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Originally Posted by Vapor Trail  I play an Ibanez SR500 and I actually like to play with high action. That was something else I wanted to mention but forgot to in my post. Is it possible to have the wicked action with the flats? I am not a low action player so I'm looking for something with higher tension than the TI Flats (which according to a lot of posts here is a lower tension flat). Also, I'm not a pick player. Is it just me or do most of the flat guys use the pick? Are flats more of a detriment to the finger player?
It's not that I'm an obscenely technical player, its just that I like to throw a little in every now and again. So a set of flats that allow me to retain any versatility would be the most ideal.
Sundogue, I feel ya on your newly discvered role as a bassist. I can tell you're digging the new sound, I'm in a similar situation now regarding the abandonment of flash and remembering what it was that brought me to the bass to begin with. I'm ready now to abandon my quest to be the virtuosic type of player and concentrate more readily on my reading and my bottom end. |
That's cool. I tend to concentrate on the bottom end of the girls in the audience more, but if you're into your own and reading, who am I to judge? (jk)
I don't like very low action myself either, though it is a bit lower with flats on than I've had it with rounds (but not because of flats).
I like the tension of the Chromes more than the TI's. My 45-100 feel very good playing to me. I don't always use a pick...maybe a bit more than half the gig (perhaps 3/4) with a pick. Depends on what the set list is on any given night and what I'm in the mood for.
If you want more "playability" (for lack of a better word), try the Chromes in 40-95 gauge. They are bright, and I find the Chromes are not incredibly stiff (they aren't like steel rebar). I think they are just a bit stiffer than my DR Sunbeams (rounds) which were just a bit stiffer than my TI Flats. I can certainly do bends and hammer-ons/pull-offs, etc. with the 45-100's. If you play with higher action, you'll probably have no problem with them.
Flats and a pick, on a P-Bass through an SVT, is just kind of a traditional rock tone.
But most players play with their fingers and flats certainly sound and feel great played with fingers. I find I need to EQ each a little differently (more upper mids and highs, and less lows when I play with fingers) as the pick adds a bit of "snap" to the sound that is way too harsh sounding if played on my finger setting.
It's just takes a bit of experimenting. But that part of the fun.
