Is he using flats or rounds?

the low one · #1 07-13-2010, 05:15 AM

Love the tone. What strings are being used here, flats or rounds?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwht3dDPL_Q&feature=fvst

FromBeyond · #2 07-13-2010, 05:18 AM

I'm guessing flats.

sikamikanico · #3 07-13-2010, 05:49 AM

i'd say rounds or relatively fresh/bright flats...

the low one · #4 07-13-2010, 09:25 AM

That's interesting, two answers and we've got one of each. I guess that shows it's not obvious.

IMO he's using flats, with more neck pickup, or maybe both together.

guroove · #5 07-13-2010, 09:37 AM

It's very hard to tell. The overall sound has me leaning towards broken in rounds, but the lack of any noticeable string noise would make me think flats. They could be bright flats or compression wound. I won't even try to guess.

Datsgor · #6 07-13-2010, 09:44 AM

I'll take a stab in the dark and say, since he is playing a fretless, he is using flats.

stflbn · #7 07-13-2010, 09:50 AM

I think he's playing a Sadowsky. Beyond that... way to many possibilities between the bass and the recording console.

Datsgor · #8 07-13-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I think he's playing a Sadowsky. Beyond that... way to many possibilities between the bass and the recording console.

It's a Lakland, but you are right....beyond that, it is likely
we will never know if they are flats or not just by the sound......to much in the chain.

JimmyM · #9 07-13-2010, 10:03 AM

he is playing flounds.

guroove · #10 07-13-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

he is playing flounds.

rats!

stflbn · #11 07-13-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsgor

It's a Lakland, but you are right....beyond that, it is likely
we will never know if they are flats or not just by the sound......to much in the chain.

Heh... didn't really pay much attention when scanning the video. Just thought I remembered seeing a sadowsky headstock.

I failed.

ZombieSpacebat · #12 07-13-2010, 10:19 AM

sounds fretless to me so i'd say flats

JTE · #13 07-13-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZombieSpacebat

sounds fretless to me so i'd say flats

Why?

There's no valid reason to presuppose that any artist (outside of specific knowledge of that person) would use either type just because it's a fretless. Pino's most prominent fretless work (Paul Young, Don Henley, the early Gilmour solo albums) were all Rotosound stainless rounds. Jaco's strings were Rotosound RS-66 stainless rounds. Mark Eagan, Gary Willis, Freebo, Mick Karn, are other prominent fretless players who use rounds.

In fact, I can't think of any prominent (as in well-known) fretless players who use flats.

John

guroove · #14 07-13-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Why?

There's no valid reason to presuppose that any artist (outside of specific knowledge of that person) would use either type just because it's a fretless. Pino's most prominent fretless work (Paul Young, Don Henley, the early Gilmour solo albums) were all Rotosound stainless rounds. Jaco's strings were Rotosound RS-66 stainless rounds. Mark Eagan, Gary Willis, Freebo, Mick Karn, are other prominent fretless players who use rounds.

In fact, I can't think of any prominent (as in well-known) fretless players who use flats.

John

Agreed. I have flats on all my fretted basses, but rounds on my fretless because the sound of the fretless is already very dark with the rounds.

the low one · #15 07-14-2010, 03:11 AM

It's interesting that we can't decide what's being used here, though I appreciate we don't know what post production has taken place.
Have a listen to this. It's recorded I believe using the same Lakland fretless. The short solo in the middle may help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZHMLA2g7FQ

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Why?

There's no valid reason to presuppose that any artist (outside of specific knowledge of that person) would use either type just because it's a fretless. Pino's most prominent fretless work (Paul Young, Don Henley, the early Gilmour solo albums) were all Rotosound stainless rounds. Jaco's strings were Rotosound RS-66 stainless rounds. Mark Eagan, Gary Willis, Freebo, Mick Karn, are other prominent fretless players who use rounds.

In fact, I can't think of any prominent (as in well-known) fretless players who use flats.

John

That's an interesting point too. David J from Bauhaus and Steve Lawson spring to mind but not many more.

bassnut14 · #16 07-14-2010, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsgor

I'll take a stab in the dark and say, since he is playing a fretless, he is using flats.

as much as i wish that meant flats but not all fretless players or bass players use flats. also based on the tone i'd say flats, possibly d'adarios.

Krucial · #17 07-14-2010, 07:19 AM

The tone reminds me also of the d'Addario Chromes, but surely there is more than one way to achieve this sound. So I must admit: could be rounds too.

Craig_S · #18 07-14-2010, 11:05 AM

I have that DVD. He uses three bass guitars in that show. His sunburst Precision is definitely flats and he plays it with a pick for the Pink Floyd stuff. His Jazz sounds to me like it has dead rounds (not positive). The bass on that song sounds like flats, too but sometimes I'm hearing things that just don't come from my P with flats. That leads me to believe he has dead rounds on it. I'm with JimmyM. It's flounds. That would account for the smell.

It's a wonderful DVD if you like David Gilmore/Pink Floyd.

the low one · #19 07-14-2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I have that DVD. He uses three bass guitars in that show. His sunburst Precision is definitely flats and he plays it with a pick for the Pink Floyd stuff. His Jazz sounds to me like it has dead rounds (not positive). The bass on that song sounds like flats, too but sometimes I'm hearing things that just don't come from my P with flats. That leads me to believe he has dead rounds on it. I'm with JimmyM. It's flounds. That would account for the smell.

It's a wonderful DVD if you like David Gilmore/Pink Floyd.

Are you talking about the run at 4:07 ? Listening closely that's now starting to make me think it rounds too.

Craig_S · #20 07-14-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the low one

Are you talking about the run at 4:07 ? Listening closely that's now starting to make me think it rounds too.

Something weird happened. Earlier, when I clicked your first link, it went to a different song. Pratt was playing a black Tele type bass in the video. That's what I was basing my opinion on. In the video that comes up now, he's playing the Lakland Darryl Jones (fretless I think), I had forgotten about. Which bass are you interested in the sound of? I can't tell for sure what the Lakland is wearing. Sometimes it makes me think rounds, other times I can't say.