Bass string Comparison... Flatwound//Roundwound//Half-Round//Tapewound//Precision

2019 edition here: • Precision Bass String ...
Shortcuts below! I mainly made this for myself, but thought I may as well share in case it's helpful for anybody! Wanted to find the right strings for this beautiful 1982 JV Squier Precision. Playing kept as simple as possible to let the character of the strings show themselves.
A few things to note... The Tapewounds are very low tension, and I think would ideally be accompanied by a higher action to get the bets out of them. The Half-rounds when new are quite sticky, I really felt them holding me back! Less difference than I imagined, the bass's character seems to shine through no matter what!
Fingerstyle (Tone Up)
0:01 Flats
0:12 Rounds
0:22 Halfs
0:33 Tapes
Tone down to Taste
0:44 Flats
0:54 Rounds
1:05 Halfs
1:16 Tapes
Slap (ish)
1:26 Flats
1:37 Rounds
1:48 Halfs
1:59 Tapes

[@rufusstanier8893]

what is this? a string comparison video on youtube that's actually good? madness

[@dancityhulk7022]

Agreeed²

[@chronic_johnson_a.r.a.b]

For what/how you're playing, I like the half-rounds the most. I love the feel, and sometimes the sound of flatwounds, with how mellow they can be. But it's also nice to have some bite to the sound too, especially if you're going for something more aggressive in genre. Currently I alternate between Ernie Ball flatwounds and D'addario roundwounds. I would explore more, but bass strings are almost unreasonably expensive, especially if you're just looking to experiment.

[@jonapolloapollo5770]

Great video love guys who don't talk shit for an hour telling us what they ate yesterday and how his cat shit in his guitar case great job keep those vids coming

[@jonapolloapollo5770]

Luv your response ,which flat wounds do you like the best and if you wanna go nuts watch that "Dick" who repairs basses I think its Dave's world and stuff or that English Dick who does bass comparison, s I go crazy can't even finish the video

[@scottmatthews172]

I always had good luck with Elixer nano web strings myself. Great demo, very helpful.

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

I'd really like to try out Half rounds.

[@dancityhulk7022]

I like the ELIXIR, this is a surprise… thanks!

[@c.a.carlln0287]

No matter what I've always gone back to flatwounds. Always. I have limited finger mobility in my fretting hand and flats let me slide and bend, and if I "do" hit a "wrong" note I can do a little weird slide and make it sound like I meant to do it. The only drawback, to me, of using flats, is that if you're a fingerstyle player you will initially get a "clank" type of sound as the strings hit the frets, but that kind of dies down after a while, and - actually - in a live mix - that helps you to poke through. Another thing that so many bass players try to do is to compete with the high end of the guitars, keys, cymbals, vocals, etc. No. No. No. You are a BASS player. You're there to give VOICE to the bass drum and to lock with the drummer. You are a rhythm section. You want to be fat and relentless....not someone who sounds like a guitar player turned bass player. Hey, at least none of your examples were done using a pick. (Pies are about to be thrown in my direction.) I'll make a deal with any players out there who hate flats. For every set of unopened flats you have that you don't want, I'll send you THREE sets of unopened rounds. Seriously. I like to shape may sound using my amp and I like the mids that flats give me. Especially the low mids. I can dial out the mud and dial in a great mid tone that cuts, and even sound great running through a gain or distortion pedal. So my deal is on the table. Takers?

[@gosuslugee]

Too bad i'm broke as hell, and flats are SO expensive in my country. So I try to immitate the sound of flatwounds as best as I can. Tone almost all the way down, and using really dead set of rounds. It kinda has it's own vibe, you know?

[@lordovwitchcraft1665]

You're hitting the frets because you're plucking too hard. Try to go easy on the finger plucking and just sweep the strings horizontally instead of slamming the strings vertically. I do it but switch between, if I need a clanginess for heavy metal like Steve Harris from iron maiden I do that, if I want a smooth and crisp tone like in blues or funk music I do that instead. I also will do it in heavy metal by plucking horizontally. Take your time and speed will build up with the horizontal technique my friend. Best of luck in your bass playing.

[@TheAtlantaThrasher]

I've used those La Bella tapewounds. I have arthritis. The tension is extremely low. Much lower than any other string I've used. They have very little string noise. Even less than the flats I was using. They're also pretty forgiving if you aren't right up next to the fret. The sliding is smoother than flats as well. And, you don't get that flat stickiness that happens when your hands and the string warm up. I highly recommend them for anyone with hand issues.

[@acoolcat4269]

@@gosuslugee use a sponge or a foam and put it under the bridge to mute it.

[@gosuslugee]

@@acoolcat4269 yeah i use it all the time its cool

[@lordovwitchcraft1665]

To my ears the half rounds sound exactly like roundwound more than a flatwound.

[@olivierjacquet]

Thanks for this video ! Helped a lot!

[@ThePoseidonFish]

Good comparison! Thanks!!

[@KCameronJ]

Really useful video, thanks :)

[@IvanBassist]

Are these Nickel or Stainless Elixir? :) Nice demo, by the way!

[@bustabass9025]

LaBella man, no two ways about it.

[@clickrick]

My gf might raise an eyebrow if I said I was going to put black nylons on!

[@facedowngaming]

La Bella flats all the way for me imho

[@luigi.zanini]

1:26 slap

[@davidbrown6415]

Might have to switch to flats :)

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

@@PaddyBlight Same for me. I use them on both my fretted and frettless basses.

[@Adrian-dl9nb]

Hey, where'd you get that cool drumtrack?

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

PERSONALLY I PREFER UNWOUND STRINGS BEST.