It would be helpful to further describe what the different comparisons are, i.e, I was looking for the slapping comparison again, but had to end up watching the video again to find it (no great loss!). Thanks.
For such a niche community like the U-Bass one, you make a surprising amount of quality and informative content. As someone who is looking to start, you answered so many of my basic questions that I thought would be impossible to find. Keep up the great work man.
@@stephencoxbass I'm an electronic player, and I pretty much put my own basses together, so I've had to take my fair share of blind jumps and hope that things work. Channels like yours help people like me make the jump without the fear of things not working out.
Thunder reds are high-tech. Formerly the only way to make a string deeper was to increase the diameter but these strings have in increased density by adding copper to the formula. They have a much more full sound, and are not sticky so they have less finger noise.
@kenstephanie8445, the three factors in string pitch are diameter, mass, and tension. Change any of those and you change the pitch. Change any two or all three, and that math you said you’d never use after high school comes into play!
@@stephencoxbass well I just bought the standard mahogany ubass stay comes with the rubber strings. I really like how the flatwounds sound and was wondering would it be a bad idea to put them on that ubass? I’m just worried it could be harmful to the pickup or fretboard since it was intended originally for the rubber strings.
I saw someone asked about "is it possible to change from Roundwound to Rubber Strings" then I have the same question, so I asked Kala's support, their answer is - "The only issue would be the size of the nut and the holes in the bridge. The rubber strings are larger and may need both the nut widened and the bridge holes drilled out. The neck can handle the tension of either but it may need truss rod adjustments." So I am just posting here and I hope this information is useful :)
It's very accurate info :) I haven't had to widen the holes on any of mine, but the grooves in the nut did need to be widened for the flat wounds. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! I came searching the comments for info about this because I ordered rubber strings and the luthier said he couldn’t fit them… which had me perplexed as to why Kala would sell strings that didn’t fit.
Great review. No story telling-bullshit upfront but an overview was given first and then you came up with some playable basslines that are then covered on each version of strings so that actual reproducable comparison was achieved. Thanks. Very helpful! If every review on youtube was so straight forward. Billions of GB on harddrives and a lot of time would have been saved. Best Regards
I have the rubber strings on my Ubass and I solved the "sticky" problem with String Fuel from Music Nomad. I like it better than Finger Ease because you don't spray it on the strings. I can slide without detuning the note.
Many thanks for the comparison. It's really helped me decide to stick (no pun intended) with the polyurethane strings originally fitted to my Laka ukulele bass, as they really are best for the upright bass tone I bought it for.
Flats sound great, no wonder they're more expensive. would like to see a review of the nylon wounds. Which is the perfect travel /camping/ beach bass???
I removed roundwounds from every actual bass I have and went for flatwounds, but now I'll be putting them on my rubber-stringed ubass. Because I crave that volume.
I've got the striped ebony with round wound strings on the way, but I think flat wound will be my next purchase. Thanks for making informative videos, your channel helped me decide to purchase a u-bass to learn on.
Think I'll still use my rubber strings, as they give the natural bass sound. If the price were lower, I might have tried the flatwound, to give a bit more of an electric bass sound, with less scratchiness than the round strings.
Thanks for doing this comprehensive review on string types. My EKO Fretless U-bass came with Aquila Thunderguts and although it sounded warm and mellow, I had a couple of issues with them. As you said, sliding up on the strings affected the intonation, this seems to be unavoidable. The other issue for me was my fingers tended to stick on the strings. I had no intention of putting lubricant or powder on the strings, so I ended up wearing thin cotton gloves, a bit like Scott does. I play an Epiphone EB3 with Rotosound flatwound Jazz bass strings which slide and produce a warm tone. With that in mind, saved up and got a set of Galli black nylon wrapped flatwounds. They solved both my issues and play well, especially when amplified. The only downside is they are much quieter if unplugged.
Great tutorial, thanks a million. But please, folks, stop calling Aquila strings "Aqueela" with the accent on the double ee. It's 'Ah-kwilah, accent on the A. 'A-kwilah. Means eagle, in italian. Thank you
@@e.miller8943 Aquila is not spanish, where eagle is aguila pronounced ['a-gwilah], but italian, pronounced ['akwilah]. Akeela pronounced like tequila is wrong and does not exist neither in spanish nor in italian, trust me, I am 100% certified italian, and guitarist. Aquila strings are 100 italian made in Vicenza, Italy. So please Aaron don't think you are smarter, do your own research on Google, and please simply call them by their name: 'Akwilah. What do you mean with "I don't believe you" ... Cose da pazzi ci tocca leggere, mannaggia, il primo che passa si inventa qualunque fesseria e monta in cattedra!
Reality check: I have the red kala ubass with round wounds. If you already play a normal bass, in NO way are you going to 'rip your skin' with round wounds. The feel is in no way more rough than normal round wound bass strings. The round wounds are absolutely amazing. The sound is kinda like a hybrid between a very good Precision bass and a double bass
I was speaking from experience. Sliding a lot on the E string in particular is a bit more effort on that slightly larger gauge string. Think of it like sliding on the B string on a five string a bunch. There also seemed to be something about the silver plating that may have caused more friction. I'm glad that you didn't have that experience, but this might be different for different people.
@@stephencoxbass Unfortunately, the Thunder Reds dry out relatively quickly (few months) and then tear. That quickly becomes expensive to play Thunder Reds. ...sounding great and less sticky.
They have the most attack and mid-high frequencies. If you aren’t bothered by the extra string noise, they are an excellent choice. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this extensive discussion on the difference between these 3 types of strings. I just ordered my Aquila Thunderguts and am very excited to try them out.
@@stephencoxbass My micro bass had those bronze round wound acoustic bass strings strung from the shop. It's so hard to find a replacement set. However, when I tried the Aquilas, I discovered that the slats of my string pokes were too small and could accommodate the very thick E string. Oh well.
