La bella flats or Elixirs?

[WilliamSandoval]

I can't decide. I'm on the fence between rounds and flats.

Now, I have a set of Fender flats, and Naked rounds. If I were to go with flats, I would want something warm and thumpy like a true flatwound string should sound; but if I were to go with rounds, I would want something bright. I can't stand anything in between the two though.

I've narrowed it down to two strings- Labella 1954s, and Elixirs.

I know it's apples to oranges, but...

Which strings?

[Martin89]

Which bass?

[WilliamSandoval]

Fender Jazz.

[Martin89]

I'd go with elixirs, you can always cut back the tone if it's too bright.

[WilliamSandoval]

That's what I was thinking, but if I rolled the tone off, it wouldn't be the same as having a nice set of flats on there. Of course, the audience won't know if it's an authentic flatwound tone or not!

I'll go with the Elixirs. Less hurt on the wallet, too. Thanks.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Flats all the way.

[Stumbo]

I use 10 y.o. rounds on my '83 Ibanez Musician active P/J. Lots of tones to play with. No complaints from my buddies who have been playing for 40 years.

[mmbongo]

Definitely rounds. Like was mentioned, rounds can sound like flats with the use of the treble control. Flats can never come close to sounding like rounds.

[WilliamSandoval]

See, I know for a fact that I will like the flats, but I don't know if I will like the elixirs. I'm not against playing rounds, but each string is different.

I'll still go with the Elixirs for versatility though. When those Elixirs go dead, (depending on how I like them) I'll get the flats.

[4Mal]

Neither. Chromes for country or rock as flats. Jazz flats if you can dig the low tension. Super Alloy's for rounds if you have to have rounds. Elixers sounded freakin' horrible on a Rumblefish PJ. No highs, muddy mids and indistinct lows. That bass was loaded with Aero Type 1's and was spectacular sounding with most everything else...