ALL BASS PLAYERS USE FLATS!!!

[FretlessMainly]

Aye. I dig TI's for their sound, and that big ole 0.136 B, but I don't dig the flop factor. I wish I could find other higher-tensioned sets with a 0.136 B.

[theory028]

Originally Posted by RaginRog

Lol... Recession all over again.

We'd be on the fast track to going over the fiscal riff, or something like that.

The rounds market need not worry. I've been around the block enough to safely put my short lived romance with flats to rest. My Jazz has needs.

[RaginRog]

Originally Posted by theory028

We'd be on the fast track to going over the fiscal riff, or something like that.

The rounds market need not worry. I've been around the block enough to safely put my short lived romance with flats to rest. My Jazz has needs.

When I played punk I always went with rounds. For classic rock I've been digging the TI flats and GHS precision flats.

[kurosawa]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Aye. I dig TI's for their sound, and that big ole 0.136 B, but I don't dig the flop factor. I wish I could find other higher-tensioned sets with a 0.136 B.

The only string that vaguely sounds like TI nickel flats is GHS Pressurewound. Their B is .128" but I would guess it's tighter than the TI .136". I can't get the tension data out of them for Pressurewounds. Here's a relevant thread: GHS Pressurewound B-string - any good?

[DwaynieAD]

i've seen the "every bass player needs a P with flats" so many times i gave them a listen on youtube. I think next time i restring my old P i'm gonna put a set of flats on it, i did like the tone, but it'll be a "round the house" player for sure.

[dmusic148]

I like strings. Electric bass strings.

[zfunkman]

I used roundwounds for 20 years then in 2000 I switched to flatwounds. Smartest thing I ever did. I saw Brad Houser playing with Critters Buggin and he had this amazing tone and when I talked to him about his bass and rig he imformed me that he recently went to flatwounds and said it was the samrtes thing he ever did from the recommendation of a mutual friend. I'm not quite sure why most bass players use roundwounds. I get more control over my tone, I have a better tone, a fatter tone, and it still sounds great when I slap (the one thing I was worried about). I do, however, use Tomastiks standard gauge which are a bit pricey but worth every cent as they still have a bit of pop and last a long long time.

[theory028]

Originally Posted by RaginRog

When I played punk I always went with rounds. For classic rock I've been digging the TI flats and GHS precision flats.

They each have their uses, that's for sure. I'm wondering if the GHS grounds would sound good. There's a cool demo on YouTube but the local place doesn't carry them. It might strike a decent balance between the two, since the dull top end is what I like least about the flats I've used. It may be worth trying, just to settle any doubt.

[Biggbass]

I do like the way flats feel under my fretting fingers. But as much as I like flats
DR High Beams sound freaking amazing and have great punch with nice low bottom end and clarity. If flats could produce that same sound it would be a wonderful thing.

[CJAtheBassman]

I used to be a flats-only guy.
However, I was testing my recording equipment and software last night with both my acoustic (nylon tapewounds) and electric (flatwounds) basses and found that, apart from my acoustic having somewhat less sustain, they sounded pretty much the same.
Due to this event and having a set of roundwounds that I removed when my recently-acquired used Mustang Bass came in the mail (I keep them as backup strings. Why throw away perfectly good strings?), I decided that I'm gonna start alternating between that set and the set of flats (on my Mustang Bass) every week or so and see if my opinion on roundwounds changes.

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by Landy67

If you have commitment issues like me...

What did you do that for? Now I gotta go buy a set.

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by mccartneyman

You need lighter gauge flats. I bend notes on mine with no problem.

What are the gauges you use?

[EJKFrosty]

To each their own, folks. That's why it's called individual taste.
No one type of string is 'better' than another. How boring it would be if we all used the same type of string. zzz

[JoeWPgh]

Once upon a time all bassists used flats, because that's all there were. They worked with the primitive amplification of the day. Then we got solid state power supplies. We got louder and bassier than ever, to the point that the amps were absolute mudbuckets. To conquer that, we got round wound strings. That saved the day. Today, the amplification is sophisticated enough to not require either, as they can easily voice both.

[onosson]

I use rounds, flats, and tapewounds.

They're all great.

[Gab124]

The only reason I went with flats is because I hate the constant change of tone with rounds, from new and zingy to perfect to dead. Buy again. Zingy, perfect, dead. Buy again. Repeat ad nauseam. But, it was hard to find a set that matched a given bass and I fluctuated a great deal, till I matched my Lakland with single coils with TI jazz flats. Perfect!; but my 3rd try with TI's so I was not hopeful. Been about 6 months now and lots of shows and just sound perfect every-time. Happy.

[FourBanger]

I like nickel rounds when they are dead, moreso than flats new or otherwise.

[heavyaslead]

Like many have said, I prefer flats on fretless.

I prefer rounds or pressure-rounds on fretted mostly for extra tonal spectrum and verasatility when the piece calls for it.

[Kingbreaker]

Really starting to dig chromes on my Rickenbucker. (4004). I could never get classic warm thump with rounds in a way that sounded authentic. Not a problem now.

[xshawnxearthx]

Outside of this forum, I know NO ONE who uses flats.