Flats with the most " Growl " ?

NorCal Dog · #1 04-24-2009, 07:30 AM

i know that the term " growl " is very subjective, & differs from player to player, but i'm looking for the growliest set of flats i can get

any input would be appreciated

AN0INTD · #2 04-24-2009, 07:31 AM

TI flats for sure!

lmfreeman9 · #3 04-24-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AN0INTD

TI flats for sure!

I have found TI Jazz flats to be very mellow.
The most growl of the flats I've tried (EB, LaBella, Chromes, TI's and DR's) is the DR's.

superfunk47 · #4 04-24-2009, 07:43 AM

TI flats define growl for me.

jasper383 · #5 04-24-2009, 07:54 AM

Mid heavy growl--TI Flats.
Middy growl with a little crispier high end-Chromes
Low end growl--La Bella

I sound like a wine taster.

HogieWan · #6 04-24-2009, 07:59 AM

I put some LaBella tapes on my fretless expecting a mellow/muffled tone, but they are quite bright. Very roundwound tone to them

chunkstyle · #7 04-24-2009, 08:10 AM

ken smith slick rounds. not a true flatwound, but they sure do growl... especially with a hint of tube overdrive.

jasper383 · #8 04-24-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HogieWan

I put some LaBella tapes on my fretless expecting a mellow/muffled tone, but they are quite bright. Very roundwound tone to them

I think most tapes are roundwound under the plastic. Not a flatwound sound or feel at all.

Kirkowitz · #9 04-24-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

Mid heavy growl--TI Flats.
Middy growl with a little crispier high end-Chromes
Low end growl--La Bella

I sound like a wine taster.

I've not tried the Chromes, but this is how I feel about the TI flats and La Bella's for sure. The La Bella's also kick like a mule! Lots of thump. TI's are great too, a little brighter than the La Bella's,not as much low,low kick-but tone,tone, tone.....

Robman · #10 04-24-2009, 01:20 PM

Rotosound Jazz 77's pretty darn growlie!

Bassist4Life · #11 04-24-2009, 01:29 PM

I feel like the growl comes from the lower tension and I get that with the TI Jazz Flats.

ashtray9 · #12 04-24-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I feel like the growl comes from the lower tension and I get that with the TI Jazz Flats.

+1
I always found that lowered action and better technique always made my basses growl. All about letting that string sing, IMO.

NorCal Dog · #13 04-25-2009, 10:39 AM

thanks for the responses

i currently use
Laballa FL's
Chromes
TI's

& just installed a set of Pyramid Golds last night <<< INCREDIBLE TONE,, 'ol school THUMP,, the bottom end just ROARS,, but has very nice definition,,

imo, paired up with the Nordstrand Big Singles, it's the PHATTest sounding flat i've played to date

but, how about Sadowsky's for Growl, anyone ?

Deacon_Blues · #14 04-25-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCal Dog

...just installed a set of Pyramid Golds last night <<< INCREDIBLE TONE,, 'ol school THUMP,, the bottom end just ROARS,, but has very nice definition,,

imo, paired up with the Nordstrand Big Singles, it's the PHATTest sounding flat i've played to date

+1000. My favorite flats, too.

NorCal Dog · #15 04-25-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

+1000. My favorite flats, too.

they instantly became my favorite flat,,,, by far

no break in time
incredible tone
huge fundamentals, yet can hear many harmonics
can get a nice slap tone
best feel in a flat

yep, instantly

BlizzardBass · #16 04-25-2009, 11:21 AM

These.

One Drop · #17 04-25-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCal Dog

but, how about Sadowsky's for Growl, anyone ?

Low Mid Growl: Labella FL760
Low Mid Growlier: Sadowsky flats.

On a Jazz with low action, played behind the neck PUP, and rolling one of the PUPs off a bit, you will get more growl than you thought possible with flats. Great tone in a mix!

NorCal Dog · #18 04-25-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Low Mid Growl: Labella FL760
Low Mid Growlier: Sadowsky flats.

On a Jazz with low action, played behind the neck PUP, and rolling one of the PUPs off a bit, you will get more growl than you thought possible with flats. Great tone in a mix!

i likes the sounds of that

thanks

birdie num nums · #19 04-26-2009, 06:20 AM

+1 on Sadowskys. I had them on my DJ4. Very nice growl indeed....

DavePlaysBass · #20 04-26-2009, 10:50 AM

I think of growl being upper mids / lower treble. If that's the case I would say EB flats which I think are similiar to Chromes. They had a lot of clank for flats.

TI flats to me were more of low to middle mid punch.

And Labella 760FLs had a nice low mid thing but voiced deeper than the TIs.

Of the three I tried, the TIs sound good on the four basses I have tried them on. The EB flats (50-105) just did not do it for me. They were clanky and indistinct. The 760FLs were great if the music has the space for it. In a mix they tended to get lost at times but I do like playing them. They had deep thump. More thump than TIs.