Stingray with flats and a fatfinger?

Ski3223 · #1 06-29-2010, 08:35 AM

I have a Stingray 3EQ. I've been curious about trying out flats on her but I'm still undecided. More to the point, I like using a Fatfinger to even out my dead spot and bring out my harmonics.

So here is the question: Has anyone had any experience with the Fatfinger and tried using it on flats? I'm just curious what the effect might be. Maybe this belongs in the gear section, but I'm not curious about the Fatfinger, just the flats in combination with it.

Beginner Bass · #2 06-29-2010, 10:50 AM

How is the Fatfinger? I've been looking at it, but not sure.

CapnSev · #3 06-29-2010, 11:51 AM

IME, the fat finger only adds weight to the headstock, and pushes the dead spot to a different place on the neck.

MysticMichael · #4 06-29-2010, 11:59 AM

I use a FatFinger with roundwounds. I can't see how it would have any different effect with flatwounds...

MM

BigOldHarry · #5 06-29-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

IME, the fat finger only adds weight to the headstock, and pushes the dead spot to a different place on the neck.

The whole notion of this thing doing good seems misleading - it's not the headstock where you tone starts - it's the nut.

If you have a dead spot, that just isn't much you can do about it. And flats are just going to make your bass sound... well, like a bass with flats - and a EBMM really shines with bright rounds, imho.

Mike M. · #6 06-29-2010, 12:44 PM

For what it's worth, I was checking out You Tube and came across quite a few video's with some guy playing his Musicman bass with flat's. In my very humble opinion I thought it sounded pretty good (as good as one can tell on You Tube) and that Musicman sound still came thru. Nothing wrong with it at all if that's the sound you're after.

But I'm inclined to agree with BigOldHarry that a EBMM really shines with roundwounds.

Nothing wrong with trying it for yourself, though.

CapnSev · #7 06-29-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

The whole notion of this thing doing good seems misleading - it's not the headstock where you tone starts - it's the nut.

Right. I think the fat finger is just a bunch of snake oil.

As for flats in the Stingray, I think it works pretty well. To me the only difference is note decay and feel. Other than that, it is still very distinctly a Stingray.

old-fashioned · #8 06-29-2010, 12:51 PM

I can't persuade myself to try any other strings after putting TI flats on my StingRay.

Beginner Bass · #9 06-29-2010, 01:03 PM

Pino, if I remember correctly, uses flats on his Ray.

JMac4strngr · #10 06-29-2010, 01:08 PM

I recently switched to Daddario chrome flats on one of my rays and I am really liking the feel and tone. I am also trying some half rounds on another ray and am liking those as well. I played Roto 66's for a while on all my basses, but I made the change to flats out of curiousity, and in search of a different sound and feel. I am also finding that the notes seem more defined with the flats versus the rounds.

Ski3223 · #11 06-29-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

IME, the fat finger only adds weight to the headstock, and pushes the dead spot to a different place on the neck.

True, it does add weight to the head stock and it DOES move the dead spot. BUT, the relocation of the dead spot depends on the placement of the Fatfinger. For example, I put it on the nut side of the headstock on the floor facing-side of the headstock and it made the dead spots worse, so I moved it farther up, and it moved the dead spot to a higher pitch on the neck (F, G10fret). Finally I moved it to the end of the headstock and the dead spot disappeared entirely.

I imagine this is probably the same with any bass. Now, if that bass is REALLY bad with dead spots I can see it being impossible to "shift" the dead spots "off" of the playable range of the neck. Also, if the neck is damaged or warped I can see it not working, but if I get nitpicky with its location on the headstock I can make the dead spots on ALL my basses disappear (including my POS Squier p-bass).

It really does work, and the difference in the natural harmonics is like night and day. I'll have to post a video with the difference in sound and position if I can find the right device to record it on. But I can assure you, at least in this one case it is most certainly not a ploy. It really does work!

I don't believe anyone has done a comprehensive study on the Fatfinger on Talkbass yet (At least I couldn't find one when I was looking a few months ago). I would definitely recommend it if you are patient and have some money to blow. The only problems I have had are the natural harmonics coming out TOO much, i.e. playing a riff on one of the hot frets and lifting my finger off for a mute effect and the harmonic ringing out instead.

Ski3223 · #12 06-29-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I use a FatFinger with roundwounds. I can't see how it would have any different effect with flatwounds...

MM

I am mostly curious if the Fatfinger will make the notes sustain longer. Sorta "round" out the "flats" while keeping the flat tone. I really like the tone of the flats but I play so much stuff that flats probably wouldn't sound great with. Maybe this would help. Or I could find a particularly bright, "roundwound" sounding flat.

BobaMosfett · #13 06-29-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beginner Bass

Pino, if I remember correctly, uses flats on his Ray.

One of the basses he most definitely uses rounds on is his fretless Ray. But I think that has more to do with it being fretless than being a Ray. More mwah with rounds...

For a Stingray with flats, listen to Another One Bites The Dust by Queen (for instance).

Ski3223 · #14 06-29-2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobaMosfett

For a Stingray with flats, listen to Another One Bites The Dust by Queen (for instance).

LOVE the tone on that song, but I want to ring out a little more than that. I've heard wonders about D'addario Chromes.

I also play a lot of RHCP. Would using flats pretty much kill my RHCP songs? I can EQ it up to bring out a pretty close sound, I mostly play their newer stuff (One Hot Minute and later). Think I could still pull it off? Open question here, lol.

FunkMetalBass · #15 06-29-2010, 04:25 PM

New RHCP? No.

Ski3223 · #16 06-29-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

New RHCP? No.

Shat ...

Tim Skaggs · #17 06-29-2010, 10:41 PM

Dead spots are caused by the bass resonating at a specific frequency which causes the wood of the neck and body to absorb the vibration of the string. The fat finger (or a "c" clamp, or vice grips, or big heavy washers) changes the resonant frequency of the neck. More simply, if you add mass to the neck, it vibrates at a different frequency than it did without the added mass. Any change in mass (increase OR decrease)will change the resonant freq of the neck. That's why some folks get such an improvement in sustain just from changing to ultralight tuning machines. The Fat Finger is just a convenient way to add a little mass. The best result is that it moves the resonant freq of the neck to a note that is between notes at standard pitch. If you want to hear your bass without a dead note, press the end of your headstock against a door facing or bookshelf and play your dead note. If you want to hear some wild sustain, press the end of the headstock against your speaker cab and play the dead note. A note about flats; they're generally more massive than rounds and get your neck to vibrating more at it's resonant freq. Simply stated, flats can make your dead spot even "deader".

Low End Lover · #18 06-29-2010, 11:13 PM

Hey Ski,

Here's a link to an in-depth review by Ed Friedland on the EBMM Stingray Classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJN72...eature=related

He puts flats on the 4 string and plays a variety of styles. All the Stingray tone is still there. I have a Sterling Classic that I am going to put a stock Stingray pickup in and throw some TI Flats on there. I can't wait! I will have a lighter, faster 2-band Stingray!
I think you should do the flats!

LEL

Ski3223 · #19 06-30-2010, 11:32 AM

Tim and Low End,
Thanks for all the in-depth info, I will be watching that video as soon as I get home from work today.

Tim, do you think the fatfinger in combination with the flats would counteract the problem of "worsening" the dead spots?

Jim C · #20 06-30-2010, 12:25 PM

Back in the day (before fat finger or that piece of brass that Groove Tubes used to sell) we used C clamps in the studio

As I remember, it added sustain and made the dreaded Fender C# dead spot a little less noticeable

A similar effect can be obtained by pushing the headstock of your bass against a wall