Tried flats but lost volume?

screaminglucy · #1 12-04-2009, 06:21 PM

I tried a set of rotosound RS77 on my J bass and I noticed a huge decrease in volume. is this normal with flats? my previous strings were DR hi beams.

hdracer · #2 12-04-2009, 06:25 PM

No, Not in my experience. A real little maybe depending on what you were using before. The 77's are not quite as bright as Chromes but have a little mellower tone on my Jazz with Fender vintage noiseless p'ups. You could try raising your P'ups

screaminglucy · #3 12-04-2009, 06:30 PM

i tried that but the difference was so big it only helped a little

konodl18 · #4 12-04-2009, 06:31 PM

I don't have any experience with flats but I know with the many different types of rounds I've used, along with the loss of zing and brightness that occurs with aging, I occasionally noticed a massive loss of volume. SOME strings did this, while other just got dead and floppy.

I don't know exactly what the reason is, maybe its mostly that you lose so much volume in certain frequency ranges that it seems like the volume is just decreased across the board or maybe the strings just don't vibrate as hard. Please don't tear me apart for the 'vibrating hard' phrase. I can't think of a better way to put it.

Derek

hdracer · #5 12-04-2009, 06:56 PM

Have you tried playing around with your amp? When I switch basses from one with roto 66's to my one with chromes I have to readjust everything on my amp. Just a thought..

screaminglucy · #6 12-04-2009, 08:48 PM

yeah....i messed with the amp. could it be the higher tension is just not vibrating as much? i might try some chromes to see if they are the same.

Deep · #7 12-05-2009, 11:11 AM

Never had a problem with volume switching to flats. If anything they sound bigger and punchier as the rounds were pianoish and brighter. Maybe it's perception? If you've been only using rounds for years then switching to flats maybe you're actually missing the extra overtones and sustain of the rounds and it sounds like volume loss. Just a thought.

wolf7883 · #8 12-05-2009, 04:44 PM

I think you lost the snappy attack...rounds are so warm that your just never gonna get that same snap as from rounds

b4nny · #9 12-05-2009, 05:25 PM

I agree, when I tried flats, I noticed they are somewhat quieter than rounds, I believe because the stainless steel coatings found on most flats is less magnetic than nickel on most rounds.. is that true?

Kromwarp · #10 12-05-2009, 05:30 PM

I also use Hi Beams, and the trick with those is, they give you a semi scooped sound, with a lot more highs, making it much brighter and punchier. Those flats probably have a lot more midrange and lows to them, so I can see how the volume would decrease some

REAPER52 · #11 12-05-2009, 05:40 PM

I think you might have a tone difference -i had DR sunbeams and then TI flats but the difference was not a lose of volume but a difference in tone.....i love the TI flats and can get all the volume i could ever use. might need to fine tune the EQ some .....

seanm · #12 12-05-2009, 07:05 PM

Never noticed a volume drop switching from flats to rounds. At least, I didn't have to change the volumes on my mixer.

screaminglucy · #13 12-05-2009, 08:55 PM

this is so lame. it wasn't the strings at all but for some reason it just coincided with changing the strings. it was a bad connection...i noticed the volume came back up when i wiggled the cable in the jack.