I am convinced - Flatwounds

Essen · #1 09-02-2010, 05:34 PM

Ok:
I'm moving away to attend a music college tomorrow(10hr drive), and so, to mark the occation, i bought a new set of strings. But in my hurry I seemed to make one tiny mistake... I bought flatwounds! ( set is a Daddario Cromes .100)

Once I figured out I had bought flats, the store had already closed. So, since it was to late to go back and replace them, I decided to put them on and well.. "live with it". I mean, I've always been a roundwound guy, never really found flats appealing at all. Mainly due to quotes like "it sounds like an upright", and "I put a set of flats on my P-bass in 89', they're still there".
But now, I doubt I'll ever put rounds on this bass again. The bass in question is a Jag btw.

All this time I've been trying to make the Jag sound like anything but what it really "should" sound like. It's a classic/vintage etc. instrument, and trying to pry Tool-like sounds out of it is as impossible as it is blasphemic, if you will. The flatwounds have taken the sound that was already there and amplified it, so that now it sounds the way it looks.
There's no dull sound, yet having the treble know at 100% doesn't sound sharp and painful.

Just had to say/write that.

Remguy · #2 09-02-2010, 07:05 PM

Cool, I've been thinking a lot about flatwounds lately. I've got a Precision Deluxe and I think it would take some of the "honkiness" out of the g string. Only thing is, it slaps pretty well and that, of course, would be over with flats. I guess I need to buy another bass, probably a hollowbody, to put flats on. They sound good and they FEEL good, too. A blast to play. Good luck with your flats.

puddin tame · #3 09-02-2010, 07:10 PM

I slap fine with flats.

One time I went (warwick) black (label), I never went back

**volthause** · #4 09-03-2010, 09:00 AM

I put flats on my G&L SB-1 3 years ago because I thought they would be the right string for the project I was in at the time. I've always been a roundwound guy, but 3 years later, I've got TI flats on all of my basses. They just feel and sound right for just about everything. Funny that.

ironrat · #5 09-03-2010, 09:09 AM

welcome home son!

DRafalske · #6 09-03-2010, 09:20 AM

Chromes .100 are my favorite set. Got them on two of my basses.

gidbass · #7 09-03-2010, 09:21 AM

Best mistake you can make! I love mine.

MatticusMania · #8 09-03-2010, 09:45 AM

Yeah, I use the Chromes .100 set on my fretless jazz. It came stock with flats, so when I went to replace them I had to buy flats for the first time. I fell in love with Chromes from the first pluck.

Mojo-Man · #9 09-03-2010, 10:18 AM

TI-flats are on two of my basses.

Love the tone, and feel.

Flats and a tube amp are just right

Jim Nazium · #10 09-03-2010, 10:46 AM

I'm a recent convert as well. I struggled for a long time to get a sound that I liked from an active jazz bass. Although it played great, I always though it sounded shrill or nasal. I was about to give up on it when (at the suggestion of several TBers) I put on a set of TI flats ... instant tone heaven. Clean, clear, just the right amount of sustain, just the right attack, just the right midrange "thickness". I'm keeping rounds on some other basses, but the J bass is going to stay with flats.

frianbisher · #11 09-03-2010, 10:51 AM

I just put Roto Flats on my Modulus a few days ago for the first time and I am loving them. I was considering selling my Flea Bass because I thought it was wayyy to trebley with too much string noise but now it flat out rocks. Plenty of booty shakin low end, just the sound I was looking for.

RestInPieces · #12 09-03-2010, 11:22 AM

I bought Rotosound flats a few months back and I'm never going back to rounds.

Few reasons why I like flats:

1) String noise is reduced and flats feel much more comfortable to play than rounds.

2) When you dig in, you don't get that scratch and hiss like with rounds. You just get balls on CLANK that can cut through steel. Now I know why Harris uses flatwounds.

3) Sure flats sound dull when playing alone, but in a band setting you get that sound a bass should have.

4) You can use flats in every genre, from metal to reggae and jazz. Just turn those eq knobs a little and you can get a plethora of tones out of your bass.

Just my 2 cents

**Staccato** · #13 09-03-2010, 11:59 AM

And, with the rhythm and lead circuits on that Jag, you're going to have tons of sound options!

Essen · #14 09-03-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacatto

And, with the rhythm and lead circuits on that Jag, you're going to have tons of sound options!

Well, the switches have always been there, but never before has active mode or solo bridge p/u actually sounded good.