Best flat wounds for reggae and dub?

SystolicDub · #1 12-27-2010, 07:12 PM

I'm pretty new to playing bass, I've pretty much been a electronic music production dabbler.

I like playing dub, so I put D'addario ECB81M flat wounds on a J Bass. They sound pretty good, but I am wondering what other people use for this sound.

I'd also like to dabble in post punk and synthy electronica type stuff. I know that David J uses the D'addarios, so I thought they'd be good starting point for trying to play both a dub, or a post punk type sound.

mattygbass · #2 12-27-2010, 07:15 PM

really, any flats would work for dub. you can also put some foam under the strings by the bridge, and use the fatty part of your thumb to pluck.

newbold · #3 12-27-2010, 07:30 PM

rotosound trubass 88 nylon flats.

Ric5 · #4 12-27-2010, 07:40 PM

The strings do not matter ... just roll off the treble.

dubstylee · #5 12-27-2010, 07:43 PM

I use the D'addario Chromes Mediums as well. They work fantastic for dub, so do Fender flats. I think the high tension flats work well b/c they sure do thump hard to my ears.

Ubersheist · #6 12-27-2010, 07:47 PM

I really don't think it would matter. As they say, it's all in the hands. Also, the foam bit mentioned above can help. It also really helps to have an amp with a sub bass section (creates a sub frequency an octave below the fundamental frequency). And 18" speakers in your cabs.

randall p · #7 12-27-2010, 07:48 PM

High tension? Go for Labella Deep Talkin' 47 - 109 or the Jamerson set 52 - 110.

SystolicDub · #8 12-27-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubersheist

I really don't think it would matter. As they say, it's all in the hands. Also, the foam bit mentioned above can help. It also really helps to have an amp with a sub bass section (creates a sub frequency an octave below the fundamental frequency). And 18" speakers in your cabs.

Well since I am just learning and playing in my house, I don't think I need a massive cab quite yet. I picked up the Ampeg Ampeg BA115 combo cause I got it at a decent price and I thought it would give me good thump and tone for practicing without going crazy on the $$.

The hand technique, well, I'm learning.

Ubersheist · #9 12-27-2010, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystolicDub

Well since I am just learning and playing in my house, I don't think I need a massive cab quite yet. I picked up the Ampeg Ampeg BA115 combo cause I got it at a decent price and I thought it would give me good thump and tone for practicing without going crazy on the $$.

The hand technique, well, I'm learning.

A solid technique is to mute the strings with your right hand. Put the meat of your palm right on top of the bridge, then just pluck with your fingers. You won't have much agility and fast runs will need some hand repositioning, but it'll give you a good thump.

Ubersheist · #10 12-27-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystolicDub

.....I don't think I need a massive cab quite yet.

BLASPHEMY!!!!!! Remove this young man's rights to play the bass guitar! Banish him to playing the tuba!

SystolicDub · #11 12-28-2010, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubersheist

BLASPHEMY!!!!!! Remove this young man's rights to play the bass guitar! Banish him to playing the tuba!

I didn't say I didn't want one, just that I didn't need one. I'd love a vintage SVT 8x10, but I don't think my neighbors need to hear my pinky finger missing strings.

RCCollins · #12 12-28-2010, 06:38 AM

old school flats like labella of GHS precision flats. NOT modern, "balanced" flats like D'addario chromes

SystolicDub · #13 12-28-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

old school flats like labella of GHS precision flats. NOT modern, "balanced" flats like D'addario chromes

What is the difference in tone with the the labella's? Warmer? Deader?

I was thinking about trying them next. I just read that Bill Laswell uses the D'addario's with an open filtered FX25 and thought that would be a good place to start since I like his dub tone. But I've heard good things about the LaBellas so I was thinking of trying them next.

RCCollins · #14 12-28-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystolicDub

What is the difference in tone with the the labella's? Warmer? Deader?

I was thinking about trying them next. I just read that Bill Laswell uses the D'addario's with an open filtered FX25 and thought that would be a good place to start since I like his dub tone. But I've heard good things about the LaBellas so I was thinking of trying them next.

the labellas favor the deep lows, while the chromes have a more "full range" profile. But honestly, I'd try a pack of GHS precision flats - definitely in the old school neighborhood of the labellas with a significantly lower price to ride

SystolicDub · #15 12-28-2010, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

the labellas favor the deep lows, while the chromes have a more "full range" profile. But honestly, I'd try a pack of GHS precision flats - definitely in the old school neighborhood of the labellas with a significantly lower price to ride

I don't want to play just dub, but I thought I'd start a thread about the best strings for it since I didn't see one. I'd like to play other styles as well so maybe the full range sound of the chromes will work out better. David J from Bauhaus and Love and Rockets uses the chromes and he's always had a nice clean, but never very bright, tone.

RCCollins · #16 12-28-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SystolicDub

I don't want to play just dub, but I thought I'd start a thread about the best strings for it since I didn't see one. I'd like to play other styles as well so maybe the full range sound of the chromes will work out better. David J from Bauhaus and Love and Rockets uses the chromes and he's always had a nice clean, but never very bright, tone.

well, he wasn't using chromes for his classic recordings, because they didn't exist then! I'm not even sure he was using flatwounds...

SystolicDub · #17 12-28-2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

well, he wasn't using chromes for his classic recordings, because they didn't exist then! I'm not even sure he was using flatwounds...

True. Don't know what he was using on Sweet F.A. which was more recent, well 96, but he has nice tone on that, not bright, but forward in the mix. But that is probably more good production and mastering. When did the chromes come out?

pbass888 · #18 12-28-2010, 07:17 AM

i play flats for reggae (Ti flats an old jazz ) but for dub i would recommend a really nice set of extremely used rounds. Might consider it.

**pacojas** · #19 12-28-2010, 07:30 AM

you guys kill me with these string threads!!! those things hardly make for good debate. give me any string,... especially for reggae/dub. like the man said earlier, ROLL-OFF THE TREBLE and adjust your technique.
i personally played reggae with rounds for 2 decades. easier distinction between notes. honestly, i tried flats once,..... ONCE!!!!

One Drop · #20 12-28-2010, 07:53 AM

I can understand the thumb/palm mute recommendations if you are emulating Ska upright tones but for rock steady and classic reggae I don't really get it. Are people just repeating what they read or do they really play reggae this way?

Personally I like the sound of Labella, Fender, GHS/Lakland, Dean Markley, and Sadowsky flats for classic reggae tones, Chromes and TIs a little less (Chromes have a bit too much in the high mids and TIs are a drop bass shy) but they can still sound fabulous.

I've nothing against rounds if you can make them work but IME it's trickier to EQ them and the attack can sound very different meaning different technique is needed to shape the notes if that's your style. There is just an inherent darker, warmer, rounder (and air-moving low mids punch) quality to the tone of a thumpy broken in set of flats which works so well, especially if you have a good PA or a really great rig to get those tones out to the audience clearly. With crappy amplification flats can just sound blurry and indistinct.