roundwound to flat

billy pilgrim · #1 07-13-2009, 03:14 PM

hi
sorry if this has been covered elsewhere,but havent had time for extensive search.
ive used rounds(usually rotosound)for 25 years,but recently found out an old favourite bassist(horace panter from the specials)used flats and would like to give them a go.my question is;do i go with the same guage as i use in rounds,or should i go down. i read somewhere that flats can feel stiffer.also,would i get less buzz with these?
the specials were playing in 1979 in england,any idea which brands were available at this time.im doing some specials covers in my band and would like to emulate his sound

thanks in advance

newbie billy pilgrim

BZadlo · #2 07-13-2009, 03:23 PM

I bet he used Roto's or LaBella's.
Remember that when you go lighter (in gauge) you'll loose that fatness. I'm guessing he was using medium or heavy gauge (47-109 or 52-110).
I absolutely love my LaBella 760FM's. I put them on all of my basses. I've tried the heavy Jamerson's (LaBella's) and they sound great but, they are pretty stiff. Also, I've noticed that the medium Roto's seem to be a bit stiffer than the medium LaBella's.
T.I.'s are great but, they are VERY light. They sound absolutely fantastic but, have a somewhat pronounced midrange.
All IMO.

blackreverend · #3 07-13-2009, 03:25 PM

Well first, unless you play REALLY heavy rounds, you're not going to find lighter gauge flats; in general, flats are bigger and heavier by nature of construction. certain flats feel stiffer than others; Labella flats are like telephone wires, while TI flats are far more flexible, and if you're used to the feel of rounds, I might suggest those.

second, yes, you will get less buzz, but its still possible if your neck is too straight.

Third, I'd guess Rotosound flats as well.

billy pilgrim · #4 07-13-2009, 03:51 PM

thanks for your replies

i agree about the rotos,i cant remember much else on offer when i started in the early 80s.
i use the standard gauge (45-105),not sure how much lighter they go in flat,but ill check.like the idea of staying the same if i get less buzz though,cos i may be able to set my action a little lower.
how do flat compare to round in terms of how long they last?

thanks again

billy pilgrim

jaywa · #5 07-13-2009, 03:55 PM

I'm gonna guess flats last longer. #1 cause they're already "duller" to begin with (less to lose), and #2 cause of stories of guys like Joe Osborn and James Jamerson leaving the same set of flatwounds on their bass for years and years.

They will definitely extend the life of your frets, as well.

rhapbus · #6 07-13-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

I'm gonna guess flats last longer. #1 cause they're already "duller" to begin with (less to lose), and #2 cause of stories of guys like Joe Osborn and James Jamerson leaving the same set of flatwounds on their bass for years and years.

They will definitely extend the life of your frets, as well.

flats last far longer, they cant lose zing because... they dont have any

as long as you dont break them you can leave them on for ever

RTL · #7 07-13-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhapbus

flats last far longer, they cant lose zing because... they dont have any

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Sorry, I just had to share that with someone.. That was absolutely hilarious!!!

Sparkdog · #8 07-13-2009, 04:16 PM

England in 1979? I agree, the strings the Specials bassist used were most likely Rotos, possibly La Bella.

My suggestion for you would be to try D'Addario Chromes. Coming from roundwounds you will find these less of a culture shock than La Bellas for instance, because they have more high end and presence than typical flats. By rolling the tone knob off you can still get that old school thump, but the additional treble they have makes them very versatile.

To my ears they are the best sounding flats out there and I've tried them all. I keep a set on my p-bass and find I can get a convincing tone for almost any style of music short of heavy metal (which I don't do).

I even slap these things for funk and they sound great.

groovenut57 · #9 07-13-2009, 04:53 PM

My experience with strings is limited to one particular brand - D'Addario, so I'm by no means an expert on this subject.

I used to use EXL165 (nickel rounds, 45-105) but now I use ECB84 (chromes flats, 40-100). And here's what I've learned in the process of switching from rounds to flats...

In terms of overall tension (pulling force), ECB84 falls somewhere halfway between EXL165 and EXL190 (nickel rounds, 40-100). But in terms of stiffness, I find they're actually very close to the EXL165. Since I like them "light and smooth" as opposed to "heavy and thumpy", I definitely like the 40-100 for flats.

