Is there a difference between flats and round wounds?

chris1125 · #1 09-21-2011, 03:46 PM

Excuse my ignorance, but me and another bassist were discussing what strings to buy for a bass we both use regularly and I suggested we get flats. He said he'd never used flats, he only uses round wounds. He asked what flats are like and I said they're like upright strings on the electric... I said those are flats, argument so on blah blah blah. Can somebody explain to me the different types of bass strings? Who is right? I am having trouble finding this covere on my iPod so a link would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

mmbongo · #2 09-21-2011, 06:03 PM

Flats = dull and thuddy sounding. Listen to some old 50's Motown recordings to hear them.

Rounds = brighter, lively, punchier, more modern.

Rounds are the most common strings. Go to a guitar store and every bass there will have rounds on it.

Thunder Pulse · #3 09-21-2011, 06:16 PM

Strings (music) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

chadhargis · #4 09-21-2011, 08:41 PM

I would argue that GOOD flats aren't dull at all. I use TI Flats, and they are a beautifully melodic string.

jumbosilverette · #5 09-21-2011, 08:49 PM

Bass Strings

darkstorm · #6 09-21-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Flats = dull and thuddy sounding. Listen to some old 50's Motown recordings to hear them.

Rounds = brighter, lively, punchier, more modern.

Rounds are the most common strings. Go to a guitar store and every bass there will have rounds on it.

Yup. Flats are also to me just flat sounding, bleh. Some like them though.

mogpipe · #7 09-21-2011, 09:29 PM

Recently switched from rounds to D'addario Chrome Flat Mediums,....couldn't be happier!!!

**jmattbassplaya** · #8 09-21-2011, 09:41 PM

I'd actually say that flats are, in generally, punchier than rounds. More of a kick to the gut than a punch to the chest (like rounds).

sikamikanico · #9 09-21-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

...Flats are also to me just flat sounding...

you should tune before playing

i would describe flats as full sounding, with body. lots of mids, and imo punchier than rounds. at first, i did not care for them soloed, but loved them in a band mix. now i love them soloed too

nothing against rounds, they are also great... after about a year of use

5StringFool · #10 09-24-2011, 03:45 PM

Rounds have way too many overtones for me (especially new ones). I've used monel flats and found them to be a little too dark, and then I tried some Chromes... for me Chromes are the perfect blend of low mid thump and just a bit of top end.

Pilgrim · #11 09-24-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris1125

Can somebody explain to me the different types of bass strings? Who is right? I am having trouble finding this covere on my iPod so a link would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

There must be at least 100 threads in TB discussing the identical topic. SEARCH.

u84six · #12 09-24-2011, 06:10 PM

Rounds to my ear, are bright and twangy, and have a subtle natural grit to them if you dig in. I find them similar to a medium-to-low piano wire (lots of overtones).

Flats on the other hand, have a thumpier attack with natural warmth and less twang (almost no twang), and not so many overtones (closer to a sine wave). They'll give you that thump you hear when listening to an upright bass, but when used with electric bass, they can have a lot more sustain. Thump and sustain.

bolophonic · #13 09-24-2011, 06:19 PM

I just got a set of Labella flats in the mail a while back. I had never played flats in my life and I am hooked. There is nothing "flat" about the sound of these. They are bright and full, but without a lot of the overtones that I sometimes have difficulty controlling with rounds.

6jase5 · #14 09-24-2011, 06:19 PM

Played with a few guys that were downtuned to C using mesa boogie triple recs while I had my svt, hollowbody and flats. I'd say that there was no lack of "punch" from me. It was a nice kick in the gut for a modern metal jam. Their regular bassist uses a 5 string warwick with rounds and they asked him to try flats for a change. I let him borrow my bass and he was shocked to hear how it both punched and barked right through the guitars. He did a 180 after about an hour.

moral of story, play both with your band before you decide.

Ric5 · #15 09-24-2011, 06:34 PM

Most player prefer rounds ... a few players prefer flats.

I started on flats, then I switched to rounds. Every once in a while I try flats and within a few minutes I grow tired of the flats again.

Ric5 · #16 09-24-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6jase5

Played with a few guys that were downtuned to C using mesa boogie triple recs while I had my svt, hollowbody and flats. I'd say that there was no lack of "punch" from me. It was a nice kick in the gut for a modern metal jam. Their regular bassist uses a 5 string warwick with rounds and they asked him to try flats for a change. I let him borrow my bass and he was shocked to hear how it both punched and barked right through the guitars. He did a 180 after about an hour.

moral of story, play both with your band before you decide.

To cut through turn up the mids. Some Warwicks have a 2 band active circuit, and with that you can't boost the mids.

u84six · #17 09-25-2011, 09:37 AM

A lot of it depends on the sound you want to add to the songs you're playing. We play all original music and I would not use rounds for this type of music. My band's music sounds great with an upright, but I do not want to lug my upright to the gigs; It would most definitely get ruined.