Hi Stephen. I have used the Thunder Reds on my Kala Acoustic for about five years and they are by far my favorite non-metallic string for the U-Bass. They are thinner than the Thunderguts, not as sticky and have a punchier tone that is still very upright-like. I use a plastic container with a sponge soaked with mineral oil that I dip my fingertips in. This virtually eliminates string noise and lets the fingertips of my right hand release the strings smoothly which greatly improves the tone. On my solid body SUB I use the Galli UXB 810 Blacknylon strings. They sound and feel great and really last. I've had them on since last December and there is still no wear on them. I found that the Kala roundwounds are to soft and thin and the frets and my acidic hands tear through them very quickly. I also want top say that both the Galli flat wound and Galli nylon roundwound contain steel and should work with magnetic pickups for those with the skills to install them in a Kala solidbody.
Thank you for all the info! I never would have thought to use mineral oil. In the future I may have to see about trying to install the type of pickup you mentioned...that should reduce string to fret noise a bit, too.
I agree - the Thunder Reds are less sticky than the Thunder Guts. Thinner too. I've had hand issues so, experimenting, I've used Gorilla Tips on my left hand fingertips, then wear a tight-fitting silk (or cotton) glove over that - I can slide easily on the Thunder Reds and my fingertips are protected (which I need b/c of my injury). I'm considering the Flats but the added tension concerns me....
Thanks for this comparison. It's just what I was looking for. Each string type has it's own pros. This typed, what attracted me to this type of bass (ukulele) outside of the size is that with the "rubber" strings, it sounds akin to an upright bass... so those are my favorite sounding strings. As an aside, the coral colored Kala with the f-holes is nice. I've not seen that color before. All the best!
I love this video Stephen, thank you. I like the Countryman bass body because of the jazz vibe of the f holes but I think I'd like the rubber strings the most because of the closer proximity to an upright bass sound.
Fantastic review. I very much appreciate the consistently carried-out technical-factors demonstrations (exactly the kind of thing I do when visiting a guitar shop). And informative comments too.
This was really instructive, great work! I had my rubber ones, and it has been kind of difficult find them, I wanted to know about the other options that I was seeing out there and this was the perfect video. I still love the upright bass sound from my Kala, so I just bought those again after have watched your video. But now I know about the other ones. Thanks!
During normal playing where I never really slide up more than 2 semitones I've never really noticed the intonation/sliding problem on Rubber strings. I'm using the ThunderGuts btw on a Harley Benton, I don't know if the 21" scale makes much of a difference (longer scale = more tension, so in theory it could help). If I get sweaty hands the strings do get hella sticky, so it might be an issue then, but for casual 30 minute couch sessions it's not a problem for me. Oh yeah the red Aquila strings have a bit more brightness to them according to the website. And according to some reviews they're also less sticky than the thunderguts. Sorry for spamming your channel full of comments, as you can tell I've been binging a lot of your content :P
I think the longer scale does help, but it's also only super noticeable on long slides. Thanks for the info on Thunder Reds...I knew about the stickiness, but not the brightness. Thanks again for watching. Cheers!
Thank you. I needed that info. I bought a Ubass to noodle around on without having to pick up my full size bass. Mine came with the rubber strings, which to me feel so so weird. I’m having a hard time getting used to the feel of them. In your demo, as an alternative, I did like the sound of the flat wound strings and the warmth of the rubber strings.
Thank you! Best string review I’ve ever heard! I am a round wound fan on my electric basses as they are bright and punchy but on a Ubass, the flat wound are almost as bright and punchy but seem a little smoother.
Thanks for the informative video, Stephen! I just bought the metal round wounds model, ebony as it was available. I wanted to buy the solid mahogany one - as long they are still available - but the store could not offer metal strings for it... My new Ubass works well with our garage rock band, the guys liked the sound and versatility of the acoustic model when amplified. No feedback issues so far, aside from the positive fact that the instrument has better sustain when amplified. I'm now considering to buy a mahogany and maybe change strings, or rather maybe not, now that I have the round wounds. Having many basses is... well, basic luxury :-)
Your Personal Linguist sez: Every letter in Hawai’ian words is pronounced. So “pahoeho” (which is a type of lava) is pronounced “pa-HO-ay-HO-ay,” NOT “pa-ho-ho.” Otherwise, this video ROCKED. Have played bass since 1970, but am brand new to the uke and looking for guidance. You have answered one question already: It’s round-wound strings for me, on my Hadean cutaway fretless ukulele bass!
This is interesting. There's not as much difference according to what I'm hearing as I expected. It's cool that there are string choices now for these things. Thanks for sharing this.
@@stephencoxbass Great comparison video, and this comment about flat wounds being easiest to play is also very helpful. Flat wounds are not available as a stock choice on a new instrument, so between round wounds and the Pahoehoe black strings which would be easier for a beginner to play (a beginner that has to order a UBass from one of the big online retailers without being able to audition it).
Personally I preferred the sound of the rubber strings, although I also liked the flatwounds. I own too U-basses, one fretted and one fretless. The fretted one has rubber strings and the fretless bass has roundwound strings. I found the action too high to play comfortably with the flatwound strings. A local luthier (at Max Guitar Scheveningen, they are the best) did some filing on the nut and lowered the action. It is now my favourite bass. Thank you so much for this very helpful video!
Just got my Galli Kala flat wounds. Love them. I’m an upright player and liked the rubber strings but the flat wounds are the bomb. Thanks for sharing about them.
stephencoxbass I’ve been playing with them for a bit, but they are noisy. Slightest touching makes a tapping kind of noise. Wasn’t expecting that. Thoughts? Also the D and G string don’t pickup as well as the A and E
Just got a short-scale acoustic bass. it came with D’Addario EXPPBB190GS nylon core strings. Of course, now I have to go get other options just to hear the difference. Thanks for the great video.
The acoustic comparison provided some info, but the basses being significantly different (sound hole vs. “f” hole top) was bound to be making a big difference in the sound we the viewers were hearing. Three identical basses each strung with one of string types would have provided a more sonically equal test.
