Who uses half round strings?

[xuoham]

I love both flats and rounds, with a preference for rounds, but currently have flats on an Ibanez AF105 just because the K&K transducer pickup that i have coupled to the magnetic pickup exaggerates the squeaking finger noise.
My hope is that half round strings (D'addario) would keep a round wound sound while making the sliding of fingers on the strings a little more silent.
At least it's what they seem to claim.

What's the deal ?

I would appreciate any insight before i buy some.

Thank you !

[Bill C]

My hope is that half round strings (D'addario) would keep a round wound sound while making the sliding of fingers on the strings a little more silent.

That's basically it, although some users report they can feel "sticky" or "not smooth". I used them for years and then switched to the Sadowsky Jimmy Bruno polished rounds which I prefer - slightly smoother feel and "darker" timbre, but afaik these aren't available at present.

[DRS]

I use Daddario 1/2 wounds and I really like them. Less string noise but still a nice bright tone. I don't like daddario Flat Chromes as they are too dark sounding. Thomastik Jazz Flats are great but they are $20 a set up here and hard to find.

[xuoham]

Thanks guys,

OK so it seems to be what it claims on the D'addario website.
That would be a simple (D'adds are easy to find) and nice solution to my problem.

[Bryan T]

I think you'll find that squeaking is reduced a bit with half-rounds. However, I think that squeaking is mainly an issue of technique and should be addressed in the practice room.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I use Daddario 1/2 wounds and I really like them. Less string noise but still a nice bright tone. I don't like daddario Flat Chromes as they are too dark sounding. Thomastik Jazz Flats are great but they are $20 a set up here and hard to find.

The bold sentence was my finding, too, but I didn't like the tone. I guess I'm not a bright guy, I like the sound of flat wounds best. I also had the "Jazz Medium" set of D'Addario half-rounds (googles... 13 to 56 gauge), and the bass strings were closer to round than to flat -- not that much had been ground off the wrap, so they were still too squeaky to my ears. Maybe a lighter set wouldn't be as bad.

[xuoham]

I think you'll find that squeaking is reduced a bit with half-rounds. However, I think that squeaking is mainly an issue of technique and should be addressed in the practice room.

Ah yeah, thanks, i can play without squeaking , the thing is i am not a jazz guitarist per se, i do slide chords and small shapes a lot, sometimes use squeak as a rhythm element but it is just too loud with rounds and the K&K acoustic pickup. Let's say if you would try to make single notes nuances like Ustad Srinivas or Derek Trucks without the slide you would have a squeak problem at some point.

[henryrobinett]

I half liked them once. I went through a period where I used them, then I ran out and the store didn't have more any so I went back to round wounds. Then the next time I returned to try the 1/2 and took them off. I thought I had gone crazy for that period I was using them.

[Bryan T]

If that's the case, then I'd look at the EQ of the K&K pickup first.

[xuoham]

Yes, that's the problem, but it's another topic:

i already have the trebles cut a lot and i don't want to cut more because i like the sound like this, blended with the mag pu. I guess the pickup is just catching everything, which actually kind of is what i wanted: percussion, rubbing, well an electric AND a very acoustic one at the same time.
And actually works great, but i suspect that having the transducers stuck to this maple top (maple is very bright) is the cause.

Anyway, thank you very much ^ ^

and since i am otherwise very close to total satisfaction with this setup, i will revert to flats if the halfs don't make it.
I just wanted a little more round/flat top flavor to the acoustic sound.

Cheers

[jasonmi3]

I play flats on my archtops but I use D'Addario 1/2 rounds on my Les Paul for bluesy stuff will still maintaining a jazzier sound than rounds (to my ear anyway) and reducing string noise for chord melody pieces. I must admit that I did not really like the feel of the ground strings at first as they felt "sticky" as someone pointed out but they don't feel that way to me anymore. Perhaps I just got used to it, I'm not sure. I would suggest giving them a try for a few weeks. You'll find from online posts that a lot of people like them and there are many who REALLY dislike them. Only you can be the judge.

[xuoham]

Thanks, definitely will try

[ESCC]

I tried D'Addario Half Rounds, didn't care for them, agree with the sticky feeling. I suggest trying TI BeBop strings, I use them on my LP and Tele while I keep flats on my 175 and H535. Sometimes trying new strings can be very enlightening and rewarding, have fun with it.

[xuoham]

The Thomastik bebop are rounds, right ?

[Bryan T]

The Thomastik bebop are rounds, right ?

They are, but they aren't as harsh sounding as, for example, D'Addario rounds. I use them on my archtop and think they are fantastic strings. Not sure how they'd get along with a K&K pickup.

[2bornot2bop]

My hope is that half round strings (D'addario) would keep a round wound sound while making the sliding of fingers on the strings a little more silent.
At least it's what they seem to claim.

What's the deal ?

I would appreciate any insight before i buy some.

Thank you !

they do exactly that. once the strings get filled in a bit with skin after several days of playing they're a remarkable compromise to flatwounds. I'm not a picker, and the half rounds project noticeably greater tone velocity than the flats. They're a fun alternative and cheap, so buy a few pair and try 'em.

I use 13's...I'd use 14's if I could get 'em. I stumbled on the D'A half's by accident when a nice jazz box arrived with them. I'd never knew of half rounds prior to that. good luck!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

they do exactly that. once the strings get filled in a bit with skin after several days of playing they're a remarkable compromise to flatwounds. I'm not a picker, and the half rounds project noticeably greater tone velocity than the flats. They're a fun alternative and cheap, so buy a few pair and try 'em.

Ewww! I try not to think too much about what "mojo" consists of.

[DRS]

Some guys also use Elixir Nanos. The coating gives teh strings a bit more "slide." They are also a little darker than basic roundwounds due to teh coating. I think Martin Taylor uses Elixir Nano 12s.

[Bill C]

A quick wipe of "fast fret" solves the stickiness problem IMO

[jazzuki]

D'addario 1/2 rounds 11/49's-always used flats or chromes but suddenly found that the A and E strings became dull/muddy.Solved my problem.

[Jazzchief1]

I use Daddario 1/2 wounds and I really like them. Less string noise but still a nice bright tone. I don't like daddario Flat Chromes as they are too dark sounding. Thomastik Jazz Flats are great but they are $20 a set up here and hard to find.

Try Juststrings.com on line.

[mr. beaumont]

I have the D'Addairo PB "flat tops" on my Loar acoustic archtop now...love the sound, not sold on the feel yet--they actually have more finger drag to me than a set of standard rounds...but I imagine they might "slick up" as I play and get some finger oils on 'em...

[xuoham]

Some guys also use Elixir Nanos. The coating gives teh strings a bit more "slide." They are also a little darker than basic roundwounds due to teh coating. I think Martin Taylor uses Elixir Nano 12s.

Elixirs were my first thought, of course, i use them on my flat tops, but unfortunately, their electric choice of gauge is very limited, and they don't even have a set with a wound G, nor the possibility to buy a single wound thinner than .024.
Unbelievable ... and too bad, really.