Flatwound strings on a G&L ASAT/L2000??

[dgce]

I have a G&L ASAT bass that I would like to do a little experiment with. I've been toying with the idea of putting on some flatwound strings. Having tried all sorts of roundwound strings on my ASAT, I consistently have found that I can rarely take advantage of flipping on the treble boots because its just too bright and harsh. In fact, 90% of whenever I play, I'm in passive mode. However my experience with most basses stringed with flats is that they sound dead and muddy.

So I come to you G&L brethren. What have been your results with flats on a humbucker equipt G&L? What brands do you recommend (I'm leaning toward D'Addario Chromes per reviews)? Can you still slap a little? Any suggestions or warnings?

Thanks!

[El_JimBob]

Thomastik Jazz Flats - quite low tension (so unslappable) but a rich low end and a nice bit of sparkle on top to cut through. Got a set on my L1500 and i reckon they'll stay there forever
I'm sure plenty of peeps here will back me up....

[chunkstyle]

the TI Jazz Flats sound amazing if you can deal with the low tension. i personally gravitate towards Ken Smith Slick Rounds. they've got a flatwound growl (a what?) that needs to be heard to be believed.

[Scottie Johnson]

LaBella Deep Talkin Flats!!!!!

I tried a set on my ASAT because I wasn't getting the sound in my head (similar to the bass on the "Superfly" soundtrack). Roundwounds would be perfect for about a week before dying completely. So I tried the LaBellas based on reputation.

They are very fat and rich sounding, great fullness on the high notes. Responsive to touch. Basically turned my bass into a monster.

They have been nothing short of amazing. I haven't even had to think about my strings at all, which is far from how I used to be. I've had other players use my bass at jam sessions and ask me "Wow, what are those strings." People who aren't bass players regularly compliment me on my tone. No joke.

I've had them on for about two and a half years and have not once though of changing them. I used to go through strings like crazy. Well not anymore.

So that is my advice. LaBella .043 - .104

Can you tell I really like them?

[unclejane]

Here's a not so well played "spider" exercise on my L2500 (fretless), which should give an idea of the sound of flats. I'm using daddario chrome flats in med light guage (.100). The first scale is with bridge PU only, next is both PU's, last is neck PU only. Series mode and passive on all.

It sounds a little like it's strung with rubber bands when you hear it by itself, but wow does it sit in the mix well on my other stuff with drums and guitar going.... Especially the bridge PU only in series mode.

LS

[dgce]

Thanks to all of you for the info. And I really appreciate that mp3, Unclejane; mighty nifty playing I might add.

Well I'm going to take the plunge and get some flats. I’m still leaning towards D'Addario Chromes but given all this La Bella Deep Talk'n going on this thread, you've thrown me for a loop. Then there's also the issue of gauge.

The lightest gauge I've ever played on bass is .100's. I currently string my ASAT with D’Addario round wound .100's. I know the heavier the gauge, the more kick-butt the tone. However I'm comfy with .100's and after listening to Unclejane, D'Addario Chromes .100's is looking mighty good.

So any other comments on gauge and D'Addario vs. La Bellas?

Thanks again!

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by dgce

Thanks to all of you for the info. And I really appreciate that mp3, Unclejane; mighty nifty playing I might add.

Well I'm going to take the plunge and get some flats. I’m still leaning towards D'Addario Chromes but given all this La Bella Deep Talk'n going on this thread, you've thrown me for a loop. Then there's also the issue of gauge.

The lightest gauge I've ever played on bass is .100's. I currently string my ASAT with D’Addario round wound .100's. I know the heavier the gauge, the more kick-butt the tone. However I'm comfy with .100's and after listening to Unclejane, D'Addario Chromes .100's is looking mighty good.

So any other comments on gauge and D'Addario vs. La Bellas?

Thanks again!

Actually, you can get more aggressive tone by going lighter in guage. Heavier guages take a lot of the aggression out, but do help with sustain if you're going for more of a blues/CandW sound where you pluck closer to the neck.

I like as much whack as I can get so light guage is the way to go for that, the lighter the better.

So you can hear it in a mix, I've attached a piece of a song I'm working on where I'm using the L2500 with drums and guitar. I'm playing the chords, my guitar playing is so lame I can't even play the little funky thing - that's a loop in Logic Express which I use for my recording. But this gives an idea of how it stands out when recorded with other instruments......

