Roundwounds with similar flexibility to labella low tension flats?

[brickers]

Hi all

 

I've got the aforementioned labella’s on my jazz bass and love the feel. Just pickup a stingray and am looking for a set of roundwounds with a similar feel, ideally a bit growly and not too zingy - the preamp can provide plenty of that if needed. 

Presumably I’m looking for something nickel or nickel plated (I’d prefer not to shred my fingers or frets with stainless steel anyway) and maybe round core?

 

So far I can find GHS round core boomers and DR Sunbeams - anyone have an experience with their flexibility? What other options might be worth looking at?

Edited Monday at 10:26 by brickers

[JJMotown]

Both the Boomers and Sunbeams would be very similar to what you're looking for. The flexibility would be down to which gauge you choose, the lower gauge the more flexible.

[fretmeister]

Dunlop Superbright Steels - I know the name suggests something that is super bright but they actually really are not.

They are nicely flexible and have a really solid fundamental tone with a bit of grit on top.

 

Failing that - one of the DR roundcore strings would probably be pretty close too.

[Hellzero]

The Dogal Hellborg Perfect Pitch JH171 round wound strings, impossible to find more flexible, very low tension with plenty of mid growl.

 

Very expensive, but worth a try.

[JJMotown]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

The Dogal Hellborg Perfect Pitch JH171 round wound strings, impossible to find more flexible

TI rounds

[Hellzero]

2 minutes ago, JJMotown said:

TI rounds

Nope, the Dogal are way more flexible, I have both right now on different basses. 😉

[JJMotown]

11 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Nope, the Dogal are way more flexible, I have both right now on different basses. 😉

What would you say are the differences between Dogal and TI's?

[Hellzero]

The Dogal's are a bit more even in tone all along the neck, with more mids and way more flexible with a bit less tension compared to the Thomastik Infeld.

 

I find the fundamental of the notes a bit more present and defined with the Dogal too.

 

And this goes for the round wound as well as the flat wound types.

 

That said I really love both.

[brickers]

Are the TI rounds similar in feel to their flats? I have a set of their flats so might test them out

 

The Dogals certainly are pricey… £60-£70 from thomann! Probably a bit beyond me currently, but I appreciate the info

[brickers]

17 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Dunlop Superbright Steels

Thanks. I was reading about these elsewhere and heard the same about brightness. Weird naming. They’re on the list

Edited yesterday at 10:15 by brickers

[jazzyvee]

18 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Dunlop Superbright Steels - I know the name suggests something that is super bright but they actually really are not.

They are nicely flexible and have a really solid fundamental tone with a bit of grit on top.

 

Failing that - one of the DR roundcore strings would probably be pretty close too.

I use those dunlops on my short scale, and being a former string bending guitarist i like that string flexibility on a bass too.I wonder if you have noticed that these Dunlop strings have a tendency to roll under your fingers when bending especially above the 12th fret? Something i haven't noticed on my D'addarios. I'm open to the suggestion it may be my bad bending technique if that is the reason.🤔😎

Edited yesterday at 10:44 by jazzyvee

[Hellzero]

10 hours ago, brickers said:

Are the TI rounds similar in feel to their flats? I have a set of their flats so might test them out

The flat wound T.I.'s are a bit stiffer than the round wound ones, and the feeling under the fingers is, of course, different, but you can sense that they are made quite the same way.

[Supernaut]

On 03/03/2025 at 10:12, brickers said:

Hi all

 

I've got the aforementioned labella’s on my jazz bass and love the feel. Just pickup a stingray and am looking for a set of roundwounds with a similar feel, ideally a bit growly and not too zingy - the preamp can provide plenty of that if needed. 

Presumably I’m looking for something nickel or nickel plated (I’d prefer not to shred my fingers or frets with stainless steel anyway) and maybe round core?

 

So far I can find GHS round core boomers and DR Sunbeams - anyone have an experience with their flexibility? What other options might be worth looking at?

Sunbeams, Super Brights, Foundations, Pure Blues. All 40-100 gauge.