So I strung my P-Bass with flats and...

[Agito]

I don't like it, Sound is kinda of dead and really mellow.
I used the ErnieBall Flatwounds the blue ones 045s

Is that's the way flats should sound?

[ugly_bassplayer]

Yes.

[TortillaChip520]

yeah, pretty much.
In my experience, flatwounds just sound like dead roundwound strings.
When i get the chance though, i'm going to give flats another try.

[adamrobertt]

I think the guy from Wilco plays a P strung with flats.

[Agito]

Duck Dunn played with flats right? (In Blues Brothers)
And what strings Steve Harris uses?

[Mazatleco17]

Originally Posted by Agito

Duck Dunn played with flats right? (In Blues Brothers)
And what strings Steve Harris uses?

Steve Harris has his own signature strings made by rotosound.

[DeluxyMike5]

you guys should check a band called "Mute Math" their bass player plays a P bass with flats and sounds amazing! that's what convinced me to try. it's all preference to what you like and/or play though.

[tbone409]

Mutemath - You are Mine
Great song, sick drumbeat.

I have GHS flats on my P, I'm on the fence about them, i love the pick tone, but the fingerstyle tone doesn't do anything for me as compared to Ken smith nickel rounds, not worse, just not better.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Mazatleco17

Steve Harris has his own signature strings made by rotosound.

Extra Heavy Guage Roto Jazz 77's. Other than the guage and silks, they are standard.

[Deep]

Flats that don't sound like "typical" flats would be Chromes or TI flats.
Chromes have a certain brightness when new. Then they mellow out, but to me never really get thuddy sounding. They have definition.

TI flats have a flexible feel and are bright when new, then mellow out a bit, but have great midrange punch and growl. They stay that way for years.

These two brands might be some flats for you to try out.

[JimmyKickButt]

MuteMath is a great band! The bassist also played in Earthsuit, he had some great bass lines for there songs...

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Mazatleco17

Steve Harris has his own signature strings made by rotosound.

Correct, and they happen to be flats. They are the same as the Roto RS77 JAzz Flats, which are a type of stainless steel called Monel (as opposed to being a nickle flat).

The only thing unique about his custom set is the gauge selection.

[BananaKing]

Flats are great in a band setting but don't really live until that point. They sound dead by themselves because of the way they are: Full-er Fundamental and less of the overtone series. They really shine when you're playing with a full band, though. Have you tried them with a band before you dismiss them?

Also, Let them break in first. I don't know if you have yet or not, but give them about a month and a half. I used to dislike them too, but I have basses strung with both roundwounds and Flats because each kind are good at different things.

[standupright]

Originally Posted by Agito

I don't like it, Sound is kinda of dead and really mellow.
I used the ErnieBall Flatwounds the blue ones 045s

Is that's the way flats should sound?

roll your mids up a bit. but yes. they have less "zing" than rounds.

play around with your tone controls on your amp and bass for a bit. you might get hooked!

[BananaKing]

One last thing:

http://www.myspace.com/thevaluablesmusic

This was my old band. The recordings were all me with an OLP MM2 with Chromes. It is reggae, but see if maybe it works a bit more for you. They were 2 months old there.

[ljazz]

What kind of P bass?..... and what year?

My '08 MIA P sounds like garbage with most flats I've tried (buts sounds wicked with broken in chromes). My SB1 sounds great with pretty much any flat.

[tom once dead]

Almost got a set of chromes today. Probably get a set of fender flats when I get a new J pup.

[overdrivethree]

saw Karl Alvarez of ALL play a beat-up Precision with flats. he plays quick 8 and 16-note patterns with his right hand that lock in with the drums. big loud punk rock. it sounded punchy and massive.

basically, it replicated their old records, when they were broke and he couldn't afford new strings. his sound always had a certain farty quality to it, that he was able to replicate just using flats.

[P_bass]

D'Addario Chromes as have been mentioned, never tried the EB strings. The TI Flats are great also but for that true PBass sound use the Chromes. They last me for 3 years or more with weekly use and still have the sound I want.

[eyecandy]

I have Chromes on my Jazz too.. light ones though.. am looking for heavier gauges next time.. but i like how they sound.. very punchy.. less clarity but more punch