Flats with roundwound sound?

[fetfet]

Is there a flatwound string with a good top end, similar to a roundwound string? Not Rotosound amount of treble, but like some top end. I heard Roger Waters used flats, what did he use?

[JimmyM]

Don't know what Roger used, but TI Jazz Flats are by far the brightest flats I've ever heard.

[p-bass]

fetfet, I had to ditch the D'addario Chromes on my P-Bass because to me they sounded to much like roundwounds. The Chromes are very zingy and stayed that way for months. I swiched to GHS Flatwounds and now I am happy but know if I ever want that sound again I will buy the Chromes. Steve aka p-bass

[fetfet]

I've heard Thomastik Flats sound quite subdued and dead. And thanks for the recommendation of Chromes.

Just found out Waters used RS77LD strings. Don't know what that means.

[WyrdoBass]

RS means they're some type of rotosound string.

[fetfet]

I think they are the Jazz Flat. Opinions?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fetfet

I've heard Thomastik Flats sound quite subdued and dead.

You certainly didn't hear that from anyone who's played them.

Roto flats can be pretty bright, too, although they get thuddier as they go.

[fetfet]

I've read reviews from people who'ver used them, and my old bass teacher said they were just thumpy and expensive. Right now, I'm leaning toward Roto's.

[BloozBass]

Originally Posted by fetfet

I've read reviews from people who'ver used them, and my old bass teacher said they were just thumpy and expensive. Right now, I'm leaning toward Roto's.

I'll probably be accused of being a Roto fanboy, but that's OK. I love the Roto 77's. For my style of playing, they have the flatwound thump with the roundwound brightness and definition. I can't picture my short scale P-Bass copy without them. As always, YMMV.


Blooz

[fetfet]

Does anyone have any soundclips of the suggested strings?

[nickn]

Roto 77s. I had em on one of my basses for a long time and they were pretty freakin' bright. Also pretty high tension compared to roundwounds, FYI.

[Kyon`]

Thomastik-Infled to me are the only flats that have more round wound characteristics to me. Chromes are just bright flats to my ears and rotos have a more unique sound, seems to fad fast though and come back to thud.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Kyon`

Thomastik-Infled to me are the only flats that have more round wound characteristics to me. Chromes are just bright flats to my ears and rotos have a more unique sound, seems to fad fast though and come back to thud.

My experiences exactly.

TIs are NOT dead and subdued strings, in any way.

Chromes have a distinct upper mid bump, and Roto flats have a unique voice, like their rounds do, but they do get very thumpy eventually.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by fetfet

Is there a flatwound string with a good top end, similar to a roundwound string? Not Rotosound amount of treble, but like some top end. I heard Roger Waters used flats, what did he use?

You could have a go with d'addario halfs, they are quite in the middle of between.

D.Don

[Thangfish]

Originally Posted by fetfet

I've heard Thomastik Flats sound quite subdued and dead.

Wow. You heard wrong, for sure.
Those are probably the brightest flats you'll find.
Lowest tension too.

[ljazz]

Fender Flats are incredibly bright. Might be exactly what you're looking for, especially if you have a bridge pup. I loved the sound of them on my Jazz, but the tension is usually a killer. Additional note..... these strings are about 12 years old, and they are just as bright as they were out of the package.

Contrary to Jimmy's thoughts, I find the TI's are not bright at all, however, they are very mid present. The Labella flats (medium I think.... they've been laying around here for a few years now) I just put on my SB2 have a bit more top end than the the TI's on my SB1, yet are not nearly as bright as the Fenders.

Ljazz

[Thangfish]

Man, I use Fender flats and while they were bright for a week or two, I don't find them that way at all now. Nice and thumpy.

I guess my mileage varies?

[fetfet]

My local store doesn't stock Thomastiks, but they do have Rotosound, D'Addario, Fender, GHS, DR, and Ernie Ball strings. Out of those, what is my best option? I'm thinking Rotosound.

[Thangfish]

Originally Posted by fetfet

My local store doesn't stock Thomastiks, but they do have Rotosound, D'Addario, Fender, GHS, DR, and Ernie Ball strings. Out of those, what is my best option? I'm thinking Rotosound.

You're lucky.
My local Guitar Center carries ZERO flat wound strings.
I get a dumbfounded look when I ask where the flatwound bass strings are kept.
I have to get them online.

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by Thangfish

Man, I use Fender flats and while they were bright for a week or two, I don't find them that way at all now. Nice and thumpy.

I guess my mileage varies?

Man, I can slap with the fenders when they're on my Jazz (think old Larry Graham stuff). Again, part of this may have to do with the bridge pup, so that may be the mileage difference. But without question, they are the brightest of the three brands I mentioned, and that is thinking about each of them strung on my jazz bass.

That being said, I don't think there is any particular string that goes with every bass. I loved chromes on the SB2, but not the TI's (same with my jazz bass). Jury is still out on the Labellas on the SB2, but I definitely didn't like them on the SB1..... they really choked out the beautiful mids on that bass. I hated chromes on the SB1.... they made it sound like I was playing a dead old set of Roto rounds, and lacked "expressivness".

Ljazz