elixirs years ago and didn't like the feel. To me, they felt like someone sneezed on my fretboard and I really didn't like paying double for that feeling.
 
#38
You guys have done me a huge favor by convincing me not to try either half-rounds or pressure wounds!

Ever since I switched all my basses to T-I Jazz Flats, I've been a happy camper and I'm not looking back.
 
#40
I fell in love with EB Colbalt Flats on my jazz bass. Playing with the tone knob and plucking locations gives me all sorts of versatile tones. My RB-V has gone from GHS pressure wounds to Ken Smith Compressors (pressurewound style, I think). I prefer the Compressors to the GHS equivalent. Minor differences to my ears. I put pressurewounds on my 51-reissue and am in bass heaven with that instrument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mbart203 and Tony B. Filthy
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back