Tone difference w/ Rounds vs. Flats

[MistaMarko]

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[ihixulu]

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[KrispyJones]

... and listen
http://prauschke.de/deutsch/doublebass.htm

[Anesthesia]

round wounds=sexy they have less bright high end that round wounds do no finger noise from slides etc and for me are just awesome for the tone i was/am looking for.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Anesthesia

round wounds=sexy they have less bright high end that round wounds do no finger noise from slides etc and for me are just awesome for the tone i was/am looking for.

Dude, step away from the pipe........

[Dee_01]

Flats sound like rounds that have been left on for about 40 years.

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by Dee_01

Flats sound like rounds that have been left on for about 40 years.

Maybe some do, but I have a set of D'Addario Chromes on one bass and I think they're pretty bright sounding for a flatwound string. In fact, there's a good chance when those strings are 40 years old they'll sound brighter than the typical 40 year old roundwound!

FYI, I'm not knocking rounds. In fact, I prefer them, especially once they've been broken in! I'm just saying that a flatwound string doesn't necessarily imply a completely dead and lifeless tone like it might have years ago. I happen to like the Chromes, though, and I just took my new-to-me MIA fretless Jazz to a luthier last night to have it set up and spruced up, and that includes putting a set of Chromes on that bass too.

[JustOpenYourMind]

Originally Posted by Dee_01

Flats sound like rounds that have been left on for about 40 years.

That is not true at all, It really depends on the brand od string and the gauge.

I would say that flat wound have a rounder attack, and a bassier sound, in a band setting they tend to cut less but give a more supportive sound.

Rounds, have a lot more attack and singing highs, they can be bassy depending on the brand and gauge.

On a roundwound string you can roll of the treble and have a round tone that does pretty much the same job as a flatwound, this is especially true in a band setting.

However, if the tone you are looking for is nice mellow and woody your really better off starting with flatwounds it'll be a lot easier to get a pleasing tone.

[stflbn]

To me:

Rounds = Punchier and more presence and of course fingernoise.
Flats = Thumpier with no fingernoise.


Hard to make one do the other's job really well, but do-able.

[BigSwami]

When I play rounds, I hear "CHANG!"
When I play flats, I hear "Dumm"