Just my two cents' worth.

markorbit · #10 07-14-2009, 03:23 PM

I seem to remember Rotosound ads were everywhere in the late 70s so I would guess Roto Jazz 77s.

If I were you I would try contacting Horace via email (the web is wonderful) and seeing what he says. He'd probably be dead chuffed that he's inspired someone as well.

Beefbass · #11 07-14-2009, 06:32 PM

I'd like to suggest GHS precision flatwounds. The .45-.95 gauge is very easy to play, while having a big fat sound IMHO.

I actually tried them again after not using them for about 12 years, thanks to all the positive reviews from JTE. Big shout out to him for that

groovenut57 · #12 07-14-2009, 07:12 PM

Is there a place where I can obtain info on the actual tension on the GHS Precision Flats 45-95 so I can compare them to the D'Addario Chromes Flats 40-100?

Here's the link for the ECB84:

http://store.daddario.com/category/1...g_Scale_40-100

Just curious to see how they compare with the Precision Flats.

totallyfrozen · #13 07-14-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackreverend

Well first, unless you play REALLY heavy rounds, you're not going to find lighter gauge flats; in general, flats are bigger and heavier by nature of construction...

Huh?!

http://www.ernieball.com/products/ca...41-String-Sets
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ELAID=26016778
http://store.daddario.com/category/1...ng_Scale_40-95

I played MEDUIM gauge Rounds (Ernie Ball; 50,70,85,105) on my P-bass for awhile and when I went to Flats I actually had to look a little harder to find medium gauge flats because many flats sets are lighter gauges.
Even the medium gauge Fender 9050ML flats have a 65 D string while my rounds had a 70 D string.

D'Addario and Ernie Ball both make a medium set, but many sets I found were lighter.

FWIW, the Fender stainless steel flats ARE noticably stiffer than the nickel rounds were.

hesham8 · #14 07-14-2009, 11:38 PM

I'd use Chromes if I were you.

Dan55 · #15 07-15-2009, 08:39 AM

I played Roto Swingbass 66 for years, switched to TI Jazz Flats about 9 years ago and never looked back.

Dan

nonogz · #16 07-15-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy pilgrim

hi
sorry if this has been covered elsewhere,but havent had time for extensive search.
ive used rounds(usually rotosound)for 25 years,but recently found out an old favourite bassist(horace panter from the specials)used flats and would like to give them a go.my question is;do i go with the same guage as i use in rounds,or should i go down. i read somewhere that flats can feel stiffer.also,would i get less buzz with these?
the specials were playing in 1979 in england,any idea which brands were available at this time.im doing some specials covers in my band and would like to emulate his sound

thanks in advance

newbie billy pilgrim

NOOOOOO....lol. dont do it. well do what you want...but, they do feel stiffer (which i didnt like). they just dont roll of my fingers. i had to dig in more. and the tone was too mudy in a live setting (especially in a 6 piece). went back to DR Lowriders. i should have never strayed

i would love to use them in the studio though

BZadlo · #17 07-15-2009, 12:18 PM

I think that it is wrong to make generalizations about flatwound strings. The differences in sound and feel are just as varied as roundwound strings.

markdavid · #18 07-15-2009, 12:41 PM

heres an interesting link for you if you are thinking about switching to flats

it is a comparison of 3 different brands of flats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDZJMKfgaCk

Dan55 · #19 07-15-2009, 12:42 PM

+1
All the flatwounds I've played feel very different from each other.

Dan

G00D+~VIBES · #20 07-15-2009, 12:43 PM

Get the same gauge or heavy/est/er. When I started playing I put the lightest rounds on my Jazz that I could. A year later I put Roto Flats on (the biggest I could find) the tension issue is only a matter of time before they break-in and your technique catches up, and for the tone they provide it is a small price to pay. I am still using the same set of Roto Flats a couple years later, and to my ears, they continue to sound better and better. I tried the Chromes that everyone raves about on another one of my basses, and once again to my ears, they are wanna be flats. Too bright and made alot of clack...not buzz clack, and they felt cheap. The tone of big heavy quality flats can only be produced by...well big heavy quality flats.