4001 owners... rounds or flats?

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

Which do you prefer?

[One Drop]

I have piano sound Roto Swingbass rounds on my '79 4001, and it sounds like Death From Above, and thats a good thing. I love the sound McCartney gets with flats on a Ric but it's not what I use a Ric for.

[RickenBoogie]

Roto Jazz Flats. It's not fair, 'cause I use RW's on my 4003, so it was an obvious choice for me to put flats on the 4001, combined with a Toaster in the neck pos. Pure heaven.

[KojakCurtis]

Roto Swingbass roundwounds.

[mobis.fr]

i use labellas flats on my 4001v63 (if that one counts)
but i want a macca sound, so rounds a not really an option

everybody needs 2 ricks. one for rounds an one for flats... but thats just my opinion

[Mr Matt]

DR Hi Beams on my '72

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

Originally Posted by mobis.fr

i use labellas flats on my 4001v63 (if that one counts)
but i want a macca sound, so rounds a not really an option

everybody needs 2 ricks. one for rounds an one for flats... but thats just my opinion

I was afraid somone would say that.

My new baby.

I'll have to experiment when she arrives.
I really like the McC sound but rounds seem to bring out that sustain... like this

[Thunderthumbs73]

I assume it already comes with rounds, so keep those, and try some flats. If the flats don't work for you. Keep 'em. Use 'em on another bass in the future or retry 'em on your Ric. The best judge is going to be your ears, and $20 for flats (or so...) won't be to much money to spend to try something as an experiment.

I tend to like rounds, as I can always turn the treble down and also palm mute the strings. On the other hand, I can't make flats more "zingy," trebly and sustaining than they already are. That said, it's always good to experiment.

[mobis.fr]

Originally Posted by Vin_MM_Sabre_79

I was afraid somone would say that.

My new baby.

I'll have to experiment when she arrives.
I really like the McC sound but rounds seem to bring out that sustain... like this

you don't have to worry about substain with a rick. he still got plenty with flats.

you can try some flats on your rick, but please no fender. they got propably to much tension for yor 74. i guess it is one with only one tussrod. so i would try some thomasik infeld.

edit: funny thing that this guy writes that the serial number is nd****, because you can see on the last pic the numbers of the bass

btw: i wish the ricks would be so cheap in germany too. i'm sure i would have 2 right now... i always wanted an old burgundy one with a toaster and a highgain for some roundwound action but the ceapest used one goes for 1500€. if you are lucky and the seller is suspicious you can get one for 1100€

[12bass]

Originally Posted by Vin_MM_Sabre_79

I really like the McC sound but rounds seem to bring out that sustain... like this

Nice, round, up-front bass tone there, surprising for a television mix! Sounds more like flats to me. Good tune, too!

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by 12bass

Nice, round, up-front bass tone there, surprising for a television mix! Sounds more like flats to me. Good tune, too!

I would say flats, too- on the higher notes it reminds me a lot of Macca's tone.

Rics are just sustain monsters whatever strings they have on them. That's one of the things that gives them their unique tones, IMO.

[hills1234]

Rounds have always done it for me. D'Addario EXL170s usually. The roundwound tone *is* the Ric sound to my ears ... the Squire/Rotosound thing, I guess. You can always go to the neck p/up and roll off the tone when you need the thicker, heavier bottom end. Works for me.

[Mastermold]

I have rounds now on both my Ric basses, but I'd like to try some TI flats on them.