True. For the rubber and the round wound's I have a video where I was able to compare strings on the same model (exotic mahogany): th-cam.com/video/AXaHMow4fxQ/w-d-xo.html . However, I don't know anyone with one with flats. It's hard to just change the strings, as the nut has to be altered For The different strings. If you're curious about rounds verses flats I have videos of the journeyman with round wounds like this one: th-cam.com/video/1JIDpxeguSw/w-d-xo.html that you can compare with the flat wound demo in the current video. I hope that can answer a few questions.
Thanks for the detailed info! I have a Hadean U-bass and I like the polyurethane strings, but some things (like slapping) just sound better with metal strings, IMO.
I play uke and have been looking for a ubass for while. I wanted one with flat wound strings standard but got a Hadean with rubber strings 'cause the price was right. I thought I changed the strings but you make the rubber sound great. Gives me something to work towards.
Just a pronunciation tip: Pahoehoe sounds like: pa-hoy-hoy NOT like Santa laughing, pa-ho-ho Very nice comparison video, altogether. Very helpful. Thank you.
I have always loved how flats sound and feel but I did notice they almost sounded muted compared to the other two on this video. I love the ticking on the frets with the round wounds but that doesn’t work for all songs. And they are just too rough for my tender fingers. The rubber strings, I have no experience with but I really like that upright sound. I may give those a try since they’re so affordable. Thanks for the help!
The flats do sound a bit more muted, but I prefer them over all. The polyurethane strings are great, but the rubbery feel takes some getting used to. Thanks for watching!
Honestly, I can see a use case for all three even at a professional level. They all sound like different instruments, at least through the pickup, and if I have to take three instruments to the gig, I'd rather it be three of these...
I got the fretted model (Nomad a/e) with the rubbery strings - i'll be using this bass mainly for emulating the upright sound, which it does very well. Busking with my string band and not hauling the doghouse, yay! Sounds great through my old battery-powered Pignose, will be upgrading to a smaller better amp this year.
thanks for uploading this. i'm planning to get u-bass some time this month and since it comes with round wounds i wasn't sure whether to leave them on the bass, but after watching this, i think i will. keeping in mind that, if i ever happen to purchase a fretless one, i might as well use flatwounds for that full-on upright sound :)
Both the roundwound and flatwound 'metal' strings are metal windings around a nylon core. ..Reading on the Kala website... This is the same as the lower strings on a classical guitar; as opposed to a regular guitar or electric bass strings with a metal core and metal windings. (This is why a magnetic pickup won't work on classical guitar strings; no metal core). Kala also says that since the metal strings are lots thinner than the 'rubber' ones, one has to change out the nut, because the grooves are huge for the rubber strings. But that's pretty easy to do; or maybe i'd be lazy and just put a bit of folded up business card in the nut slot. I love the sound of the rubber strings on my Hadean (aquila nylaguts?), but the stickiness on the low E drives me a bit crazy. I can't slide on it much. But otherwise, i love the solid body hadean. So i may one of the metal strings. But great review!!
Some people may want to know when the term “warm” is used sometimes the string gauge is increased and the sustain can suffer a little especially higher up the fretboard. Other than that I think those flatwounds are a real winner!
I enjoy them a lot, depending on the tone I'm after. I suppose I could have said less high end/punchy and supports low to lower mids well instead of warm. I agree about the sustain. Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for this video, very informative! Question: if you plan to switch string types, are there limitations/issues regarding how they fit with a setup originally designed for a different kind of string set? For instance, the Kala round wound are considerably thinner than the ‘rubber’ style strings… does it affect tone and playability switching up on the same instrument?
It takes some work: when I put flat wounds on, I had to widen the groove on the nut under the E string. Once I did that, they played great. Thanks for watching!
Unplugged, I like thewarmer sound produced by the poly strings. Pugged in they all have their advantages and disadvantages that can be either accentuated or overcome with amps and what not. I've been looking for a little bass of some sorts to use as an accompanyment on a boat when we're hanging out on the water. A little Kala with rubber strings appears to be the ticket. Cool comparison, thanks.
Your videos are incredibly helpful! I'm really hoping to get a Journeyman Ubass(I love the look of the mahogany with the f-holes), but you can only seem to buy them with round wound strings these days, and I really want to use Thunderguts. Do you know if it's easy to switch the strings? I've heard the bridge needs some modification, and I'm not sure I'd trust myself to make any modifications haha.
I think you can switch them out fairly easily, but you'll probably have to replace the nut...I don't think the bridge needs anything. I hope that helps!
I’m staying with he original polyurethane strings, as they sound incredible when played on a stage with a big PA system. If you close your eyes it sounds like I’m playing my upright bass.
Gil, were the original polyurethane strings that you like so much the white Aquila ones or the black Kala ones? Clearly on the Kala website, some of the U-basses come with Aquila strings.
My original strings were the black ones. I’ve enjoyed them since I bought the instrument in 2014. My main bass is a 3/4 size upright bass. I love the Kala for its size & sound. However, recently I changed strings on all my basses, including the Kala. I put the new flatwounds on it. Wow, once again I’m very impressed with its sound. Much louder when not amplified, but I’ve lost the upright bass tone. It sounds like most acoustic, guitar size basses. For me it’s a toss up on the next string change. BTW, I had to replace the nut when I converted to flatwounds, as they are thinner and buzzed with the original nut.
I chose the roundwound strings so that I could combine them with classical guitar strings for a GDAE tuning. I definitely want to give flatwounds a try, I think I would prefer a softer, darker tone.
Hey Stephen, thanks for these. Question: you mention EQ'ing out the finger noises on the rubber strings. Do you have a video where you talk more specifically about how you do that?
I'm not sure...it might be in a live stream somewhere. Basically it's just taking the treble out as much as possible. If you had an eq pedal with "8 bands" or "16 bands" you could find the specific frequencies that are causing the noise, but with just a bass and an amp, turn the hi or treble down and that should reduce the noise a bit.
I'm not quite sure, because it almost appears to have a red tint to it...but I would guess it's a mahogany rumbler or a solid mahogany. This is just a guess, though. Maybe he got one custom?
