D'addario Half-Rounds, Pure Nickel

[MartinS]

Has anyone tried either of these? I currently use D'addario XL115s, but think a slightly mellower sound would suit me better, particularly clean. However, I'd still like some bite now and then.

The Half-Rounds and Pure Nickels are slightly further towards the mellow end of the "bright – mellow" rating according to D'addario's website. Has anyone here used them?

[HTH AMPS]

I tried them once - I'd say they're for Jazz players that want slightly more bite than flatwounds rather than people who use roundwounds and want less bite.

 :twisted:

[MartinS]

Well, I strung my Mule-kitted 335 with the half-rounds the other day and couldn't stop playing at the practise last night! Beautiful mellow tone on the neck pickup (real Peter Green territory), but with enough cut on the bridge pickup for the songs where more bite's needed.

The only things I'm not so keen on regarding the Half-Rounds is that they have a kind of 'sticky' feel, and look old and dark grey rather than nice 'n' shiny when you first put them on!

I'm now keen to try the even mellower Pure Nickels, but don't want to have to re-string it again before a forthcoming gig.

Now, if only I could get our bass player to change his strings: it's a US Fender Precision, he's had it eight years, and never changed the strings! Sometimes it booms like some kind of war machine...