LS

[Kyon`]

Thomastik-Infled Jazz flats! Though as mentioned slapping is kind of so so, just too loose for me personally but I don't play much slap.

[ljazz]

Perhaps finding a roundwound with a bit less "zing" is the answer?

Someone here recommended TI SA's to me last year, and I'm so happy I tried them! That particular set has remained on my L2K for about 8 months (maybe 9... I don't remember). Not a lot of zing right out of the package, and once broken in they stay in that "zone" forever. They can get downright thumpy when you're in series/neck pup (active or passive), and totally slap happy when you flip on the treble boost/both pups/parallel.

The versatility of the ASAT/L2K's demand a string that can tap all of it..... the SA's are just that string.

Ljazz

[dgce]

Originally Posted by unclejane

Actually, you can get more aggressive tone by going lighter in guage. Heavier guages take a lot of the aggression out, but do help with sustain if you're going for more of a blues/CandW sound where you pluck closer to the neck.

I like as much whack as I can get so light guage is the way to go for that, the lighter the better.

So you can hear it in a mix, I've attached a piece of a song I'm working on where I'm using the L2500 with drums and guitar. I'm playing the chords, my guitar playing is so lame I can't even play the little funky thing - that's a loop in Logic Express which I use for my recording. But this gives an idea of how it stands out when recorded with other instruments......

LS

Pretty snappy playing on that clip, Unc; I think you're selling yourself short! The bass does sit quite well in the mix. I presume those are the D'Addario Chromes .100's you'd mentioned before, no? Right now I'm about to buy just one set of Chromes and figured .100's was the way to go. I see D'Addario actually has Chromes in .95 gauge. I'm inclided to agree with your "aggressive tone" theory, but I think anything lighter than .100's might be pushing it a bit. What do you think?

Oh and another thing, do much slapping with flats? Of course I'm not expecting roundwound Rotosound response from flats, but a little snap on occation would be nice.

Thanks again!

[dgce]

Originally Posted by ljazz

Perhaps finding a roundwound with a bit less "zing" is the answer?

Ljazz

Good suggestion, but I'm actually craving something a little different. After all, I've been playing various gauges and brands of round wounds for 20 years! I thought a good compromise might actually be half-rounds to get a bit of both worlds in one string. But I reconsidered and figured IF I'm going to do flats, then let's really do flats! The question is what are the right flats? I could only recall trying out Fender flats on a jazz bass years ago and also the flat equipped stock Mex Fender fretless j's out there. I found the tone dead as a doornail which I why posted this question on this thread.

I'm going with D'Addario Chromes and for ha ha's I may experiment further with Labella Deep Talk'ns (as it appears so many of you guys are ga ga for these strings).

I'm really glad I posted this thread and appreciate all the response.

Thanks a bunch!

[floydman]

I actually just put a set of light guage D'addario chromes on my L2000-they sound great unplugged, also good plugged in. I play mostly in passive mode, and the sound has been great- thumpy, round yet clear tone. I think the attack feels harder hitting than roundwounds, due to the thicker sound and just more wump. I haven't tried them with the band much yet. They're only a few days old but so far they feel great slapping- less twang and a little bit of a heavier feel. I have a feeling I'm going to be sticking with these for a while, maybe try Labella's version at some point.

[dgce]

Originally Posted by floydman

I actually just put a set of light guage D'addario chromes on my L2000-they sound great unplugged, also good plugged in. I play mostly in passive mode, and the sound has been great- thumpy, round yet clear tone. I think the attack feels harder hitting than roundwounds, due to the thicker sound and just more wump. I haven't tried them with the band much yet. They're only a few days old but so far they feel great slapping- less twang and a little bit of a heavier feel. I have a feeling I'm going to be sticking with these for a while, maybe try Labella's version at some point.

Cool. What gauge Chromes are you using?

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by dgce

Pretty snappy playing on that clip, Unc; I think you're selling yourself short!

Newp, you've just heard about the sum total of everything I can do on the guitar. BTW, my guitar is also a G&L, a legacy special hardtail. In the hands of a real guitarist, it's the voice of satan himself. I'm hoping to learn more than 3 chords on it one day.

