muthafunkabass
01-30-2006, 08:28 AM
I know this has probably been done before but it's not here anymore, so....
Most of us know this stuff, thats why this is just for beginners.
-ROUNDWOUNDS
These are the most popular types of strings. On almost every fretted bass, you will see roundounds. They are the brightest type of string. They dont last long (there is exceptions which we will get to). Their average shelf time is 3 months (not much compared to others). They are ridgedy and if you look closely, they look look like a tightley wound spring.
http://saitenkatalog.de/catalog/images/roundwound.jpg
-FLATWOUNDS
These are usuallly only used on fretless basses. This is because they do less damge to the fingerboard. They last much longer then roundwounds. This is because they are smooth and they consist of no ridges. Their tone is much more "dead" and "dull" then roundwounds. Flats are smooth but they are a "sticky" smooth.
http://saitenkatalog.de/catalog/images/flatwound.jpg
-GROUNDWOUNDS/HALFROUNDS
These are a new and rare breed of strings. So far they have proven to be only partially successful. They were made to combine the best of both roundwounds (their bright tone) and flatwounds (their long life). They feel smooth like flatwounds but have a slight grittyness to them. The most popular and available brand of these strings are the D'Addario Halfrounds.
http://www.zone0ne.com/bassics/gif/groundwound.gif
-ELIXIRS
These are the roundwound exceptuions. IMO, this string brand deserves its own section. These are specially coated roundwound strings that last just as long as flatwounds, but they maintain a great brightnes throughout their shelf life.
There are two different kinds of elixers.
The first and original is the polyweb. It has numerous coats on it. These maintain a very long life but they present small problems. First of all, they shed. You strings will look like they are growing hair. this is because the coats will start to come off. They feel very "plasticy" becuase of all the coats, which will probably turn you off.
http://www.klemisch.de/elixir-standard.jpg
The other type is the new and improved nanoweb. They are very smooth (not sticky smooth like flats) and they don't shed. The reason for this is that they have a very smal microscopic coat that lasts very long and doesn't get hairy.
http://strings.ioffer.com/img/1104480000/_i/5007341/t_1.jpg (damn image limit!)
Then there is even more different brands of strings. All these can be found at http://www.justrings.com and http://webstrings.com
Most of us know this stuff, thats why this is just for beginners.
-ROUNDWOUNDS
These are the most popular types of strings. On almost every fretted bass, you will see roundounds. They are the brightest type of string. They dont last long (there is exceptions which we will get to). Their average shelf time is 3 months (not much compared to others). They are ridgedy and if you look closely, they look look like a tightley wound spring.
http://saitenkatalog.de/catalog/images/roundwound.jpg
-FLATWOUNDS
These are usuallly only used on fretless basses. This is because they do less damge to the fingerboard. They last much longer then roundwounds. This is because they are smooth and they consist of no ridges. Their tone is much more "dead" and "dull" then roundwounds. Flats are smooth but they are a "sticky" smooth.
http://saitenkatalog.de/catalog/images/flatwound.jpg
-GROUNDWOUNDS/HALFROUNDS
These are a new and rare breed of strings. So far they have proven to be only partially successful. They were made to combine the best of both roundwounds (their bright tone) and flatwounds (their long life). They feel smooth like flatwounds but have a slight grittyness to them. The most popular and available brand of these strings are the D'Addario Halfrounds.
http://www.zone0ne.com/bassics/gif/groundwound.gif
-ELIXIRS
These are the roundwound exceptuions. IMO, this string brand deserves its own section. These are specially coated roundwound strings that last just as long as flatwounds, but they maintain a great brightnes throughout their shelf life.
There are two different kinds of elixers.
The first and original is the polyweb. It has numerous coats on it. These maintain a very long life but they present small problems. First of all, they shed. You strings will look like they are growing hair. this is because the coats will start to come off. They feel very "plasticy" becuase of all the coats, which will probably turn you off.
http://www.klemisch.de/elixir-standard.jpg
The other type is the new and improved nanoweb. They are very smooth (not sticky smooth like flats) and they don't shed. The reason for this is that they have a very smal microscopic coat that lasts very long and doesn't get hairy.
http://strings.ioffer.com/img/1104480000/_i/5007341/t_1.jpg (damn image limit!)
Then there is even more different brands of strings. All these can be found at http://www.justrings.com and http://webstrings.com