Amazing review! Would love to see you use the flat wounds on the violin u bass you were using in that one video you made a while back. Wanted to know if that made any difference in the tuning and play ability of that bass in particular. I’ve looked around and haven’t really seen any other comprehensive videos about that bass. Keep it going you sound great !
I’m not sure if you mean the Hadean that looks like a Hofner, or the fretless Chinese bass. If you mean the 2nd one, I did put Flatwounds on that one and have a couple of videos with it. Thanks for watching!
Not a bad way to look at it. I think the flat wounds are the best of both worlds in a lot of ways. However, the round wounds project better unplugged for sure, and also with harmonics!
Thank you for this second great review.
As an act of appreciation i made timestamps for you, feel free to use them (and/or adapt them)
00:00 Intro
0:27 Plugged In "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
0:35 Plugged In "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
0:43 Plugged In "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
0:51 Plugged In 2 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
1:02 Plugged In 2 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
1:12 Plugged In 2 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
1:22 Plugged In 3 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
1:32 Plugged In 3 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
1:43 Plugged In 3 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
1:53 Plugged In 4 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:00 Plugged In 4 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:06 Plugged In 4 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:13 Plugged In 5 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:16 Plugged In 5 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:20 Plugged In 5 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:24 Plugged In 6 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
2:38 Plugged In 6 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated Round Wounds
2:49 Plugged In 6 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
2:58 Testing them Acousticly (Unplugged)
3:00 Unplugged "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:08 Unplugged "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:15 Unplugged "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:22 Unplugged 2 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:29 Unplugged 2 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:35 Unplugged 2 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:41 Unplugged 3 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:44 Unplugged 3 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
3:47 Unplugged 3 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
3:51 Unplugged 4 "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
3:55 Unplugged 4 "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
4:02 Unplugged 4 "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
4:07 Talking about Differences between the Strings
4:12 String Tension "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
4:34 String Tension "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
4:54 String Tension "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
5:13 Sliding "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
5:41 Sliding "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
6:05 Sliding "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
6:49 Tone
7:42 String Noise "Rubber Strings" (Polyurethane) - Aquila Thunderguts
8:27 String Noise "Metal Round Wound Strings" - Kala Silver Plated
8:48 String Noise "Flat Wound Strings" - Kala/Galli Strings
9:37 Pricing
10:22 Alternatives - Galli Round Wounds, Kala Pahoehoes, Aquila Thunder Reds
11:20 Outro
Thank you so much! That was very kind of you!
I just pinned your comment to the top so that others can find it easily while watching. Thank you, and I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
@@stephencoxbass you should try copying it to the bottom of your description, this way you get video annotations for each part
@@Sonstwer Thank you, I appreciate you teaching me how to do that! Cheers!
It would be helpful to further describe what the different comparisons are, i.e, I was looking for the slapping comparison again, but had to end up watching the video again to find it (no great loss!). Thanks.
For such a niche community like the U-Bass one, you make a surprising amount of quality and informative content. As someone who is looking to start, you answered so many of my basic questions that I thought would be impossible to find. Keep up the great work man.
Thank you! I'm trying...because I had a lot of the same questions before finding the answers!
@@stephencoxbass I'm an electronic player, and I pretty much put my own basses together, so I've had to take my fair share of blind jumps and hope that things work. Channels like yours help people like me make the jump without the fear of things not working out.
Agree, this seems to be THE spot to learn U-Bass, and the only reason that I feel I can even try in the first place. Really appreciate the channel 👍🏻
@@chaoticcollagen794 Thank you so much!
@@EnforcerX I'm glad I can help! Cheers!
Thunder reds are high-tech. Formerly the only way to make a string deeper was to increase the diameter but these strings have in increased density by adding copper to the formula. They have a much more full sound, and are not sticky so they have less finger noise.
I'll have to try them out sometime soon!
@kenstephanie8445, the three factors in string pitch are diameter, mass, and tension. Change any of those and you change the pitch.
Change any two or all three, and that math you said you’d never use after high school comes into play!
you can really tell the time and effort you put into your videos and that you really care about giving us fair standpoints. thanks man
Thank you, Henry! I greatly appreciate the time you and everyone takes to watch my videos.
@@stephencoxbass well I just bought the standard mahogany ubass stay comes with the rubber strings. I really like how the flatwounds sound and was wondering would it be a bad idea to put them on that ubass? I’m just worried it could be harmful to the pickup or fretboard since it was intended originally for the rubber strings.
I definitely liked the sound of the flats best. If I ever get a U-Bass (or any copy thereof), flats will be going on it.
They've been a lot of fun so far! Totally worth the price in my opinion!
I saw someone asked about "is it possible to change from Roundwound to Rubber Strings" then I have the same question, so I asked Kala's support, their answer is - "The only issue would be the size of the nut and the holes in the bridge. The rubber strings are larger and may need both the nut widened and the bridge holes drilled out. The neck can handle the tension of either but it may need truss rod adjustments." So I am just posting here and I hope this information is useful :)
It's very accurate info :) I haven't had to widen the holes on any of mine, but the grooves in the nut did need to be widened for the flat wounds. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! I came searching the comments for info about this because I ordered rubber strings and the luthier said he couldn’t fit them… which had me perplexed as to why Kala would sell strings that didn’t fit.
Great review. No story telling-bullshit upfront but an overview was given first and then you came up with some playable basslines that are then covered on each version of strings so that actual reproducable comparison was achieved.
Thanks. Very helpful! If every review on youtube was so straight forward. Billions of GB on harddrives and a lot of time would have been saved. Best Regards
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful!
I have the rubber strings on my Ubass and I solved the "sticky" problem with String Fuel from Music Nomad. I like it better than Finger Ease because you don't spray it on the strings. I can slide without detuning the note.
Awesome! I'll have to look into that. Thank you for sharing!
I’ll check it out. The stickiness is the one thing I don’t like about my ubass.
String Fuel is awesome for any regular guitar or bass strings as well. If you use it regularly and wipe the strings they last about 3 times as long.
