To all of you who use flats!

exidor · #1 04-01-2013, 06:13 PM

OK I have posted in other flat threads about how I just can't get used to flats,I have a set of chromes that I have put on and taken off my P bass over the last 4 or 5 months about 5 times.I think there cute for about a half hour then I hate them and put rounds back on.I've even put the flats on the night before my morning church gig,I woke up in the middle of the night & changed the strings back to rounds.I wrote them off!there a waste of money I want to like them but I can't! my plan was to cut them up and throw them in the trash!!! But before I do that I just have to hear them in a live setting.so I put them on in the morning right before I left so I would have no time to change them back to rounds,and I would have to play them cuz I normally only take one bass with me. so my verdict.they sounded good,dam good!I am surprised and humbled.they are so strong & clear sounding,comments from the sound guy you sound great today your in the mix but stand out & very clear he said he could hear every lick run & trick I played and after service I was told by many that they could here me clearly. so I have decided to leave the flats on.I don't hate them any more.so thanks flat users for all the posts on flats.if it weren't for you all I would have never tried them.now I"m thinking I wanna buy a second jazz bass & try some Sadowsky black label flats.thanks a lot guys.

Spaldo · #2 04-01-2013, 06:17 PM

Good for you! Some folks take time getting their head around flats, which is fine, it can be an aquired taste. I grew up with them so I'm a big wrap for them!

Stick_Player · #3 04-01-2013, 06:19 PM

Get real daring and try nylon tapewounds.

tevitag · #4 04-01-2013, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaldo

Some folks take time getting their head around flats, which is fine, it can be an aquired taste.

+1. And +1 on the number of times I've taken the flats off and put them back on! IMHO, it really does depend on the bass. Right now I have the flats on a Road Worn P Bass with Fender 62 pups and they sound awesome with plenty of punch. They are GHS heavy gauge flats.

exidor · #5 04-01-2013, 06:26 PM

A whole new world has opened up to me.

Will Kelly · #6 04-01-2013, 06:37 PM

Yup. Flats are great. I use chromes also, and they seem to last for an indefinite period of time. I've noticed that putting them on and taking them off kind of helps to break them in, so yours should be sounding pretty good even without being played on a lot.

SLaPiNFuNK · #7 04-01-2013, 06:41 PM

As a bassist you should be able to support bands and be open to playing in as many different feels / styles / genres as you can, and be able to produce a variety of tones for the what ever feel / style / or genre you are asked to play in. The more versatile you are known to be with your town and feel the more people will call on you. This will make you not only a more well rounded musician but will help you get more work as a bassist.

exidor · #8 04-01-2013, 06:48 PM

one thing about them at first they felt fine but after playing for a bit my finger tips felt dry,very dry if that makes sense to any one.I sprayed them down a few good times with finger ease didn't help to much my callouses felt dry.but after playing with them yesterday morning & evening I think there broke in they feel extra smooth & they didn't leave my finger tips feeling dry so time will tell.

exidor · #9 04-01-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

As a bassist you should be able to support bands and be open to playing in as many different feels / styles / genres as you can, and be able to produce a variety of tones for the what ever feel / style / or genre you are asked to play in. The more versatile you are known to be with your town and feel the more people will call on you. This will make you not only a more well rounded musician but will help you get more work as a bassist.

words of wisdom! you are right.

gary m · #10 04-01-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exidor

A whole new world has opened up to me.

I felt much the same way after my first set of flats! Welcome aboard!

C130AVN · #11 04-01-2013, 08:22 PM

I just love the percussive thump and cutting fundamental Tone. I hate the feel of new Chromes as they seem sticky, but the longer they are on the better they feel. Sometimes I just rub a little Intensive care hand cream on and let her rip, the fingers just glide and any residue wipes off the bass and strings with no Ill effects. I have 4 basses and 3 of the are strung with Chromes, the other has rounds as is the "House Bass".

**lmfreeman9** · #12 04-01-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

As a bassist you should be able to support bands and be open to playing in as many different feels / styles / genres as you can, and be able to produce a variety of tones for the what ever feel / style / or genre you are asked to play in. The more versatile you are known to be with your town and feel the more people will call on you. This will make you not only a more well rounded musician but will help you get more work as a bassist.

If you want to slap or just stand out - flats don't work well. But 90% of bass work is serving the song and bridging the tone gap between the guitar and drums. And flats do that in spades.

JimmyM · #13 04-01-2013, 10:55 PM

I played them exclusively for a couple years but recently went back to rounds because they work better for me live. I did try again a couple weeks ago but it just wasn't the same love I had.

But I really enjoyed them when I was into them. I especially like the attack with a pick. So don't let me spoil your fun

exidor · #14 04-01-2013, 11:30 PM

you won't spoil it,I don't think I'd ever put flats on all my basses its just another tool in the bag for me one that I now have respect for,and will use.

bassbully · #15 04-02-2013, 07:04 AM

Once I put flats on a P bass I found that sound no other bass or string type could match. Flats are all I use on all my basses .The feel of rounds under my fingers is just wrong....wrong!

Bassdirty · #16 04-02-2013, 07:19 AM

the 1st bass I ever touched had flats.(before I was a bassist) I didnt even know it untill years later , when I saw another bass with rounds. the flats just feel.. nice, smooth as my girls Va@%na . just much nicer under my fingers.

that said, I've always been a round player myself..tho, now that its been years since I 1st touched that flat strung gibson (well, gibson copy) ..I often wonder if I should actually try them..now that I play bass.

CTC564 · #17 04-02-2013, 07:28 AM

I used to use Chromes exclusively but I recently switched to Sadowsky Black Label Flatwound and they're AWESOME!!!!

Had LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound on my fretless and loved them too...

Different strings/basses for different genres goes a long way

Willie Dizon · #18 04-02-2013, 07:36 AM

I've had GHS pressurewounds on my 5er for a couple weeks and I love it! I used to wash my hands to remove all the oil before I'd practice.Now,I put on the hand cream and look forward to breaking in the strings even more. I'm definitely putting the Fender 9050s on my other bass!

Josh Pelican · #19 04-02-2013, 07:49 AM

The best set of flats I've used were LaBella 760FL. I tried Chromes and didn't like 'em at all.

My favorite strings at the moment are GHS Pressurewounds. They're called flats, but they're compression wound strings. You can get all kinds of tones out of them.

theduke1 · #20 04-02-2013, 07:57 AM

I have 1 G&L L2500 fretted, 1 G&L L2500 frettless, 1 G&L SB1, 1 Fender Squire P, and 1 Michael Kelly Club Custom 5 and use LaBella Black Nylon Tape flats on all my basses. They will give me the bite of rounds or the smooth of flats by adjusting the bass and trebble. this may not be for everyone, but it works for me.
BTW
If you want to try LaBella the best price for either 4 or 5 string in carvin.com. I have not found an online or birck & mortor store to match the price. Shipping is $10.00 for 1 set or $10.00 for 3 sets.