The Player's Lounge / Strings & Things / GUITAR TALK / String bending / Latest Posts

RE: String bending

Dulcimerist — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:05:28 GMT

They feel smoother to the fingers, for sure! I like that they're squeakless, too. I tend to use full flat-wounds, though; which are even silkier smooth.

RE: String bending

marsguitars — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:04:47 GMT

I've never used half rounds, so would be interested to hear how you get on - do they feel different to play than regular roundwound strings?

RE: String bending

jvanhorn — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:10:50 GMT

Thanks for all of your help. I will try a set of half rounds for sure.

Also just for the record, I have been using GSH Burnished Nickel [pure nickel] strings for quite a while now. I am not disatisfied with them--they are really great strings. I just got the itch to try something different and thought half rounds looked like they might give me a sound that I might like, since they seem to be between nickelplated and pure nickel which I would imagine to be a very nice tone.

RE: String bending

Dulcimerist — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:31:41 GMT

No problem. When I've switched types of strings, I've wanted some good information before making the switch as well.

By looking at the tension measurements, the Half-Rounds are about 10% tighter than the XL Nickelplated Steel Round Wound and about 5% tighter than the XLS Stainless Steel Round Wound.

I'm wondering if perhaps the core of the Half Round strings might be slightly thicker, as the Half Round strings start out by being just a tiny bit thicker than the gauge they're going to end up. Here's a brief description of how they're made:
http://www.daddario.com/DADProducts.aspx?ID=1&CLASS=AACA

I would highly recommend that you try out a set of the Half Rounds, just to see how they feel on your fingers and sound to your ears. Although reading up as much as you can on the product is very helpful, it's no substitute for hands-on use and experience. ;)

Just for the record, I'm a huge Chromes fan; but Half Rounds are my #2 favorite behind Chromes.

RE: String bending

jvanhorn — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:55:41 GMT

Sorry to keep going on about this, but what about the core size of the half rounds compared to the roundwounds? Thanks for all of your time and trouble!

RE: String bending

Dulcimerist — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:30:21 GMT

The alloy for the guitar half-rounds are the same alloy as most round-wounds, so they should have similar characteristics for bending. They'll bend about the same, and will be virtually squeakless.

RE: String bending

jvanhorn — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:55:07 GMT

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I was referring to electric guitar--not bass guitar. I have a Telecaster.

RE: String bending

Dulcimerist — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:15:38 GMT

Are you talking about guitar or bass half-rounds? There are differences in both of those types, such as the alloy they use.

String bending

jvanhorn — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:57:00 GMT

Are half rounds harder to bend than round wounds?