Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

If I remember right at least the Rotos were bright for a few weeks and then sounded like dead rounds, they didn't have any added bottom end, just less brilliance. This was years ago so maybe they have improved and I've never tried this brand of half round either, I see that they are called semi flatwound on the package instead of half rounds. Interesting shift in emphasis. Hmm, could be a harbinger?

I've thought about trying the D'Addario half-rounds on my C64 when it comes. I've read that they are now made of pure nickel, instead of stainless steel. The lighter gauge SIT Power Flats are pretty good too, they are closer to flats than rounds though, in both feel and sound.

After having experimented with several different kinds of strings (at the suggestion of people on this board) on my 4003, including D'addario Chrome flats, Rotosound RS77 flats, Ric rounds, GHS Boomers (which suck majorly), I've settled on the Rotosound RS55 Solo Bass Pressurewounds. A lot of people hate these strings, though I don't know why. They're amazing. Perfect for everything except that they don't thump quite as nicely as the RS77s did. But still, incredibly versatile, and much easier on the frets than Swing Bass strings.

I've never tried the Roto RS55s but I've found a big difference between compressed rounds (like the RS55) and ground rounds (like the Half Rounds).

I like the GHS Pressurewounds and SIT Silencers, which are both compressed rounds. They're nearly as brilliant as a good round with a little less finger noise and a little smoother surface.

I don't like the ground rounds at all. The ones I've tried are the D'addario Half Rounds and the GHS Brite Flats. The SIT Power Flats are also in this category. To my ears they're the worst of both worlds. Smoothness of true flatwounds but with none of the thump or character of a good flat and none of the brilliance of a good round.

The D'Addario Chromes and the Roto RS77's are the only flats I've played that didn't have thump. That's why I used them. I didn't want that thump. It's just too dead sounding for me. Although after a while the RS77's lost their brightness and off they came. Chromes keep their tone longer. I've never used Brite Flats of Half Rounds, but the Power Flats sounded pretty good to me in the lighter gauge. The Silencers are OK, but I got a set with a dud D string and have used DR's ever since. I still use the Chromes Flats on my Jazz Bass but would go back to the SIT Power Flats with no reservation, if I didn't have to special order them.

I saw a guy playing a short scale hollow body Epiphone bass with the big fat humbucker at the base of the neck ... I was 100% sure he was playing flats ... but to my suprise he had rounds on it ... it sounded like flats ...

That's an EB-2 copy, I had one of those, you could put guitar strings on those and they would still sounds like flats. The old real Gibsons are much better basses. I like them, Chas Chandler sound of The animals.

Was that a Rivoli ? They can be pretty boomy.

Chas Chandler and Paul Samwell-Smith both used Rivolis. I have one.....bandmates call it "thumper". It' sounds nice if the volume isn't too high.

Same bass just about, were EPI's. Chas used both I have photos of him with a cherry EB-2.

The Rivolis are made by Epiphone....they sold quite a few of them in England in the mid 60's.

That's what I meant by EPI. I saw one in a GC several years ago, was a POS and they wanted over $1500.00 for it.

Peter, how are you feeling about roundwounds now? It's been awhile since you reported.

I just got a new bass today ... aint no flats going on this baby ...

It is about time....you have been threatening to get that for some time....congrats !

......that would look great as a 4 string .