New to Flatwounds

basssoundbass · #1 03-26-2010, 12:29 PM

I am looking to buy a set of flatwounds for the first time having use roundwounds for the past 5 Years since I started playing bass.

Would a set of Fender Stainless Flatwound 9050L be a good introduction to the flatwound sound.

The other choices I have seen wher I am are Rotosound Flat's and D'Addario Chromes.

The Fender Flats are about half the price of the D'Addario.

My Bass is an early 90's Fender Squire MIJ modified with Seymour Duncan SPB2 Pickups and Leo Quan Bridge. I play through a Hartke LH500 Head and Barefaced Compact 1 x 15inch Bass Cab.

LoveThatBass · #2 03-26-2010, 01:19 PM

9050's are high tension which some like and some do not.

Roto Flats are awesome sounding but go dead quickly.

I use DR Chromes Flats as they are not dead or dull sounding in the least and have moderate tension which I like. They last longer than some other strings. TI Jazz Flats sound good and last a very long time but they are too low tension for me and many others who have tried them.
The DR Chromes have to settle in to loose their brightness. This takes a few hours of playing. I found playing them, loosening them up, stretching them and then bringing them up to proper tension and tuning help that quite a bit.

racket · #3 03-26-2010, 01:35 PM

don't get an "introduction" jump all the way in

and get some LaBellas..They sound good, and last forever

TomB · #4 03-26-2010, 01:38 PM

+1 on Labella's. I suggest the lighter guages to get started.

jmacdbass · #5 03-26-2010, 01:40 PM

I love my fender flats the best, even better the my thomastiks and chromes...they have a light gauge version 45-100, most of my students use them and love them

JoZac21 · #6 03-26-2010, 01:45 PM

I'm a TI kinda guy... super low tension, and IME a light touch will yield a classic "labella" flats sound, while w. some digging in, you can achieve a round-esque tone...

Ron G · #7 03-26-2010, 02:23 PM

La Bella (Deep Talkin' Bass): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZJMKfgaCk

mongo2 · #8 03-26-2010, 02:53 PM

I'm all flats all the time.

**duff84** · #9 03-26-2010, 02:54 PM

i really like the feel of these lakland joe osborn flatwounds i just put on my american deluxe jazz im trying an experiment i usually use stainless rounds but i wanna try them out tonight at a gig to see how the flats preform in the 5 piece band opposed to the rounds im used to. gotta experiment once and a while. i used to be a die hard ti flat user id use them on most my bass's than one day i switched back to rounds and now im deciding to switch back to flats at least see how they preform if they don't measure up ill just swap them for roundwounds for tomorrows gig.

the only flats ive used with this band was on my precision bass and those were chromes, i wanted to try out flats on the jazz this time. ive tried all kinds of flats, id recommend ti jazz or these lakland joe osborn which if im not mistaken are just ghs precision flatwounds with different silk at the ends.

tuba4 · #10 03-26-2010, 04:20 PM

If price is important:

FS: GHS Precision Flats (45-105) Barely Used

I have a set of GHS Precisions on my Squier 60s CV P bass and I really like them.

Act fast...this would be a great introduction to flats.

makkE · #11 03-26-2010, 05:11 PM

Whatever brand - flats are flats

It is a big change if you come from rounds, but if you give yourself a few days to get accustomed, you will know if you like them or not. Take some time to explore their sonic characteristics.

Don't put put them down after just a few hours - they need time to grow on you. You lose all that high zing, but you get a lot of nice deep bass out of it.

Still, if I had to give advice, try d'addario chomes - they still have a lot of treble for flats, so the transition isn't too harsh

CapnSev · #12 03-26-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makkE

Whatever brand - flats are flats

I don't know about that. Different flats have way different feels and tones to my ear. I'd even dare to say they vary more than rounds from brand to brand.

**ExaltBass** · #13 03-26-2010, 05:30 PM

For 'feel' I LOVE my Sadowsky Flats!

CapnSev · #14 03-26-2010, 05:31 PM

I've got Sadowskys on my bass too, and they just sound perfect!

makkE · #15 03-26-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I don't know about that. Different flats have way different feels and tones to my ear. I'd even dare to say they vary more than rounds from brand to brand.

I was just refering to the general diffrence in going from rounds to flats.

basssoundbass · #16 03-26-2010, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the replies so far, very useful.

Of the sound samples I have heard so far Labella's and D'addario Chromes sound fantastic.

Whichever make I choose, should I go for light or standard

N.F.A. · #17 03-26-2010, 06:33 PM

TI flats for me. Labellas in second place.

Orpheus55 · #18 03-27-2010, 07:19 AM

I use GHS ML on my Fender fretless and they keep their brightness a long time.

makkE · #19 03-27-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basssoundbass

Whichever make I choose, should I go for light or standard

In terms of feel, flats are stiffer, so they just feel a bit thicker too.
I went from rounds 105 to chromes 100 - didn't feel like a diffrent gauge at all. I got this advice from other players on the web, so I can't speak for all - worked for me though.

Bongolation · #20 03-27-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveThatBass

9050's are high tension which some like and some do not.
[...]
I use DR Chromes Flats as they are not dead or dull sounding in the least and have moderate tension which I like.

Fender 9050 series strings are no more, except in name.

New package, new strings, quite different.

They may actually be DR Chromes now, and if not the difference appears to be negligible.

Threads here about this.