Many thanks for the comparison. It's really helped me decide to stick (no pun intended) with the polyurethane strings originally fitted to my Laka ukulele bass, as they really are best for the upright bass tone I bought it for.
I'm glad I could help you stick to your strings! 😂
Flats sound great, no wonder they're more expensive. would like to see a review of the nylon wounds. Which is the perfect travel /camping/ beach bass???
If you're jamming with people, you at least want metal strings to project some. If not, any U-Bass should do fine.
I removed roundwounds from every actual bass I have and went for flatwounds, but now I'll be putting them on my rubber-stringed ubass.
Because I crave that volume.
Thank you for the effort and the time you have taken for this video! I like the sound of the flatwounds best!
Thanks for watching the video! I'm glad you got some value out of it!
I've got the striped ebony with round wound strings on the way, but I think flat wound will be my next purchase. Thanks for making informative videos, your channel helped me decide to purchase a u-bass to learn on.
You're welcome!
Thanks for the very analytical comparison. Finally someone that knows how to explain differences.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Great video! I'm just getting ready to own one of these things and this was super useful in making my decision. Thanks!
I’m glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Think I'll still use my rubber strings, as they give the natural bass sound. If the price were lower, I might have tried the flatwound, to give a bit more of an electric bass sound, with less scratchiness than the round strings.
Price does play a big part. Flatwound and rubber are my two favorites. I seldom use the round wounds these days.
Now this is what I call informative content. Thank you!
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for doing this comprehensive review on string types. My EKO Fretless U-bass came with Aquila Thunderguts and although it sounded warm and mellow, I had a couple of issues with them. As you said, sliding up on the strings affected the intonation, this seems to be unavoidable. The other issue for me was my fingers tended to stick on the strings. I had no intention of putting lubricant or powder on the strings, so I ended up wearing thin cotton gloves, a bit like Scott does. I play an Epiphone EB3 with Rotosound flatwound Jazz bass strings which slide and produce a warm tone. With that in mind, saved up and got a set of Galli black nylon wrapped flatwounds. They solved both my issues and play well, especially when amplified. The only downside is they are much quieter if unplugged.
I'm glad you found this helpful! I still enjoy my flat wounds. Cheers!
Great tutorial, thanks a million. But please, folks, stop calling Aquila strings "Aqueela" with the accent on the double ee. It's 'Ah-kwilah, accent on the A. 'A-kwilah. Means eagle, in italian. Thank you
Thanks for the info! I never knew that's what it meant.
Aquila "a-keela" means eagle in spanish.
@@e.miller8943 Aquila is not spanish, where eagle is aguila pronounced ['a-gwilah], but italian, pronounced ['akwilah]. Akeela pronounced like tequila is wrong and does not exist neither in spanish nor in italian, trust me, I am 100% certified italian, and guitarist. Aquila strings are 100 italian made in Vicenza, Italy. So please Aaron don't think you are smarter, do your own research on Google, and please simply call them by their name: 'Akwilah. What do you mean with "I don't believe you" ... Cose da pazzi ci tocca leggere, mannaggia, il primo che passa si inventa qualunque fesseria e monta in cattedra!
@@Lanternamagika Lol vero
@@Lanternamagika How do you say DOUCHEBAG in italian? Just look at your driver's license. I'm sure it's on there somewhere.
Reality check: I have the red kala ubass with round wounds. If you already play a normal bass, in NO way are you going to 'rip your skin' with round wounds. The feel is in no way more rough than normal round wound bass strings. The round wounds are absolutely amazing. The sound is kinda like a hybrid between a very good Precision bass and a double bass
I was speaking from experience. Sliding a lot on the E string in particular is a bit more effort on that slightly larger gauge string. Think of it like sliding on the B string on a five string a bunch. There also seemed to be something about the silver plating that may have caused more friction. I'm glad that you didn't have that experience, but this might be different for different people.
I use Aquila Thunder Reds and I am very pleased with them, they are not sticky and sound excellent.
I still have yet to get a set, but I hear good things about them every time. I should get some soon! Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Unfortunately, the Thunder Reds dry out relatively quickly (few months) and then tear. That quickly becomes expensive to play Thunder Reds. ...sounding great and less sticky.
❤Great analysis - thank you. I prefer the sound of the round wound strings.
They have the most attack and mid-high frequencies. If you aren’t bothered by the extra string noise, they are an excellent choice. Thanks for watching!
great review thanks for including the acoustic recordings
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this extensive discussion on the difference between these 3 types of strings. I just ordered my Aquila Thunderguts and am very excited to try them out.
You’re welcome! What strings did you have initially? Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass
My micro bass had those bronze round wound acoustic bass strings strung from the shop. It's so hard to find a replacement set. However, when I tried the Aquilas, I discovered that the slats of my string pokes were too small and could accommodate the very thick E string. Oh well.
This is actually more helpful that some of the bigger subscription channles who've commented on strings.
I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Hi Stephen. I have used the Thunder Reds on my Kala Acoustic for about five years and they are by far my favorite non-metallic string for the U-Bass. They are thinner than the Thunderguts, not as sticky and have a punchier tone that is still very upright-like. I use a plastic container with a sponge soaked with mineral oil that I dip my fingertips in. This virtually eliminates string noise and lets the fingertips of my right hand release the strings smoothly which greatly improves the tone. On my solid body SUB I use the Galli UXB 810 Blacknylon strings. They sound and feel great and really last. I've had them on since last December and there is still no wear on them. I found that the Kala roundwounds are to soft and thin and the frets and my acidic hands tear through them very quickly. I also want top say that both the Galli flat wound and Galli nylon roundwound contain steel and should work with magnetic pickups for those with the skills to install them in a Kala solidbody.
Thank you for all the info! I never would have thought to use mineral oil. In the future I may have to see about trying to install the type of pickup you mentioned...that should reduce string to fret noise a bit, too.
