can flats cut it in a rock band?

matito · #1 09-23-2006, 11:36 PM

first of all i tried searching but couldn't find any info so...

lately i've been listening to alot of old mowtown, reggae and latin/jazz music.

and i really love the bass tone players like jamerson, bob babbit, aston barrett and so on get. and i know they use flats.

I would love to try some flats on my jazz bass and get a similiar tone happening,
but i'm unsure if flats will work with my rock band i'm in.

anyone suggest any flats that could work in my situation? i don't want to spend AU$50 on flats and then end up taking em off to put rounds back on.
or should i just stick to use rounds?

thanks

tplyons · #2 09-23-2006, 11:59 PM

I use D'Addario Chromes, probably some of the brightest out there, IMO.

Steve Harris uses his signature Rotosound flats with Iron Maiden, so I suppose that could work in a rock band

Avant-Toby · #3 09-24-2006, 12:06 AM

Melboune eh? I'm in tassie, used to live in melbourne. Steve harris used flats on his p bass and still cut through, i reckon if you eq right and use the right touch she'll be apples, do something a little different.

don't work, too bad so sad, one lesson learnt

Mudfuzz · #4 09-24-2006, 12:07 AM

DeeDee · #5 09-24-2006, 04:43 AM

i use rotosound flats on my fender j-bass, and they sound pretty bright

i tried dean markleys before and they sounded pretty dead on rock songs

SullyB · #6 09-25-2006, 11:21 AM

If you are new to flats then they may feel odd to you.

Steve Harris is able to cut in a rock situation by using flats that are_very_bright (his sigature set) and by playing_very_hard so that the strings strike the frets of his instrument. Also, he uses a maple neck instrument with a Bad Ass Bridge and SD Quarter Pound P-bass pickup installed. All of these factors lend to his sound being what it is.

If you slap I don't think that you will be able to get a Marcus Miller/Vic Wooten style "pop." But TPLyons is right, Chromes are very bright for flats. IMHO much brighter than Fender or GHS brand flatwounds.

Hope this helps. And to get an idea of how Harris plays, just search Youtube for footage of Iron Maiden. I put flats on my bass after watching Maiden play "Wrathchild" on Youtube. It was footage of them when they appeared on Beatclub while supporting the recent release of Killers. Talk about old-school! They even have their original lead singer performing with them. Crazy.

steveb98 · #7 09-25-2006, 11:30 AM

Split the difference and try some D'Addario Half-Rounds. Have more zing than a traditional flat.

::::BASSIST:::: · #8 09-25-2006, 11:38 AM

I play in a classic rock covers band and I have only ever used flats. I have tried rounds a couple times just to see what they were like, but I much prefer the tone of and feel of flats. Also, I have tried many different brands and Chromes are the best in my opinion.

agreatheight · #9 09-25-2006, 11:39 AM

I think it depends. If the band gives you some audio real estate & some space in the music then I don't see why it wouldn't work. But if the band is like the ones I have played in recently, the guitarists will have cover you up. I love the way my P-bass sounds with flats, but there's no way I can get through with them.

Nedmundo · #10 09-27-2006, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SullyB

But TPLyons is right, Chromes are very bright for flats. IMHO much brighter than Fender or GHS brand flatwounds.

Very true. My fretless P has Chromes, and my fretted has GHS flats. The Chromes are much brighter. I'd say Ernie Ball are somewhere in between, but I prefer the texture of the Chromes and GHS. The GHS produce an excellent vintage tone, with even string to string response IMO. But overall, and specifically for rock, I prefer Chromes.

Another hard rock player using flats on his Jazz is Brian Weaver with Silvertide. He gets excellent recorded tone, though I would have preferred more cut when I saw them live.

BaldBass · #11 09-27-2006, 08:11 AM

Chromes are a good choice but my personal favorites are LaBella's standard gauge

Winemule · #12 09-27-2006, 08:32 PM

DR makes a whole line of flats, from bright to super-deep. I started with flats, went to GHS roundwounds, and now I'm back to flats. It all depends on what you like: I prefer medicine-ball thud over bright growl. I'm playing with a couple of guys who like to play a lotta notes--one on regular electric, one on pedal steel. My job is to give them a heavy bottom to sit on, and the DR flats do it for me.

SBassman · #13 09-27-2006, 08:43 PM

+1 for DD Chromes or Half Rounds.

cdef · #14 09-28-2006, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemule

DR makes a whole line of flats, from bright to super-deep.

What are those? The DR website lists only roundwounds, coated or otherwise.

dirtgroove · #15 09-28-2006, 02:52 AM

The guy from bloc party cuts through pretty well. He uses a p-bass and and an ashdown similar to yours. I think you should be ok.

73jbass · #16 09-28-2006, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winemule

DR makes a whole line of flats, from bright to super-deep. I started with flats, went to GHS roundwounds, and now I'm back to flats. It all depends on what you like: I prefer medicine-ball thud over bright growl. I'm playing with a couple of guys who like to play a lotta notes--one on regular electric, one on pedal steel. My job is to give them a heavy bottom to sit on, and the DR flats do it for me.

When did DR start making flats? that's news to me.

acleex38 · #17 10-01-2006, 08:22 AM

+1 for Chromes. I like the Fender ones too - they were the only available option when I bought my first set of flats and they've been transfered from my beater fretless (now in storage) to my Fender Jazz 24.

I tried a used Ric 4001 at the local music store that had been fixed up and strung with flats. I don't know what strings the tech used, but it sounded and felt fantastic on the Ric neck.

6pack Jon · #18 10-02-2006, 08:25 PM

I want to get my hands on a set of DR flats.

Jim Carr · #19 10-02-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matito

first of all i tried searching but couldn't find any info so...

lately i've been listening to alot of old mowtown, reggae and latin/jazz music.

and i really love the bass tone players like jamerson, bob babbit, aston barrett and so on get. and i know they use flats.

I would love to try some flats on my jazz bass and get a similiar tone happening,
but i'm unsure if flats will work with my rock band i'm in.

anyone suggest any flats that could work in my situation? i don't want to spend AU$50 on flats and then end up taking em off to put rounds back on.
or should i just stick to use rounds?

thanks

This is really off topic...but....
I don't mean to be snotty, but it is Motown, as in Motor City--Detroit,
Michigan, where all those cars and hits were made, not "mowtown."

Meanwhile, I am ignoring your budget and giving you my honest
opinion as bassist who has been a long time Motown fan (since 1964).

If you are serious about the Motown sound, strings alone won't do it. What you want is a P-bass (or P/J), not a Jazz, for that sound. Flats of medium or medium light gauge will do it, but I also recommend you get a decent compressor. Those bass sounds were highly compressed. Also, you need a tube pre-amp, or one that can do a decent tube emulation.

That's the easy part. Playing as well as those cats in terms of time, tone, consistancy, and sheer creative groove is a tall order. What artists! You have picked great players to emulate. Go for it!

opivy3056 · #20 10-02-2006, 08:52 PM

Im using TI Jazz flats in my rock band. (switched from DR Hi-beams)

And oh my god. It's fantastic.

Cant cut through as well. But the overall sound is much better. String to string balance is amazing. I'll probably never put roundwounds on my bass again.

EDIT:
To defy what that guy other guy said...

Im using a jazz bass