Luke73 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Hi, I've only been playing bass a short time, and I've got a question about strings. From what I understand roundwounds tend to be bright (and very popular) whilst flatwounds tend to be much less bright (and seem to be the overwhelming choice of many fretless bassists). I'm interested in other noticeable attributes of those string types, and also where groundwounds and halfrounds fit into the equation. The (beginner's) bass I've got myself is a Cort p style bass - and I'm using a Peavey MicroBass amp. I'm happy enough with the bass/combo for now but I think my strings sound too bright. Obviously I can cut some tone, but would another string choice be more appropriate - or is it just because I'm new to bass that the bright characteristics of the roundwounds are showing off all of my errors? Thanks for any advice... Cheers, Luke. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Try the "search" function in the forum. All the strings info you need should be right there from previous posts. http://www.identity5.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted May 21, 2003 Author Share Posted May 21, 2003 Yes Mike, I'm fully aware of how the search function works, and I've been reading this forum for around a week...... In the time you told me to use the search function you could have easily given me some info on strings In forums like these, if people just tell newbies to go away and use the search function, people soon stop asking questions and it becomes a cliquey insiders forum that nobody but the select few want to read. Can somebody please give me some info Cheers, Luke. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hi Luke and welcome. We often advise people to use the search because they start asking questions after reading a few threads. Sometimes the search is less effective than scanning the thread titles for a few pages (that's my suggestion to you). Many times, we've had questions that have a unique slant on a subject. An you've done well to be specific about your equipment and circumstance. Still, I'd take the time to look at past threads. Some of our best comments have come from people that don't post often, or no longer post here. We don't want to knock out new posters. We do try to maintain a certain standard. Minimal bad language and sexual comments, mostly on topic (or related topics), work toward new and different threads, 98% good spelling and grammar (non-English speakers are not criticized), and no arguing. I hope you'll stay. That said, I share your concern about roundwound "zing". Still, roundwounds seem to provide a fullness (I haven't tried flats in too many years). It's easier to turn down the highs than it is to turn them up for strings that don't have a full enough sound. High quality strings make a difference. I've used GHS Boomers (not what I think of as high quality). Thomastik-Infeld strings are expensive, last a long time, and have a very different feel than other strings (they have less tension, for one thing). Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Originally posted by Eberbachl: Yes Mike, I'm fully aware of how the search function works, and I've been reading this forum for around a week...... In the time you told me to use the search function you could have easily given me some info on strings In forums like these, if people just tell newbies to go away and use the search function, people soon stop asking questions and it becomes a cliquey insiders forum that nobody but the select few want to read. Can somebody please give me some info Cheers, Luke.I'm not trying to shoo you away. The topic of strings has been up a multitude of times. As for the "too bright" sound, play your strings until they die out a bit and lose their brightness. Or try groundwounds or GHS Pressure Wounds if they still make them. Round wound feel with a deader tone. http://www.identity5.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fig Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hey Luke, welcome to the forum! Don't worry about the suggestion of using the 'search' function. I have to take that advice on occasion myself, and I've been posting awhile. It's all good. I'm curious, are your roundwounds new? I know sometimes new roundwounds seem too bright for me, too, but after I play them awhile, they deaden a bit to a nice level for me. It's a good excuse to woodshed and burn up some mileage on 'em. I can't help with input on groundwounds or halfrounds, as the flats or rounds always suited what I needed to do. Feeling adventurious enough to go by a new set of strings? That'll give ya a good idea how they'll sound thru your rig, then you can start getting picky on brand. Again, welcome. Bassplayers aren't paid to play fast, they're paid to listen fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hey Luke, It's all good. I am as guilty as others of directing new posters to the search function, but I also try to be as helpful as possible. Some may get a little joshing perhaps, but consider it a mild rite of passage. All in good fun. