Has the bass world changed to flatwounds?

[itsmecraigl]

Freight Train, I agree wholeheartedly. When I got back into playing again, I studied my options, because I had sold all my equipment and needed to start over. The first thing I knew was that I WASN'T buying a Fender bass. Why? Because everybody is led to believe (especially the younger players) that if you're not playing a Fender, then you must not have any talent. I'm not saying Fender isn't a great bass; I used a '74 Precision for 6 years, and a '76 Jazz for a few years, too. There's TONS of choices out there. There's lots to choose from. There's incredibly well built guitars and basses with unbelievably low price tags. I am so sick of this 'what's on the headstock' mentality. I shopped around and bought what I liked. Pickups have been around for 70 years. There's no secret about a pickup. There are only trade-offs. There have been so super-duper pickups that have been invented in 40 years because there's just not anything new to be gained. I enjoy getting on here to read what others say. I have my own opinions, so when I see someone agreeing with me with valid points, I tend to believe my choice may be valid as well.
As far as this roundwound/flatwound thread is concerned; from what I've read (and believe) flats are a better choice for a Beatle bass.
There's definitely a place for flats. I played flats for years. I still remember that sound. Anyone who's played rounds exclusively will tend to believe they are the only choice. The reason most basses come with rounds is that they are cheaper to produce and therefore, to buy in quantity for the manufacturer.
After playing my solid body bass with rounds in our acoustic trio, I can tell you, it doesn't FIT. It's the old 'garbage in = garbage out' theory. What I mean by that is, if you're playing rounds on a solid body, you can fiddle all day with EQ's and sweepable mids and you're still only trying to polish a turd. It doesn't work.
I fill in for rock bands and yeah, my roundwounds are nice, but even then, I'd like to try flats.
Flats may be a TB thing, but I'm glad my hunch was correct. Rounds aren't mandatory.
I was a technician for 15 years at a local music store. There are huge differences in speakers, to be sure. I used to have a customer that said he could tell the difference between preamp tubes in his Twin Reverb. Very funny.
Bottom line is, you have to get out there and try the stuff. The music store is NOT a gig.
It used to be a 2-15 cabinet was the ticket for the average bar gig. Then 4-10 cabinets came along and everybody switched to them (with tweeters????). I think 15's are making a comeback, too.
Thanks for all your comments.

[tdub0199]

Originally Posted by gary m

Amen to that. I use flats because they feel good and sound good, not because that's what someone says I should do. They are my personal preference, and as long as I'm happy, that's all anyone needs to know.

Amen Bother!!!!

[Freight Train]

Originally Posted by Mark PJB

Dead roundwound are the best

For years my favorite sound was Rotosounds about 2-3 weeks old. In fact, letting a set of Rotosounds get really dead, and loving it more the deader they got (on gigs in ensemble that is, not trying to sound like a piano by myself in the practice room), made me realize that DUH, maybe I should go back to flatwounds. And what do you know, there the sound was!

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

If you are playing one type of music, flats may fit the bill for you. That will limit you to one trick...

Really? So my ears are lying to me when I hear four or five or more specific unique sounds I can get from my G&L with flats, using no fx while playing in a band doing a range from Led Zeppelin to Dwight Yokum to Paul Simon? I guess that's one trick. And yes, I also use a bass strung with roundwounds on gigs, but as time passes the less I use it.

Originally Posted by smcd

Or...........it could be that 95% of players that have tried both roundwounds and flats have found flats seriously lacking. And when people ask for opinions before dropping $25+ on a set of strings, as smart people often do, they find that 95% of those who have tried both prefer roundwounds, and they buy them.

That's awesome. Get in line.

[Mushroo]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

If you are playing one type of music, flats may fit the bill for you. That will limit you to one trick...

My flats have 12 tricks: C, C#, D, Eb....

[BillMason]

All I can say is thank god there isn't just one type of string. Choice and variety rock.

[MonetBass]

When I recently got a fretless, I immediately put flatwounds on it. Didn't like the sound or the tension at all. So I switched back to roundwounds and now I love it.

I didn't even consider putting flats on my Jazz 24. That thing sounds killer with rounds on it!

[bassist4dalord]

My Dad bought me my first set of flats (D'Addario Chromes) a couple years back and I've been in love since! Looking forward to trying different sets of flats in the future.

[Templar]

Both here, because both have their merits. I'm fortunate enough not to have to limit myself to one bass or one type of string.

Whatever string brings out the best in any particular bass, then that's what goes on that bass. Flats, rounds, tapes, whatever sounds best.

[rmosele]

Originally Posted by smcd

Absolutely!! People who play with flats are like people who write with fountain pens - they're out there, they're noisy, but they're a tiny tiny minority.

Actually, I play with flats and use a Mont Blanc fountain pen everyday. I guess I should start a new club here.

[Samsound]

I use both. Just depends on the songs. I like a lot of downtempo - Thievery Corporation and stuff. Flats rule the roost. For most of the worship sets I play though, rounds and a fiver are the ticket.

[brad houser]

I've been playing flats on my Lakland hollowbody for 11 years. there is a punch and thump in the low mid and low end that really kicks in a band mix. recently I put rounds on my P bass and love it too. I love both pretty equally now. what I am kind of tired of is hearing players with a trebly hifi sound on singer/ songwriter gigs. it's like having Rodney Daingerfield in a serious Shakespearian tragedy. wrong casting. IMHO

[mastershake]

I can't get into flats cause of sustain. and cant get into rounds cause of brightness. so I settled for a middle ground- ground wounds to be exact. I'm also contemplating tapewounds.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by Freight Train

That's awesome. Get in line.

And that's where you'll find me. In line - that line - over there -> The one with the sign that says "This line for people not bending over backwards trying to be unconventional".

[bassistjoe93]

I'm a round wound man for life. Steel strings to be exact. I love the sustain and punch of round wounds. Tried some fender flats... Couldn't get a decent, non thud sound out of em. BUT it is a pain to set up a bass for steel round wounds. Lots of clank and fret buzz if you don't do it right!

I don't know of anyone besides what seems like 93% of TB who uses flats

[deeptubes]

Been using D'Addario nickel rounds for more than 20 years.

[BawanaRik]

I started playing flats but peer pressure drove me to rounds. I still have flats on a fretless for the more onanistict moments. The TIs are just so nice not only in the way they sound but the way they feel. Couple that with a nice fretless and it's a pleasant expirence.

[soulman969]

Not necessarily. I've always played flats on a PBass and rounds on a Jazz Bass. Now the Jazz has GHS Pressure wounds which I suppose I could also use on a PBass too but I've just always liked that old 60's Motown and Memphis Soul thump of a PBass with flats on it.

I haven't really changed that in 30 years.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by brad houser

I've been playing flats on my Lakland hollowbody for 11 years. there is a punch and thump in the low mid and low end that really kicks in a band mix. recently I put rounds on my P bass and love it too. I love both pretty equally now. what I am kind of tired of is hearing players with a trebly hifi sound on singer/ songwriter gigs. it's like having Rodney Daingerfield in a serious Shakespearian tragedy. wrong casting. IMHO

I would have paid to see Rodney do Shakespeare.

[rodl2005]

I'll do Shakespeare for ya cheap anyday Jim

[JimmyM]

Only if your last name is Dangerfield