Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 i've never tried groundwound strings, but I like the idea of a set that feels like flats but sound a little more like rounds. Who's tried them - or swears by them? Which ones are good, or not so good, and why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I'd rather have a set of strings that feels more like rounds and sounds more like flats. Not being funny, I really like the sound of flats but hate the feel. I love the feel of rounds and EQ them until they sound more like flats. Old rounds are probably the answer, but I can never keep old strings in tune. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) - Edited March 3, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Dragon Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Don't forget Rotosound 55s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 +1 for Status. I have a medium set on my short-scale Duesenberg, very nice old-school sound but still has some definition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) - Edited March 3, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 D'addario ENR72 half rounds (50 - 105) are my string of choice. I like the strong fundamental of flats, the punch and bite of rounds but don't like the sparkle of new rounds, I also like reasonably high tension, these tick all the boxes. Due to my, let's say brutish agricultural technique, I can generate quite a lot of string noise and fret clatter with rounds but not with these. I'd say they're closer to used rounds in sound but with that lovely solid bottom end of your average flat, you can still get a good grind going on with a pick but back off the tone and you've got a great Motown vibe. I'd also say they feel closer to rounds than flats as well. If flats are 0 and rounds are 10 then these are around the 7 mark rather than a mid way 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmaster62 Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 On 05/08/2019 at 19:28, Jean-Luc Pickguard said: i've never tried groundwound strings, but I like the idea of a set that feels like flats but sound a little more like rounds. Who's tried them - or swears by them? Which ones are good, or not so good, and why? Don't bother. Grounds just feel and play and sound like very dead rounds. Nothing feels like a flat other than a flat. Pressurewounds might be worth a punt - feel in between a flat and a round and over time, start to take on more flat like characteristics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 GHS Pressurewounds are very nice. As long as you don’t play a 5. The B is awful. 4 string sets are excellent though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 (edited) Another shout for the Status half-rounds. Still plenty of definition and age really well. Great tension too - nice and soft but not TI soft. Edited August 8, 2019 by martthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 I've recently fitted a set of short-scale D'Addario ENR71S Half Rounds to one of my cheapie back-up basses (Squier Jag s-s). They're described as 'Warm/Bright' in 'Regular Light' gauge (45.65.80.100). Didn't sound bad when I had to gig the bass for the first time last weekend. Can't really say more at this stage as my lack of outright enthusiasm may be down to the shortcomings of the Jag compared to my more expensive basses. You also have to take into account that I play s-s basses drop-tuned to Eb. First thing you notice is the slightly rough/sticky feel but either that wore off before the end of the set or my brain edited it out. In any event, that didn't slow me down. Interesting thread this - may have to give Status a try if they do a s-s set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 On 05/08/2019 at 19:55, Jus Lukin said: Status ones are good too, but they only seem to make them in short and medium scales now, not long scale. The medium scales are fine for 2+2 headstocks - it's only an issue when the headstock are 4 in line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pslh Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I have been using Status HotWire half-wounds on my Manne Acustibass for many years and am happy with the result. The bass is fretless with a "tone chamber" and has both magnetic and a piezo pickup. With roundwounds the magnetic pickup works well but the piezo less so. With flatwounds the reverse was true. With halfwounds I am able to use both pickups individually or blended and have usable tones across the full range. I also tried them on a Fender Jazz fretless and found them to work well there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I used d'Addario ENR71 halfrounds for years - a very versatile string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onehandclapping Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 Used the Daddario half rounds for about 40 years,different gauges depending on the bass,now have TI flats on all my basses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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