I agree - the Thunder Reds are less sticky than the Thunder Guts. Thinner too. I've had hand issues so, experimenting, I've used Gorilla Tips on my left hand fingertips, then wear a tight-fitting silk (or cotton) glove over that - I can slide easily on the Thunder Reds and my fingertips are protected (which I need b/c of my injury). I'm considering the Flats but the added tension concerns me....
Thanks for this comparison. It's just what I was looking for. Each string type has it's own pros. This typed, what attracted me to this type of bass (ukulele) outside of the size is that with the "rubber" strings, it sounds akin to an upright bass... so those are my favorite sounding strings. As an aside, the coral colored Kala with the f-holes is nice. I've not seen that color before. All the best!
Very thorough and comprehensive. Thanks for answering every question I had.
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!
I love this video Stephen, thank you. I like the Countryman bass body because of the jazz vibe of the f holes but I think I'd like the rubber strings the most because of the closer proximity to an upright bass sound.
Some people like the Journeyman that came with the rubber strings best. Thanks for watching, Andy!
Love the comparisons especially because you play the same song on all the various strings.
Thanks, I do my best to make the comparison straightforward. Thanks for watching!
I expected to like the flatwound but like the rubber one, mindblow
They sound cool for sure!
Awesome comparison video thanks, and thank you for all your Ubass vids. Great work and a great talent you have! Cheers!
Thank you so much! Cheers!
Those flat wounds sound incredible, definitely gonna put some on mine when I get it
I think you will like them. I'm still enjoying them, for sure! Thanks for watching!
Fantastic review. I very much appreciate the consistently carried-out technical-factors demonstrations (exactly the kind of thing I do when visiting a guitar shop). And informative comments too.
Thank you! I'm glad I could give an in depth review. Cheers!
It's pronounced pah-ho-eh-ho-eh, every vowel in Hawaiian is always pronounced, no silent vowels.
Thank you. I had no idea, and have never heard it properly pronounced.
Excellent video, very comprehensive and complete comparison!!!
Thanks, and thank you for watching!
This was really instructive, great work! I had my rubber ones, and it has been kind of difficult find them, I wanted to know about the other options that I was seeing out there and this was the perfect video. I still love the upright bass sound from my Kala, so I just bought those again after have watched your video. But now I know about the other ones. Thanks!
I'm glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
During normal playing where I never really slide up more than 2 semitones I've never really noticed the intonation/sliding problem on Rubber strings. I'm using the ThunderGuts btw on a Harley Benton, I don't know if the 21" scale makes much of a difference (longer scale = more tension, so in theory it could help). If I get sweaty hands the strings do get hella sticky, so it might be an issue then, but for casual 30 minute couch sessions it's not a problem for me.
Oh yeah the red Aquila strings have a bit more brightness to them according to the website. And according to some reviews they're also less sticky than the thunderguts.
Sorry for spamming your channel full of comments, as you can tell I've been binging a lot of your content :P
I think the longer scale does help, but it's also only super noticeable on long slides. Thanks for the info on Thunder Reds...I knew about the stickiness, but not the brightness. Thanks again for watching. Cheers!
This is a great and very informative video, you should totally have more subscribers!
Thank you! I think this channel will grow as more people get U-Basses :)
Thunderguts for me! Awesome video. Super helpful
I keep hearing good things about the Thunder reds. Have you tried those? Thanks for watching!
Thank you. I needed that info. I bought a Ubass to noodle around on without having to pick up my full size bass. Mine came with the rubber strings, which to me feel so so weird. I’m having a hard time getting used to the feel of them. In your demo, as an alternative, I did like the sound of the flat wound strings and the warmth of the rubber strings.
I like all of them, but the flats are the best of both worlds for me. Thanks for watching!
Thank you! Best string review I’ve ever heard! I am a round wound fan on my electric basses as they are bright and punchy but on a Ubass, the flat wound are almost as bright and punchy but seem a little smoother.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the review!
Thanks for the informative video, Stephen!
I just bought the metal round wounds model, ebony as it was available. I wanted to buy the solid mahogany one - as long they are still available - but the store could not offer metal strings for it...
My new Ubass works well with our garage rock band, the guys liked the sound and versatility of the acoustic model when amplified. No feedback issues so far, aside from the positive fact that the instrument has better sustain when amplified.
I'm now considering to buy a mahogany and maybe change strings, or rather maybe not, now that I have the round wounds. Having many basses is... well, basic luxury :-)
I think the ebony model looks great, I'd love to get a fretless one! Congrats on the new U-bass!
Awesome comparison. Thanks for posting. It's really helpful to hear the difference
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Your Personal Linguist sez: Every letter in Hawai’ian words is pronounced. So “pahoeho” (which is a type of lava) is pronounced “pa-HO-ay-HO-ay,” NOT “pa-ho-ho.”
Otherwise, this video ROCKED. Have played bass since 1970, but am brand new to the uke and looking for guidance.
You have answered one question already: It’s round-wound strings for me, on my Hadean cutaway fretless ukulele bass!
This is interesting. There's not as much difference according to what I'm hearing as I expected. It's cool that there are string choices now for these things. Thanks for sharing this.
There are some big differences, but the playing is the biggest difference. I find the flat wounds easiest to play. Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Great comparison video, and this comment about flat wounds being easiest to play is also very helpful. Flat wounds are not available as a stock choice on a new instrument, so between round wounds and the Pahoehoe black strings which would be easier for a beginner to play (a beginner that has to order a UBass from one of the big online retailers without being able to audition it).
Personally I preferred the sound of the rubber strings, although I also liked the flatwounds. I own too U-basses, one fretted and one fretless. The fretted one has rubber strings and the fretless bass has roundwound strings. I found the action too high to play comfortably with the flatwound strings. A local luthier (at Max Guitar Scheveningen, they are the best) did some filing on the nut and lowered the action. It is now my favourite bass. Thank you so much for this very helpful video!
Thanks for watching! All of the string types have their own personalities for sure! I still like each depending on what genre I’m playing.
best ubass string vid on youtube.. thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Just got my Galli Kala flat wounds. Love them. I’m an upright player and liked the rubber strings but the flat wounds are the bomb. Thanks for sharing about them.