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Sweet Willie_ Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Welcome. Here's a link to a pretty darn good article about strings that appeared in Bass Player magazine a few years ago. It'll get you off in the right direction. I've posted this link before, but it's good to bring it to the surface every now and again. Strings, strings, strings! While I use halfrounds on my fretless, I also like the sound of rounds on a fretless. Rounds are rougher on the fretless 'board. Lotsa folks use flats on fretted basses -- particularly P basses. Great for an ol' skool R&B/soul sound, for example. Peace. spreadluv Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars. Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Wraub - I love Baby Stewey! Choice avatar! http://www.identity5.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted May 21, 2003 Author Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hey Thanks everybody for the advice and opinions so far - very helpful! Thanks very much Sweet Willie for resurrecting that link - it seems like a very informative article and I'm off to read it now! Sorry Mike if my initial reply seemed a bit abrupt. I'm an experienced poster on another forum (archery related) and time and time again I see newbies shoo-ed away by the "go away and search" phrase, so it's sort of a touchy subject with me. Peace I've been reading this forum for about a week now, and I'm trying to get through as much of the older posts as I can, still lots of good info to get through I'd like to try some less bright strings on my bass, maybe some halfrounds/groundwounds? I think the rounds are too bright, as I have been playing them for around four months now so they aren't really new anymore, but still, I guess that that roundwound zing might be a good thing as it accentuates my mistakes and motivates me to improve Anyway, thanks again, and keep the opinions coming Cheers, Luke. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 Luke, welcome to the Lowdown. There was a point in my life when I was really into archery. My dad worked for Ben Pearson Archery Co. when I was a kid. When I was thirteen I took third in the U.S. The only bow I've picked up since those days goes with an URB. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted May 21, 2003 Author Share Posted May 21, 2003 Luke, welcome to the Lowdown. There was a point in my life when I was really into archery. My dad worked for Ben Pearson Archery Co. when I was a kid. When I was thirteen I took third in the U.S. The only bow I've picked up since those days goes with an URB. Thanks Wally, I've been into archery here for about five or six years now, it's a great sport. It's been about 16 years since I had an URB bow in my hands - I've got fond memories of URB in the junior school orchestra of my high shool. I then mucked around with electric a bit through high school, but sadly gave it up about 10 or 12 years ago, only to go out and get a rush of blood to the head and buy a new bass at the beginning of this year! I'm having a ball - it's amazing how much comes back to me here and there I've got in touch with a local teacher and I've been having weekly lessons for about four months. Apart from that I've just been playing by myself at home - my wife's my biggest (read only!) fan I'm looking forward when I'm feeling a bit more confident to trying to find some people to play with. Cheers, Luke. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 If you want to try rounds that mellow out beautifully and stay sounding great for a long time (mine have been on my Warwick for 2 1/2 years) I'd strongly recommend LaBella Deep Talkin' Stainless Steel Rounds. They seem to be thicker and fuller sounding than most S/S rounds with a less harsh top-end. They also come in balanced gauges so the tension is more even across the strings. Alex Barefaced Ltd - ultra lightweight, high ouput, toneful bass cabs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted May 21, 2003 Author Share Posted May 21, 2003 Hey thanks Alex, I'll look into them. Cheers, Luke. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted May 21, 2003 Share Posted May 21, 2003 From what I understand roundwounds tend to be bright (and very popular) whilst flatwounds tend to be much less bright (and seem to be the overwhelming choice of many fretless bassists).If I may, flatwounds seem to be the overwhelming choice of many guitar stores that sell fretless basses. They string a fretless with flatwounds because roundwounds tear up the fingerboard, and many customers would bring it back to the store and scream at the salesman for selling him a bass with strings that eat the fingerboard. If you want that Jaco fretless sound, you'll need roundwounds to get 'em. You can either cover the fingerboard with epoxy (like Jaco) or have the fingerboard replaced every few years (like Pino). Flatwounds sound nice on a fretless too. Don't expect one to sound like the other, though. Half rounds or groundwounds will get you a nice inbetween compromise between flats and rounds...but they're still a compromise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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