Flats vs. Rounds decision

[EAdanikDG]

Hi, I just bought a Fender P/J for the verstility, mainly coz I like to play some Jaco. I kinda like the bright sound, but today I put some flats on my old P copy. I like the feel...a LOT, but have no idea on the sound (it broke a couple days ago, I was trying to tune it, and got no signal, I didn't worry about it coz I was just noodling around at home without an amp and it wasn't really out, today after changing the strings it still wouldn't tune, tried a different tuner, same thing. Then I tried it with an amp, didn't work. I checked all the solders, they're intact. Please PM me if you can fix it -I might open a thread about it.) Anyway back to the story, i'm not sure whether to put flats on my Fender, (I only put them on my P copy coz I got them free from a friend that doesn't use them), because i'm afraid that it'll balance out the J pickup - the pickup with flats will sound like a P pickup with rounds, and I really like the grindy bridge J sound, as well as a deep P sound. Can anyone please give me some advice? Thanks.

[Cannabass]

i just switched over to fender flats on my jazz, and i love it (however i really want to try some la bellas).

the sound is great and i dont have to keep the bridge pup and tone super low like i did with rounds, cause i like a deep bass tone (play mostly reggae)

only thing is you cant get nearly the same kind of "growl"- or grindiness if you will- that i could when using Roto rounds.

all in all you should just try the flats, cause you can read peoples opinions on **** forever but your own experiences will be your own no matter what.

be prepared to possibly adjust your necks truss rod, as it seems a lot of flats have higher tension than rounds

[PSPookie]

^
Yep, it's just a string change. Try the flats and see if you like them. If not, put some rounds on.

[playerunk]

you can also try the groundwoud type (a round grinded to a flat)

[Cannabass]

lol i wish i could get the opposite, a round that sounded like a flat

[EAdanikDG]

Originally Posted by Cannabass

i just switched over to fender flats on my jazz, and i love it (however i really want to try some la bellas).

the sound is great and i dont have to keep the bridge pup and tone super low like i did with rounds, cause i like a deep bass tone (play mostly reggae)

only thing is you cant get nearly the same kind of "growl"- or grindiness if you will- that i could when using Roto rounds.

all in all you should just try the flats, cause you can read peoples opinions on **** forever but your own experiences will be your own no matter what.

be prepared to possibly adjust your necks truss rod, as it seems a lot of flats have higher tension than rounds

That's the thing, i'm not sure I wanna lose that growl and grind.

[Cannabass]

you should still try out the flats

[screaminglucy]

look for some used flats in the classfieds and then if you dont like them resell them

[gtwo]

Originally Posted by screaminglucy

look for some used flats in the classfieds and then if you dont like them resell them

+1

What about hybrid strings?

[EAdanikDG]

Originally Posted by screaminglucy

look for some used flats in the classfieds and then if you dont like them resell them

I live in Australia, unfortunately.

[JimmyM]

i'd say just keep them on the one bass for now. no reason to convert until you're sure of them. besides, it's good to have a bass with rounds and a bass with flats.

[steelhead2]

if you're talking about the howl like blue cheer/the hunter from `69(go on you-tube you'll find em);full on lit up overdriven amp/JAZZ bass with Chromes WILL do that,howl growl whatever,but,,,chromes might be to bright for you(i'm now diggin Fender flats instead of Chromes so i'm speaking out of turn,nice and thumpy is key for me)more thud is good the Fender flats deliver thump on a J like i never expected

[EAdanikDG]

There's bright flats? I thought flats were only deep and mellow. I guess that may answer my other question I was gonna open a thread on. "Why do they make flats in Stainless Steel if they're meant to be mellow?" Am i right or am i right?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by EAdanikDG

There's bright flats? I thought flats were only deep and mellow. I guess that may answer my other question I was gonna open a thread on. "Why do they make flats in Stainless Steel if they're meant to be mellow?" Am i right or am i right?

you're wrong and you're wrong! just because they're made out of stainless doesn't mean they won't get mellow when they go dead.

[screaminglucy]

Originally Posted by EAdanikDG

i'm afraid that it'll balance out the J pickup - the pickup with flats will sound like a P pickup with rounds

this is not true...i have a sound clip at:
http://twiturm.com/3h6x6

The first segment is P+J, then P, then J

The strings are chromes

[screaminglucy]

Originally Posted by Cannabass

lol i wish i could get the opposite, a round that sounded like a flat

try circle k rounds and let them mellow a bit

[EAdanikDG]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

you're wrong and you're wrong! just because they're made out of stainless doesn't mean they won't get mellow when they go dead.

AWESOME! That means I get a two in one. Now the only other thing I can ask for is a switch to control them to go from dead to new

[Rocksolid]

I use Daddario half round chromes on my Fretless. to me they are a great mix between rounds and flats.

[woodsideh]

I put a set of Ken Smith Slick Rounds on my MIA Jazz a few months back (at the recommendation of Ken via this forum). I haven't played it that much since I primarily play G&L's live. I pulled it out to use for some studio work and frankly I was astonished at how good they sounded.

[chadhargis]

I just pulled off a set of like new Chromes and put on some Circle K's.

It was more of an experiment than anything since I liked the Chromes except for the dead sounding B string. The Circle K's are a balanced set of strings, and they are remarkably easy to play. I'm digging them so far. Not overly bright either. Nice strings so far.