flatwound strings for metal?

audiophile21 · #1 03-19-2010, 08:34 PM

im in a metal band, and im looking for new strings. i want to try flatwound strings, but im not sure that it will sound good for metal. so my questions are:
1) will flatwoudn strings sound alright for metal?
2) what brand of flatwound strings do you recomend for metal (the cheeper the beter)
thanks for your help!

love,
audiophile21

CBgaragebassist · #2 03-19-2010, 08:59 PM

What kind of sound you looking for? In general i would suggest Chromes, but if you're going for brightness check out Roto 77s.

eddievanbassman · #3 03-19-2010, 09:01 PM

Steve Harris bro.
Rotosound Jazz Bass 77s.

dave64o · #4 03-19-2010, 09:41 PM

A picture says a thousand words ....

TortillaChip520 · #5 03-19-2010, 09:41 PM

what kind of metal do you play? How many guitars are there? Flats may not be the best for your situation.

audiophile21 · #6 03-20-2010, 10:07 AM

i mostly play lamb of god/as i lay dying stuff, but i also play alot of tool. theres 2/3 guitars (were not sure about the third 1 but we'll see how it goes)

6Steve6Harris6 · #7 03-20-2010, 10:11 AM

Cliff Burton recorded Kill 'Em All using his Rickenbacker strung with flats, and that record was really, really metal.

For your situation, I think rounds would be better, though.

TortillaChip520 · #8 03-20-2010, 11:23 AM

I agree, rounds are probably going to be best. Guitards of your genre like to throw alot of lows into their guitars because they think it sounds "full" and "beefy", thus leaving you in their sonic dust. Playing flats, all those frequencies will already be taken up by the guitars, but rounds are brighter and have more attack so you can cut through the mix.

paul_s · #9 03-20-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortillaChip520

I agree, rounds are probably going to be best. Guitards of your genre like to throw alot of lows into their guitars because they think it sounds "full" and "beefy", thus leaving you in their sonic dust. Playing flats, all those frequencies will already be taken up by the guitars, but rounds are brighter and have more attack so you can cut through the mix.

I think the issue in that situation in entirely the poor EQ'ing of the guitars and the overall band mix rather than the selection of strings between flats or rounds.

Meatrus · #10 03-20-2010, 01:48 PM

I wouldnt consider using flats in a metal band personally. One of the ways SH gets away with it is that he uses very bright flats (Rotos) and changes them each gig, so I heard. So really he might as well be using rounds.

If you have a second bass I would string that with flats, to play different types of music on.

odin70 · #11 03-20-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiophile21

im in a metal band, and im looking for new strings. i want to try flatwound strings, but im not sure that it will sound good for metal. so my questions are:
1) will flatwoudn strings sound alright for metal?
2) what brand of flatwound strings do you recomend for metal (the cheeper the beter)
thanks for your help!

love,
audiophile21

this thread must be a joke

Havent read any answers but..Steve Harris...Rotosound..New strings every gig...signature strings...same as Roto77?...no!...yes!...Does he play with three fingers..? Fingernails? Pick? ...no! never.. well i have seen a video..very high tension..What about chromes..+1...chromes +1... etc. etc..

odin70 · #12 03-20-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

I wouldnt consider using flats in a metal band personally. One of the ways SH gets away with it is that he uses very bright flats (Rotos) and changes them each gig, so I heard. So really he might as well be using rounds.

If you have a second bass I would string that with flats, to play different types of music on.

..i

Like roundwound players dont change strings every gig..imo flats stays fresh longer than rounds. I would like to see you tell Steve Harris that he might as well be using rounds

..and maybe demonstrate it with a bass with rounds...sorry..just couldnt resist.

TortillaChip520 · #13 03-20-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul_s

I think the issue in that situation in entirely the poor EQ'ing of the guitars and the overall band mix rather than the selection of strings between flats or rounds.

Regardless, the brightness of roundwounds cut through the mix of this genre than flats.

Meatrus · #14 03-20-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

..i

Like roundwound players dont change strings every gig..imo flats stays fresh longer than rounds. I would like to see you tell Steve Harris that he might as well be using rounds

..and maybe demonstrate it with a bass with rounds...sorry..just couldnt resist.

Is that language Nornglish

.

I will assume that on the first you mean that SH uses flats for metal so its the norm (or at least easy to pull off) ?.... What one person gets away with doesnt mean is a good idea, and in 9 times out of 10 flats wont be a good idea IMO.

The second seems to imply that I would be talking to SH and not the OP with his/hers much more limited equipment. And also suggests that changing flats each gig is a good idea....its not they cost a lot more, and the desired affect could be easily obtained with rounds.

playerunk · #15 03-20-2010, 04:52 PM

i am also interested in this topic and 1 solution came to mind

ground wounds.

i currently have the GHS precision flats on my Aerodyne and it sounds good..but it could be better
so i'll try the GHS brite flats next time

i dont like rounds with the pick because of the scraping sound you get with them (pick grinding along the string when you pluck)

odin70 · #16 03-21-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Is that language Nornglish

.

I will assume that on the first you mean that SH uses flats for metal so its the norm (or at least easy to pull off) ?.... What one person gets away with doesnt mean is a good idea, and in 9 times out of 10 flats wont be a good idea IMO.

The second seems to imply that I would be talking to SH and not the OP with his/hers much more limited equipment. And also suggests that changing flats each gig is a good idea....its not they cost a lot more, and the desired affect could be easily obtained with rounds.

yeah..since you obviously didnt understand ****..i must check out my english.

_DOM_P_ · #17 03-21-2010, 04:06 PM

I played with steve harris strings on my Ibanez and i loved the tone.
I tuned down, which is why I chose harris strings the bigger gauge you see.

The only thing I didn't like was the tention in them, but im not sure if thats just how i was set up?

Anyways Just try them, don't listen to the people who say they dont work in metal.

It is totaly your choice, anyway what you got to loose like 25 quid?

Metal Mitch · #18 03-22-2010, 06:52 PM

Don't bother unless you have a hard lacquered fretboard... like a maple Fender, or a Ric. Ebony might work... but it's really the hard lacquer that gives you that bite. Go with the Rotos, light gauge, and low action so they spank off the frets.

EagleMoon · #19 03-22-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Steve Harris bro.
Rotosound Jazz Bass 77s.

You know, when I listen to Iron Maiden I always just think how much better the bass would sound if Steve used roundwounds. You'd probably be able to hear it better.

MagicMan_841 · #20 03-22-2010, 07:12 PM

My little bro uses my former Spectorcore 5er in his hardcore/metal band and I strung it with Chromes before I sold it to him. He likes them quite a bit, actually.

He even recorded with them : http://www.myspace.com/unrootedqc