You're welcome! They're great for sure!
stephencoxbass I’ve been playing with them for a bit, but they are noisy. Slightest touching makes a tapping kind of noise. Wasn’t expecting that. Thoughts? Also the D and G string don’t pickup as well as the A and E
Just got a short-scale acoustic bass. it came with D’Addario EXPPBB190GS nylon core strings. Of course, now I have to go get other options just to hear the difference. Thanks for the great video.
Congrats on the bass! Have fun trying different options!
"however the round wound strings sound" thats a tongue twister
indeed it is!
Love the rubber strings!
They are cool! Thanks for watching!
The acoustic comparison provided some info, but the basses being significantly different (sound hole vs. “f” hole top) was bound to be making a big difference in the sound we the viewers were hearing. Three identical basses each strung with one of string types would have provided a more sonically equal test.
True. For the rubber and the round wound's I have a video where I was able to compare strings on the same model (exotic mahogany): th-cam.com/video/AXaHMow4fxQ/w-d-xo.html . However, I don't know anyone with one with flats. It's hard to just change the strings, as the nut has to be altered For The different strings. If you're curious about rounds verses flats I have videos of the journeyman with round wounds like this one: th-cam.com/video/1JIDpxeguSw/w-d-xo.html that you can compare with the flat wound demo in the current video. I hope that can answer a few questions.
Thanks for the detailed info! I have a Hadean U-bass and I like the polyurethane strings, but some things (like slapping) just sound better with metal strings, IMO.
I agree, each have their strengths. That's why I have all 3 :)
I play uke and have been looking for a ubass for while. I wanted one with flat wound strings standard but got a Hadean with rubber strings 'cause the price was right. I thought I changed the strings but you make the rubber sound great. Gives me something to work towards.
Thanks! Both strings are great. I'm really enjoying the flats the most, but rubbber do have a certain vibe you can't get from either metal string.
What a well done comparison, thanks. I'm thinking about building my own resonator bass, but want to go shorter scale if I can make it work.
Thank you! Good luck with the build!
wow the flatwounds rock!
I agree! They even sound pretty cool slapped: th-cam.com/video/qfF26SUjDfc/w-d-xo.html
I like them all. The flatwound are my favorites though.
I go back and forth, but I'm also still enjoying the flat wounds a lot.
man, i’m from Brazil, and i’m thinking about buying some uBass, thanks for the review!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching the live stream, too!
very informative, very clear explanation. thank you
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this detailed video.. so useful..
I'm glad I could help. Thank you for watching!
Just a pronunciation tip:
Pahoehoe
sounds like: pa-hoy-hoy
NOT like Santa laughing, pa-ho-ho
Very nice comparison video, altogether.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks, I thought it was "Pa ho-eh ho-eh," but I wasn't sure.
I have always loved how flats sound and feel but I did notice they almost sounded muted compared to the other two on this video.
I love the ticking on the frets with the round wounds but that doesn’t work for all songs. And they are just too rough for my tender fingers.
The rubber strings, I have no experience with but I really like that upright sound. I may give those a try since they’re so affordable.
Thanks for the help!
The flats do sound a bit more muted, but I prefer them over all. The polyurethane strings are great, but the rubbery feel takes some getting used to. Thanks for watching!
Honestly, I can see a use case for all three even at a professional level. They all sound like different instruments, at least through the pickup, and if I have to take three instruments to the gig, I'd rather it be three of these...
Agreed! I had to get all three because of the versatility. Well said!
This is very helpful. Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
I think the flat wounds had a little upper harmonic sound adding a little extra texture.
I think the rounds and flats both do. I’ve found it to be more pronounced on the round wounds, though. Thanks for watching!
@@stephencoxbass Thanks for the reply.
I really like your program. You are a natural born teacher.
@@marcdeckard7064 Thank you!
Nice review.
Have seen another vid showing the thunder reds and they sounded great.
Thank you! I still need to try those and the thunder browns. Thanks for watching!
thank you for this! contemplating getting one of these but comparing string sounds isa big part of it.
Which strings did you like best? Thanks for watching!
I got the fretted model (Nomad a/e) with the rubbery strings - i'll be using this bass mainly for emulating the upright sound, which it does very well. Busking with my string band and not hauling the doghouse, yay! Sounds great through my old battery-powered Pignose, will be upgrading to a smaller better amp this year.
thanks for uploading this. i'm planning to get u-bass some time this month and since it comes with round wounds i wasn't sure whether to leave them on the bass, but after watching this, i think i will. keeping in mind that, if i ever happen to purchase a fretless one, i might as well use flatwounds for that full-on upright sound :)
Cool! Which model are you looking at?
@@stephencoxbass either the exotic mahogany or the wanderer, not quite sure yet
Put the flatwound strings on the one with the pretty figured wood, and you have the perfect one.
I’m sure that would have a good tone. For now I’m keeping the round wounds on that one, but maybe one day… Thanks for watching!
Both the roundwound and flatwound 'metal' strings are metal windings around a nylon core. ..Reading on the Kala website... This is the same as the lower strings on a classical guitar; as opposed to a regular guitar or electric bass strings with a metal core and metal windings. (This is why a magnetic pickup won't work on classical guitar strings; no metal core). Kala also says that since the metal strings are lots thinner than the 'rubber' ones, one has to change out the nut, because the grooves are huge for the rubber strings. But that's pretty easy to do; or maybe i'd be lazy and just put a bit of folded up business card in the nut slot. I love the sound of the rubber strings on my Hadean (aquila nylaguts?), but the stickiness on the low E drives me a bit crazy. I can't slide on it much. But otherwise, i love the solid body hadean.
So i may one of the metal strings. But great review!!
Thank you for watching! What did you end up doing?
Flatwounds went hard tapping round wounds sounded sweet n tangy with slapping and rubber strings seem like a lot of fun
That's why I have multiple U-Basses, they all have their strengths! Thanks for watching!
Excellent, informative video. Liked and Subscribed.
Thanks for watching!
