Gone To Flats, Wow!

[Russell L]

Fender 9050L, stainless steel, 45-100. Ok, so they're not the best, so I hear, and I paid too much. But I haven't played an electric bass with flats since the late '60s, and I couldn't wait. The music store is on the way home from work. They were priced at $43.95but the guy sold them to me for $30still $11 more than I coulda got 'em online, but, like I said, I was tired of waiting to try some flats for a change.

Well, by dang, they sound and feel great. I put them on my '87 Jazz Bass Special (P/J set-up) so I could get that Precision sound with flats. Only thing is, I kinda wish I had gotten a heavier guage. The E string feels a tad thin. Seems like all of them do. Is that typical that flats feel thinner, given the same size? My son had put a set of 40-100 rounds on that bass some time ago, but didn't get them wrapped properly. That's why I wanted to change strings, and flats was what I wanted to try. These feel thinner than those rounds.

Anyway, as soon as I got them tuned and started playing, it all came back to me. That sound and feel was just like back in the day. They're brighter than I expected, but what I like most is how they make the notes sound "sticky." I play with a little fingernail, see, and I like the way the flats take the edge off the attack. I know I was accomplishing that with rounds via the eq, but somehow this is a sound that no eq setting could've found, so it seems. I noticed that it made a difference where I plucked a string, each having a sweet spot along its length. With the highs rolled off they sounded about the same as the rounds did. It's the little high edge that seems to define the different sound here, if that makes any sense. Sustain-wise, they are surprisingly about the same as the dead rounds. Not that they are long on sustain, but just a bit more than expected. We'll see how that decays over time.

Heh, heh, they are so smooth that I was almost missing notes, not being used to so much less friction. I've read about other strings that are supposedly smoother, but I don't see any need for them to be so. These are smooth enough, for sure.

Got my American Jazz out with its 45-105 Fender round nickels on it, just for immediate comparison. Right off, it felt barbaric, lol. I had already gotten used to the flats. The extra friction and scratchiness felt crass, and the tone was not as good, IMO. Hm, makes me want another set of flats for that bass, too. Maybe half-rounds? I dunno, but it was a shock to switch from one bass to the other.

So, overall, I can say that I am sold on the flats idea for now. I'll get to play them on an Ampeg V4 with SVT 810 cab tonight, woohoo! But, that's just practice. Tomorrow night I'll gig them on my Markbass rig and see how that goes. I'm a tad worried about the attack on that 100-sized E string, but we'll see.

This is really fun, ya'll!! Thanks for reading.

[mtonbass]

Welcome! or is it "Welcome Back" ... to flats.

Tone is subjective but I absolutely relate to your experience. Nothing but flats for me. They deliver THAT tone ... you know, the one that lives in your head and your gut.

Nice MB rig btw - I used to play the exact same setup but have since downsized to just the 15 cab pushed by an ampeg head.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by mtonbass

Welcome! or is it "Welcome Back" ... to flats.

Tone is subjective but I absolutely relate to your experience. Nothing but flats for me. They deliver THAT tone ... you know, the one that lives in your head and your gut.

Nice MB rig btw - I used to play the exact same setup but have since downsized to just the 15 cab pushed by an ampeg head.

You have the same 151P cab? How do you find it to be on the low end?

[Russell L]

Ok, so I got to play my new strings at practice last night through the V4 and 810. The vibe I felt at home was still there and even better. have mercy, why have I waited so long to go to flats? Now, they seem like there is no other way to play bass. They feel clean, play clean, and have that special sound. AND, they have good sustain. Maybe that will fade eventually, but maybe also they will get even better in other ways. For the price I'm satisfied. I can't understand how some other brands could be $40+ better-sounding.

[mtonbass]

Originally Posted by Russell L

You have the same 151P cab? How do you find it to be on the low end?

actually I had the P and now I use a mb 15 traveler. i find the lows to be clear and rumbling. i mostly play 4's now but when i was going thru a 5 string phase, the cab delivered really well.
i'm a huge MB fan.

glad to hear your excitement for flats. i recently tried labella big talking flats for the first time and really like 'em - they have more resonance than my usual variety (roto jazz). just one man's opinion - i am sure there are a wide range of preferences on tb. i've never tried TI's (and should someday) mostly cause i'm not sure if i could really tell that much of a difference for the cost.

take care.
mt

[jbednarski]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Fender 9050L, stainless steel, 45-100. Ok, so they're not the best, so I hear, and I paid too much. But I haven't played an electric bass with flats since the late '60s, and I couldn't wait. The music store is on the way home from work. They were priced at $43.95but the guy sold them to me for $30still $11 more than I coulda got 'em online, but, like I said, I was tired of waiting to try some flats for a change.

Well, by dang, they sound and feel great. I put them on my '87 Jazz Bass Special (P/J set-up) so I could get that Precision sound with flats. Only thing is, I kinda wish I had gotten a heavier guage. The E string feels a tad thin. Seems like all of them do. Is that typical that flats feel thinner, given the same size? My son had put a set of 40-100 rounds on that bass some time ago, but didn't get them wrapped properly. That's why I wanted to change strings, and flats was what I wanted to try. These feel thinner than those rounds.

Anyway, as soon as I got them tuned and started playing, it all came back to me. That sound and feel was just like back in the day. They're brighter than I expected, but what I like most is how they make the notes sound "sticky." I play with a little fingernail, see, and I like the way the flats take the edge off the attack. I know I was accomplishing that with rounds via the eq, but somehow this is a sound that no eq setting could've found, so it seems. I noticed that it made a difference where I plucked a string, each having a sweet spot along its length. With the highs rolled off they sounded about the same as the rounds did. It's the little high edge that seems to define the different sound here, if that makes any sense. Sustain-wise, they are surprisingly about the same as the dead rounds. Not that they are long on sustain, but just a bit more than expected. We'll see how that decays over time.

Heh, heh, they are so smooth that I was almost missing notes, not being used to so much less friction. I've read about other strings that are supposedly smoother, but I don't see any need for them to be so. These are smooth enough, for sure.

Got my American Jazz out with its 45-105 Fender round nickels on it, just for immediate comparison. Right off, it felt barbaric, lol. I had already gotten used to the flats. The extra friction and scratchiness felt crass, and the tone was not as good, IMO. Hm, makes me want another set of flats for that bass, too. Maybe half-rounds? I dunno, but it was a shock to switch from one bass to the other.

So, overall, I can say that I am sold on the flats idea for now. I'll get to play them on an Ampeg V4 with SVT 810 cab tonight, woohoo! But, that's just practice. Tomorrow night I'll gig them on my Markbass rig and see how that goes. I'm a tad worried about the attack on that 100-sized E string, but we'll see.

This is really fun, ya'll!! Thanks for reading.

I'm loving the 1050CLs. They have a slightly heavier E string.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by jbednarski

I'm loving the 1050CLs. They have a slightly heavier E string.

I know you meant "9050," not "1050?" Right? Yeah, I think I'd prefer the .105 E string. Might try the 9050M set next time. It has a .055 G string as well.

[Jay2U]

The Fender 9050 flats may feel a little thinner, as the tension is somewhat higher. A flatwound is more dense than a roundwound, giving it a little more mass. I prefer d'Addario flats, as they feel a bit better and, to my opinion sound much better. I played them both.