Flats on my P

[billhilly66]

I built a P-bass recently from Warmoth parts but I haven't been able to get it to sound right. It took a while to get the neck to stabilize but now it sets up great and still doesn't sound good. I had Roto swing bass on it and they never mellowed out. I've always hated the sound of new round wounds and am well known for changing strings only when I break one (almost never).

So, after reading about flats here on TB, I picked up a set of chromes (all they had at the local GC) and stung it up. My sincere hope is that they'll sound like dead roundwounds. Why doesn't anybody sell already dead roundwounds by the way? I'd buy a case of em. Anyway, The chromes set up nicely. The tension feels a bit different but the neck didn't move overnight so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I think I'm going to like them judging by how they sounded on my house amp but I won't really be able to tell till I get to the gig tonight.

[CBgaragebassist]

In alot of people's opinions, flats really excel in band situations. Fills out the sound nicely.

[Gary Lynch]

Here you go;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZJMKfgaCk

[billhilly66]

Back from the gig... Well, it didn't work. I put a "Redeemer" circuit in the bass and it's way too freakin hot. Also, I was way optimistic in the way I set it up and the strings were clacking. I'm thinkin I need to shim the neck and get rid of the redeemer thing. Grrrrrrrr! I'll keep at it. The flats were punchy as hell. I just couldn't get the bass under control.

[billoetjen]

Given all the variables, it'd be a miracle to get it right the first time. Try some other strings (LaBella DTB?) after giving the Chromes a chance to break in, and raise the action to deal with the fret clacking. Have fun.

[DavePlaysBass]

TI, La Bella, and Sadowsky flats all have less clank than Chromes. Its the clank that I don't like with the chromes. Sadowsky flats still have definition but without the clank.

[kasbrey]

The clank does disappear eventually. What you're left with is a warm tone with use of the passive tone control on the bass.

I don't like the sound of Chromes new but they even sound good slapped when they're worn in IMO.

[J. Crawford]

Well, if the bass is active, itll already have a hot tone to it. Chromes will die down. I like buying mine used here on TB, so theyre dead already.

[Kael]

As previously mentioned the Chromes will break in and mellow out. They will always be brighter than most other flats, but flats in general are WAY more "dead" in the treble department than rounds. Most flats can be pretty bright right out of the box, and chromes a little more so than most. If you are after, as you stated, "dead roundwounds" then, IMHO, those chromes are probably your best bet. IME though, most flats will sound a little more mellow than even dead rounds once they break in. Stick it out for a couple months with those chromes and you'll have a pretty good idea if they float your boat or not as they should be nicely broken in by then.

As I understand them, redeemer circuits are all about preserving high end content over long cables, mainly for passive instruments. You might consider bypassing it for a bit while those strings settle in. I think that since you are using flats, the frequencies that your redeemer is going to help you preserve might indeed be the clack. Hell, might be worthwhile to just not use that circuit for a bit.

As to the low end being uncontrolled, have you re-EQ'd your rig? Flats definitely require a different approach to EQ than rounds do. If you leave the EQ the same going from rounds to those chromes, then I'd really expect you to experience boomy low end. If you haven't done so yet, try starting flat and rolling off a little low end if needed. Most flatwound strings are going to start you off with oodles of low end without boosting a drop of it. Between those flats and your passive tone knob, you should be good to go on low end.