Flats not for me.

belgabass · #1 03-26-2011, 07:49 PM

I have been playing for 25 years and until yesterday had never bought flats. I have 2 P's and after reading a lot of talkbass threads I thought I should finally try some. Well it's not for me. They sounded so dull right out of the package, like the oldest set of strings I have ever played. I really wanted to like them, I can dig listening to old motown but I guess I am more of a rock guy. I just love the sound of brand new rounds. Anybody else feels like me?

EpiRipper · #2 03-26-2011, 07:56 PM

+1
I love rounds too! It's all about tone, and flats don't have any.

belgabass · #3 03-26-2011, 08:01 PM

Good to know I'm not the only one. I'll keep the set of flats in my case until I'm old and start playing the blues circuit.

Bongolation · #4 03-26-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belgabass

I just love the sound of brand new rounds. Anybody else feels like me?

Not me.

I detest that sound from the very depths of my soul.

You asked.

the byronic man · #5 03-26-2011, 08:02 PM

same here. not into it at all, but because of the feel more than the sound.

Mr Matt · #6 03-26-2011, 08:02 PM

Yep, right there with ya on this one. Not only is it the dead tone, but the feel also doesn't work for me.

Give me a new set of Hi Beams any day. You can always roll off the highs on rounds, but you can never add sheen to flats.

Shakin-Slim · #7 03-26-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Not me.

I detest that sound from the very depths of my soul.

You asked.

+1
Different strokes for different folks I guess

belgabass · #8 03-26-2011, 08:04 PM

Our differences is what makes us strong. You probably will get jobs I wont, an vice verca.

Surly · #9 03-26-2011, 08:05 PM

I always loved rounds (and still do) but could never get a good tone in a mix...always getting lost. Long story short, I like Labella's 760FM. They're bright and have a sweet round sound that does the "P-bass with a pick" for rock music. I think it may depend on the string, among a lot of other factors.

Devo-lution · #10 03-26-2011, 08:08 PM

it's all taste... I myself play rock, punk and jazz with flats and I never feel like I'm missing out on something compared to my old rounds.

Skitch it! · #11 03-26-2011, 08:15 PM

I wouldn't like to play flat's all the time but they do have a tone that is hard to replicate with rounds. I have a semi/ac bass set-up with flats for certain stuff, another semi/ac with rounds for chordal stuff, rounds on my fretless, Nickel wounds on the 2 electrics I play most of the time, for different stuff. The link below my sig has 4 vids, Beatles track has flats, Fishbone + tracks have brand new Nickels.

hachi kid · #12 03-26-2011, 08:19 PM

yep. flatwounds sound like crap. stainless steel elixir's for me, please.

chadhargis · #13 03-26-2011, 08:27 PM

I have one bass with flats and two with rounds. I love the sound of all of them. Different tools for different jobs.

I play TI Jazz flats, and they have plenty of high end and good tone.

SactoBass · #14 03-26-2011, 08:31 PM

I tried flats once. I just didn't like them. I didn't like the feel, the sound, and the high tension. I think they were Chromes. (...and yeah, I know, TI provides low tension flats).

Having said that, I really like Ken Smith Compressors on my US Lakland Glaub P bass. These strings are sort of half way between rounds and flats. Good tone, good feel, nice medium tension.

I use DR Sunbeam rounds on my Ric 4003, and I use Fender rounds on my Custom Shop Jazz (although I like the DR Sunbeams on my Jazz too!.....those strings are great!)

bassboysam · #15 03-26-2011, 08:47 PM

It really depends on the rest of your gear. You truly don't get the full effect of flats if you're playing solid state amps or active pickups. I dont play blues or soul but flats work for me, and I find the bass sounds better in the mix compared to when I play a bass with rounds.

**lowendfriend** · #16 03-26-2011, 08:51 PM

YMMV.

Rounds sound like clanky twangy robot parts to me.

Flats sound like the heartbeat of the gods....

IMHO, that is...

mmbongo · #17 03-26-2011, 09:06 PM

I've bought maybe 3 sets of flats in my 16 years or so of playing, each time I think to myself that flats can't sound as bad as I remember...but never the less, every time they sound dull and lifeless and I just can't get them to sound good. If i need a dull thud out of my rounds, I have a tone control and I'm not afraid to use it

Fender4Me · #18 03-26-2011, 09:09 PM

Thats why they make both : )

Rebmo · #19 03-26-2011, 09:12 PM

+1 I'm glad I don't have to write this stuff but what he said.

Just finally pulled the flats from 2 of my L1Ks and even considering my JB now. Not that flats are bad, just not for me. I do remember how great the rounds sounded when I pulled the flats off my FJB in the 70s, never really wanted to go back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I've bought maybe 3 sets of flats in my 16 years or so of playing, each time I think to myself that flats can't sound as bad as I remember...but never the less, every time they sound dull and lifeless and I just can't get them to sound good. If i need a dull thud out of my rounds, I have a tone control and I'm not afraid to use it

StuFordBass · #20 03-26-2011, 09:12 PM

I'm a recent convert to flats. I roll with a P w/ flats, a J w/ flats, and an L2.5k with rounds. I was taught that people hear you're sound before they hear your playing, and the thump of flats helps me get the bass sounds many people grew up on, and still like to hear.