Flats and pick?

Zolbol · #1 12-08-2009, 01:25 PM

Greetings ppl and rocking day to all!!

I been reading all the posts on flats and just wanna ask a few questions about guitar choice for flats..

Are flatwounds better suited for passive basses?? That is the general consenus it would seem? If so why??

I am playing an Ibanez Roadgear 5'er at the moment through a smallish amp lined out to the main system and i can really get some good growl outta her. I read 'confessions of a flatwound convert' (great read btw) and i am considering getting me a set of flats to try.. The 'in your chest' low end thump sounds quite tantalising lol.

I also play 90% with a pick and we play hard / melodic rock with a few pieces where the gutars are overdriven.. Nothing too heavy though. Sometimes i do find myself fighting the guitars and for this reason i wanna try some flats.

I just wanted some advice on the passive / active vs flats and whether, if I'm mostly playing with a pick are flats the better option.. Clearly this is all subjective but yeh some thoughts please..

P.s. I only own one bass at the moment but am working on increasing my collection lol.. One day i'll have 26... half flats half rounds lol.

Peace

bassist4dalord · #2 12-08-2009, 11:45 PM

Alright! Welcome to the wide world of flatwounds.

1. "Better suited for passive?" This is a lie. Flats can sound good on just about anything. Often, people use rounds on active basses to better utilize the built-in EQ. Passive basses sound awesome with flats, and so do active basses.

2. "Flats and picks?" Ever listened to Pink Floyd? P-Bass with flatwounds and a pick. How about Incubus (with Ben Kenney i.e. 2003 and on)? Jazz Bass with flatwounds, sometimes a pick.

Flatwounds are amazing strings. I recommend a set of D'Addario Chromes for your first set. Flats, like rounds, have different tones compared to other flats. Flats with a pick is a unique and very cool sound. Give them a try and let us know what ya think!

Zolbol · #3 12-09-2009, 02:27 AM

Many thanks - Yep just ordered a set of chromes - Whats the worst that can happen lol - i become a convert hahahahha...

Yeh actually quite excited to experience something new - thanks for the encouragement.

Flatwounds here i come yeeehaaa

bassist4dalord · #4 12-09-2009, 02:41 AM

Awesome man. D'Addario Chromes are slowly but surely becoming my favorite string. They really are unique: They have a really rich low-mid sound. These strings will put you out there in the mix, yet keep your sound contained as well. Be forewarned: for the first week or so of use, they will sound as zingy as a roundwound and will feel quite sticky. After a week or two of use, they will begin settling very nice. A lot of guys hear and feel that new sound and don't give them much more of a chance. You won't be getting the classic flatwound thump instantly. These strings only get better with age my friend!

You won't be disappointed man.

lmfreeman9 · #5 12-09-2009, 07:18 AM

Agree with bassist4dalord-flats sound great, especially in a rock band mix, active or passive, pick or fingerstyle. Have you ever heard of Carole Kaye?

Zolbol · #6 12-09-2009, 07:25 AM

Carole Kay?? Lolol - excuse my newbness then lol..

Nah already ordered the chromes and cant wait. The Confessions of a flatwound convert really got me thinking about a bassist having his own 'sonic space' and i reckon thats what i am after - tired of fighting against the guitards hahah.. Anyway so yeh i have ordered me some sonic real estate - should be about a week or so. Will keep you guys posted.

thanks again for the thoughts guys - this is truly a fantastic forum isn't it.

Zolbol · #7 12-09-2009, 07:50 AM

I ordered regular light guage - any thoughts on too light or not??

Darkstrike · #8 12-09-2009, 08:00 AM

Nah, they'll be fine.

2400 · #9 12-09-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zolbol

I ordered regular light guage - any thoughts on too light or not??

Any gauge will do fine with the flatwounds, don't worry. The Chromes will feel a teensy bit stiffer than a roundwound of the same gauge, so be aware of that.

Also, flatwounds + pick = great heavy tones IMO

Bassman316 · #10 12-09-2009, 08:12 AM

My SX P-bass strung with Chromes has been becoming more and more my main go-to bass, and lately I've been playing more with a pick. I still consider myself more of a fingerstyle player, but in the past four-five months, I've become much more comfortable playing with a pick as well. The sound I get from playing with a pick is downright awesome. I recently recorded a bass track with my guitard friend with whom I'm putting an album together, and used the P-bass with flats and a pick. The bottom and low-mids sound punchy as all get-out, and there's this rounded kind of "click" on the high end. Put me down for +1 bajillion for flats and a pick.

rhapbus · #11 12-09-2009, 09:13 AM

flats and pick cut through the mix really well with boosted mids. in my experience, anyway.

and they sound hella cool

Rawkabilly · #12 12-09-2009, 10:58 AM

I have D'Addario Chromes on my EMG-equipped Tom Clement bass. I usually play with a pick and I play mostly loud rock. This bass sits in the mix amazingly well and sounds great.

ChrisBowsman · #13 12-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Mike Gordon from Phish is another flatwound + pick guy.

Bluesy Soul · #14 12-09-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zolbol

Carole Kay?? Lolol - excuse my newbness then lol...

When you've finished trying out your Chromes (I prefer Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats, but they're both great strings) or while you're waiting for the Chromes, check Carol out.
www.carolkaye.com

She is arguably the most recorded bassist in history and uses...you guessed it, flatwounds with a pick.

tmax · #15 12-09-2009, 01:46 PM

Another great pick/flats/ jazz bass guy. Played on a couple hundred #1 hits.

mongo2 · #16 12-09-2009, 01:51 PM

I use both pick and fingers with flats. WHich I use depends on the sound I want.

My favorite picks are the Clayton 1mm Acetal Polymer small teardrops.

NoTalentHack · #17 12-09-2009, 02:03 PM

I have D'Addario Chromes on my P bass and they are great. I usually do not use a pick and they sound great but I bought a "wedgie" rubber pick just to see how it sounds. Man, it does sound cool but I just can't get used to playing with a pick.

Beefbass · #18 12-09-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisBowsman

Mike Gordon from Phish is another flatwound + pick guy.

Actually, Mike is playing Ken Smith slickwounds-starts off as a round wound, then the outer windings are ground down to a flat surface. Not quite a flatwound, but close.

I've used slickwounds before, and IMHO they are as close to a flat, in both sound and feel, as you could get from Ken Smith.

CPplaysBASS · #19 12-09-2009, 03:36 PM

I'm a huge Chromes fan (45-100) and primarily used my fingers, but use a pick on occasion.

Since flats in general (with the exception of TI flats) are higher tension, I find with the "clicking" noise from picks is more noticeble with flats ... but with .88mm gauge picks and the treble rolled off on the tone, it's awesome (for me personally).

Just a theory but even thicker gauge picks probably click less since they don't bend and snap back as much ...

St Drogo · #20 12-09-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPplaysBASS

(...) flats in general (...) are higher tension (...)

Really? But wasn't the Ric 4003 developed especially for the greater tension of the then new roundwounds?

Also, why wouldn't both round- and flatwound be the same tension (provided other variables like thickness and material are the same of course)? The tension is carried on the core, isn't it? The windings, flat or round, wouldn't have anything to do with the tension then, right?