Must be A nice compromise is the "round wound and ground" strings that some makers used to sell. THey are round wound but they grind the upper surface flat, so they still are able to produce alot of the harmonics that round wound can with out killing your virgin fingers I don't know if you can even buy them any more though..???
If you're man enough to handle something wild, check out the Guild/DeArmond JetStar Bass for an incredible $199 +$30 shipping. These are pretty remarkable instruments - set-neck mahogany beauties (?) with special Fender US designed and made pickups.
This is the last of the blowout DeArmonds. Fender gave $1,000,000 worth to the VH-1 "Save the Music Foundation" and they're being sold off at about 25% of list here.
They also come in black, Candy Apple blue and Candy Apple purple.