do frets wear out flats?

hanx · #1 06-10-2010, 08:29 AM

from what i hear on here, flatwound strings last longer?

but a friend of mine (who has been playing years longer than me... but i don't think ever used flats) says that on a fretted bass the frets "chew up" the flats and i should stick to rounds?

so what's the story?

lmfreeman9 · #2 06-10-2010, 08:32 AM

Hasn't happened to me yet. No matter. Even if it is true, which I doubt. Flats will outlast and be a much better value than rounds, unless of course you don't like flatwounds.

Also, Nickel strings, especially flats reduce wear on frets.

THand · #3 06-10-2010, 08:33 AM

Considering the fact that many people keep the same set of flats on for years and years, I think you'll be ok.

Meatrus · #4 06-10-2010, 09:08 AM

Flatwounds last for ages as they start off pretty dead, and the general flat user is after a sound like that (maybe dead is the wrong word, as it sounds negative). Also there is less places for crap to get stuck in the windings and deaden the string further.

There is a slight bit of truth to what your friend is saying, but I have no idea why he would advise you to stick to rounds because of it.

After a very long time the frets can damage the strings, but I really mean a long time! I have had a set of Fender flats on one of my basses for around a year now and there is a faint mark on the underside where the frets touch it. This doesnt affect the string in any way, and this also happens with rounds! So I cant understand why he would think this is a bad thing about flats. Also in the time it takes the flats to get damaged you would have probably gone through 10 sets of rounds due to them sounding dead, unless you like dead rounds.

It would take a long time for the frets to eat through the steel of the string, mainly because the frets are mostly Nickel (normally) and most flats are stainless steel (much harder of course).

warnergt · #5 06-10-2010, 11:57 AM

I can see wear marks on my flatwounds at the fret locations. I've had
these flatwounds on pretty long (year or two?) and I use them a lot.
I think they are still good for years to come.

MysticMichael · #6 06-10-2010, 03:26 PM

Don't worry about it. By the time your strings get even close to the point of serious wear caused by your frets, it will have been long past time to change your strings anyway...

MM

BigOldHarry · #7 06-10-2010, 03:29 PM

I have never... NEVER heard for flat-wound strings "wearing out" - they either break or last forever. Unlike Roundwound strings, they really don't get schmutz "in" then that compromises their sound (which is also why they aren't nearly so bright as round-wound strings)