MusicMan Basses & Flats

[lonote]

I'm a long-time flatwound user who just bought an active MusicMan Sub 5. I use flats on all my basses, but I have never owned an active bass before. I picked up a 5-string set of D'Addario Chromes yesterday but haven't installed them yet; I figured I throw this question out here and see what's what. I use Chromes on my Hamer 2-TEK Cruise, Rotosound monel flats on my fretless Jazz and 9050's on my P-Basses so I have a good idea what I like when it comes to strings on my passive basses (low action and fairly high tension). Can anybody give me a clue on what to expect, soundwise, from flats on an active EBMM or another brand of flats that might work better for me? I'm a blues guy and I'm looking for some serious thump. I'm an experienced Chromes user so I know they're bright initially and I have no interest in TI flats (too floppy for me).

[Mojo-Man]

I've had T I Flats on my Sterling Fretless for over 3 years.
Sonds great.

[Pacman]

There's a bassist in San Antonio who uses TI flats on his SR5 and loves them (Chuck Moses).

[jvb]

Lonote, I use Roto 77 flats on my passive SUB 4, and I reckon you'll love the sound. It won't give the thump that a P-Bass with flats will, but nothing does. I get a real organic sound from mine, I know that's kind of a fairy way to describe it, but it really is a friendly tone. I play blues and rootsy rock stuff in a couple of different bands and it works well for both settings.

You might get some idea from our mp3s at http://www.topshelf.ozymusic.com/mp3.htm

[HotTubesGrooves]

I've heard a local bassist using an old Stingray with flats, and it sounded great. Loads of fat punchy thump. My old Warwick Streamer Jazzman had loads of thump with Labella flats on too, before she left for ebay...

[chingas]

I use the chromes on a fretless(passive jazz). I like them, but they are not as tight.

[DanBuck]

I just bought a used MM StingRay 4 and just threw on some Chrome flats( it had rounds). Wow.... very punchy and funky and tons of get down goodness. I guess I'll be leaving these on for a while... BTW, the rounds were ok, but I just like the feel of flats better. I've been using the Chromes for years on my Jazz, so, give em a try.

[Fong249]

flats on a SR is something i think i'm gonna have to try. Now, I can sorta slap semi-rounds, but do you lose the entirety of the ability to slap (imho the sr is one of the best slap tones out there)?

[DanBuck]

I don't think you lose the ability or tone of slapping with flats...its just different. Trying is believing.

[Fred W]

My 76 Stingray sounded warm old school with Tomastic flats, not so good with the new Dean Markley flats

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

EBMM flats on an EBMM Bongo.

Hope this helps.

[LoveThatBass]

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

I've had T I Flats on my Sterling Fretless for over 3 years.
Sonds great.

I wished I had tried the TI Flats on the Sterling I had before returning it. I could not tame the growl on the Sterling so I returned it within days to Guitar Center and got a Fender American Jazz that has less growl comparitively.
I thought the Sterling to be a fine example of a quality instrument and hated to take it back.

[Trevorus]

jmb7183 has flats on his green meanie stingray most of the time, IIRC...