Some people may want to know when the term “warm” is used sometimes the string gauge is increased and the sustain can suffer a little especially higher up the fretboard. Other than that I think those flatwounds are a real winner!
I enjoy them a lot, depending on the tone I'm after. I suppose I could have said less high end/punchy and supports low to lower mids well instead of warm. I agree about the sustain. Thanks for watching!
Poly strings for warm jazz sound my taste.... Thank you
Great choice for that vibe! Cheers!
Subscribed today from Philippines. Hard to get a Ubass in these times hopefully i could get one.
I hope you can soon! Maybe someone is making bass ukuleles there?
@@stephencoxbass yeah but its hard to get one now because of this covid19 issue all essentials are closed now except only food and medicine.
Great video. I like the rubber better
Thank you! I like all three in different contexts. Rubber definitely gets a more classic vibe, though.
I've got Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flat flatwounds on my 23" GoldTone. Love 'em. Much better than the rubbery stock things.
Very cool! I knew they made double bass strings, but had no clue they made ones that were short scale. Thanks for watching!
Great video.
I think I'll buy one for me and my son
They are fun! I'm not sure how young your son is, but kids seem to love the rubber strings!
Great review
Thank you, Jim!
Great comparison!
Thank you, Adrián!
Great video
Thanks for watching!
Flat wound made the best sound.
I've been really enjoying them lately.
Once again, thank you sir.
You're very welcome!
Great vid, thanks a lot!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for this video, very informative! Question: if you plan to switch string types, are there limitations/issues regarding how they fit with a setup originally designed for a different kind of string set? For instance, the Kala round wound are considerably thinner than the ‘rubber’ style strings… does it affect tone and playability switching up on the same instrument?
It takes some work: when I put flat wounds on, I had to widen the groove on the nut under the E string. Once I did that, they played great. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! That's a perfect comparison video! I'd go for the flats :-)
I'm glad I could help. Cheers!
Unplugged, I like thewarmer sound produced by the poly strings. Pugged in they all have their advantages and disadvantages that can be either accentuated or overcome with amps and what not. I've been looking for a little bass of some sorts to use as an accompanyment on a boat when we're hanging out on the water. A little Kala with rubber strings appears to be the ticket. Cool comparison, thanks.
The one downside with the rubber is that they are much quieter than the others unplugged. Keep that in mind if you plan to play acoustically. Cheers!
Your videos are incredibly helpful!
I'm really hoping to get a Journeyman Ubass(I love the look of the mahogany with the f-holes), but you can only seem to buy them with round wound strings these days, and I really want to use Thunderguts.
Do you know if it's easy to switch the strings? I've heard the bridge needs some modification, and I'm not sure I'd trust myself to make any modifications haha.
I think you can switch them out fairly easily, but you'll probably have to replace the nut...I don't think the bridge needs anything. I hope that helps!
👍 *6:00** Coat round wound strings with vaseline to avoid hurting your fingers*
They have all sorts of products that can help, too: Finger ease and fast fret are 2 I've heard of. Thanks for watching!
very good video, very organized
Thanks for watching!
Ik like the flatwound sound
The flat wounds are pretty cool.
I’m staying with he original polyurethane strings, as they sound incredible when played on a stage with a big PA system. If you close your eyes it sounds like I’m playing my upright bass.
I've had similar feedback from audiences in coffee shops! They are definitely the way to go if that is what sound you're after.
Gil, were the original polyurethane strings that you like so much the white Aquila ones or the black Kala ones? Clearly on the Kala website, some of the U-basses come with Aquila strings.
My original strings were the black ones. I’ve enjoyed them since I bought the instrument in 2014. My main bass is a 3/4 size upright bass. I love the Kala for its size & sound. However, recently I changed strings on all my basses, including the Kala. I put the new flatwounds on it. Wow, once again I’m very impressed with its sound. Much louder when not amplified, but I’ve lost the upright bass tone. It sounds like most acoustic, guitar size basses. For me it’s a toss up on the next string change. BTW, I had to replace the nut when I converted to flatwounds, as they are thinner and buzzed with the original nut.
I chose the roundwound strings so that I could combine them with classical guitar strings for a GDAE tuning. I definitely want to give flatwounds a try, I think I would prefer a softer, darker tone.
I enjoy the flatwounds a lot. They are definitely better for a soft/darker tone.
Hey Stephen, thanks for these. Question: you mention EQ'ing out the finger noises on the rubber strings. Do you have a video where you talk more specifically about how you do that?
I'm not sure...it might be in a live stream somewhere. Basically it's just taking the treble out as much as possible. If you had an eq pedal with "8 bands" or "16 bands" you could find the specific frequencies that are causing the noise, but with just a bass and an amp, turn the hi or treble down and that should reduce the noise a bit.
Turning down the treble took out all the weird noise in mine. Boosted the mid a bit
Excellent video!!! I'd love to change out the strings on my Oscar UBass.
Thank you! I'm not sure if they are the same scale, but I'm sure there are multiple options for it either way. Thanks for watching!
Awesome video
Thank you!
Do you know which Kala Jacob Collier was playing in his Boogie On Reggae Woman video?
I'm not quite sure, because it almost appears to have a red tint to it...but I would guess it's a mahogany rumbler or a solid mahogany. This is just a guess, though. Maybe he got one custom?
Amazing review! Would love to see you use the flat wounds on the violin u bass you were using in that one video you made a while back. Wanted to know if that made any difference in the tuning and play ability of that bass in particular. I’ve looked around and haven’t really seen any other comprehensive videos about that bass.
Keep it going you sound great !
I’m not sure if you mean the Hadean that looks like a Hofner, or the fretless Chinese bass. If you mean the 2nd one, I did put Flatwounds on that one and have a couple of videos with it. Thanks for watching!
IMHO:
For playing plugged in: Rubber/P.U.
For playing acoustic/unplugged: Roundwounds
For anything and everything in between: Flatwounds
Not a bad way to look at it. I think the flat wounds are the best of both worlds in a lot of ways. However, the round wounds project better unplugged for sure, and also with harmonics!