The bass does sit quite well in the mix. I presume those are the D'Addario Chromes .100's you'd mentioned before, no? Right now I'm about to buy just one set of Chromes and figured .100's was the way to go. I see D'Addario actually has Chromes in .95 gauge. I'm inclided to agree with your "aggressive tone" theory, but I think anything lighter than .100's might be pushing it a bit. What do you think?

Oh and another thing, do much slapping with flats? Of course I'm not expecting roundwound Rotosound response from flats, but a little snap on occation would be nice.

Thanks again!

I'm using the .100's, the only reason I'm not using the .95's is because it's a little harder to intonate with the strings being that light. With the 100's it's not as hair trigger so playing in tune is easier. Especially on my L2000 which is unlined, the .100's help noticeably.

If you play fretted tho, try the .95's for sure and see how it sounds.

As for slap, I never ever do it. I despise trying to play it and know only one lick. I've attached that lick here.

This is actually my L2000 with .100 chrome flats on it. Both pickups on, all tone on full bore and treble boost enabled.

So it's a passable slap sound, and a good slap player would be just fine with the flats especially on a fretted....

LS

[floydman]

I think they're 45-100 "regular light". I'm finding the tension just right.
for slapping, instead of effortless zap slap like on a new set of rounds, it definitely requires more effort and is more of a chunk slap sound and not as fast or reactive as rounds. -- once again this is on a brand new set, once they become aged flats, its probably going to move even further from the zingy slap feel

[oldrookie]

I had Chromes on my Tribute L2000 and now have Chromes on my Tribute L2500. I love the sound. Rich and meaty.

I can't slap and never need to, so can't help you with that issue.

[T'CharleS]

If you want to go down an alternate road, taking most of the "zing" out without cutting out the highs and without limiting the slappability, go for LaBella Black Nylons. Sure, they are nylon tapewounds not regular flats, but they still are flats, with lots of tension but no agressivity on the fingers and the sonic possibilities are mesmerizing.

Well, my opinion is also biased by the fact that i love those strings in general and have them on my ASAT and it sound fabulous

[dgce]

Originally Posted by T'CharleS

If you want to go down an alternate road, talking most of the "zing" out without cutting out the highs and without limiting the slappability, go for LaBella Black Nylons. Sure, they are nylon tapewounds not regular flats, but they still are flats, with lots of tension but no agressivity on the fingers and the sonic possibilities are mesmerizing.

Well, my opinion is also biased by the fact that i love those strings in general and have them on my ASAT and it sound fabulous

Its food for thought, but I don't think tapewounds are for me at this time. I've only tried them on one bass that I can think of off hand. It was one of those Fender P hybrid semi hollows with the f-hole. It had a Fender-Lace P pickup and a piezo in the acoustic style bridge. Very cool looking bass. Tonally? YUCK! And I just couldn't warm up to those tapewound strings. Now maybe it was the bass; the age of the strings; the brand of the strings; where I was at the time musically-beats me. I just didn't care much for it. But down the road, who knows. Maybe I'll give 'em a shot.

Thanks.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by dgce

I have a G&L ASAT bass that I would like to do a little experiment with. I've been toying with the idea of putting on some flatwound strings. Having tried all sorts of roundwound strings on my ASAT, I consistently have found that I can rarely take advantage of flipping on the treble boots because its just too bright and harsh. In fact, 90% of whenever I play, I'm in passive mode. However my experience with most basses stringed with flats is that they sound dead and muddy.

So I come to you G&L brethren. What have been your results with flats on a humbucker equipt G&L? What brands do you recommend (I'm leaning toward D'Addario Chromes per reviews)? Can you still slap a little? Any suggestions or warnings?

Thanks!

I'm with you on harshness from rounds!

This might have been mentioned, but different brands of flats have different tonal characteristics. GHS Precision Flats are dead sounding on purpose because they're supposed to give an old flats kind of tone. D'Addario Chromes are quite bright. I tried Chromes on my L2500 Tribute and it still sounded too bright. I switched to Sadowsky Flats and now I'm sold! They're thick sounding, but there's still definition and depth to the sound. They're more expensive but they're worth it. I've also heard people slap on them, and it's decent.

[quickervicar]

Flatwounds on a G&L? Fundamental City!

As a side note: I, for one, absolutely positively cannot slap on my TI-equipped Moses/L2k fretless monster. No how, no way. Thumps & mwahs forever though.