Trying Flats for the first

djt820 · #1 02-22-2009, 07:52 PM

Thing is, Im converting from halfwounds and WOW. Im getting a brighter tone than I ever imagined Id get from flats. Im using my fretless jazz with duncan design PUs and its competing with my fretted Jazz with roundwounds and SD's.

Cons though, are the stickyness of the strings. Its pretty difficult to move around and groove on these. Im using D'addarios flats by the way. Just thought Id share.

Honk'n_down-low · #2 02-22-2009, 07:58 PM

Hit em with some Fast Fret or Dr. Duck's Wax - or just get a bucket of KFC and eat while you play.

I just through some Lebella's on my P-Bass and they sweet!

djt820 · #3 02-22-2009, 08:03 PM

Cool, I'll try the KFC tip first.

lmfreeman9 · #4 02-23-2009, 06:06 AM

The stickiness won't last forever but the strings will!

One Drop · #5 02-23-2009, 02:28 PM

And they won't stay so bright.

paganjack · #6 02-23-2009, 02:33 PM

chromes are somewhat bright at first. give them a few weeks and they will sound way sexier. i put a set on my ATK305 a while ago, and they are settling in sooo nicely

Kevin_BlueBASS · #7 02-23-2009, 03:33 PM

I'm thinking about getting some Chromes for my TRaben after getting the Halfrounds- would you suggest this if I have an aggressive slap approach?
Thanks guys!
Peace

bencwalker · #8 02-23-2009, 09:32 PM

I'm considering testing out some flats as well- but I'm looking for sommething on the brighter side. I hear that TI Jazz flats are good but anyone have any reccomendations for some bright flats?

mrkreuzschlitz · #9 02-23-2009, 09:38 PM

Would playing flats on a fretted jazz with a pick sound anything like an upright?

Please would recommend some flats that'd give me a nice "meaty" tone without being muddy,
and sound good with a pick.

Dogbertday · #10 02-24-2009, 12:18 AM

I like chromes with a pick actually...

DreadyDiggs · #11 02-24-2009, 08:35 AM

I play Labella Flats on my headless bass and my P-Bass. Happy

thisSNsucks · #12 02-24-2009, 09:10 AM

I'm basically a TI Jazz Flat convert after using Sadowsky Stainless Steel Rounds.

dvh · #13 02-24-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

Would playing flats on a fretted jazz with a pick sound anything like an upright?

Please would recommend some flats that'd give me a nice "meaty" tone without being muddy,
and sound good with a pick.

No.

Only an upright sounds like an upright. To get closer use your fingers, not a pick.

mrkreuzschlitz · #14 02-28-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

No.

Only an upright sounds like an upright. To get closer use your fingers, not a pick.

What I'm saying is I'm trying to avoid that "boom" and lack of sustain that you get with plucking an upright. Basically are flats just like rounds, just not bright? I want a lot of sustain but not a lot of thud...

Like rounds, just with the tone knob on your bass turned down a bit.

dvh · #15 02-28-2009, 05:04 PM

Flats have greater tension and they are more percussive than rounds. Both factors have improved my playing. Both provide a different 'platform' for fingerstyle, I find I can play with a lighter more confident touch which gives me more possibilities in attack. The quicker decay is more upright also.

I do also play upright, though. You can kind of emulate the tone with flats and the tone knob, but the similarities end there.

Bassman316 · #16 03-01-2009, 11:12 AM

Is there a Chromes lover club? Now there's a thought....

selowitch · #17 03-01-2009, 11:21 AM

Chromes are wonderful!! The only sacrifice is they don't sound so great when slapped, but then I don't slap much, so it's not really a problem for me. With the Chromes, I just love the warmth, punch, and articulation. Makes me sound more like ... me!

Bassman316 · #18 03-01-2009, 12:10 PM

Yeah, I've never tried to slap with Chromes, or any other kind of flats for that matter. Probably because I suck horribly at slapping anyway. I'm leaning towards putting flats on all of my basses except my octave 8 and my 6 string. I'd love to go flats on my 6 string, but I've heard flats don't do string-thru-body bridges well.... am I right on that?

Sundogue · #19 03-01-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassman316

Yeah, I've never tried to slap with Chromes, or any other kind of flats for that matter. Probably because I suck horribly at slapping anyway. I'm leaning towards putting flats on all of my basses except my octave 8 and my 6 string. I'd love to go flats on my 6 string, but I've heard flats don't do string-thru-body bridges well.... am I right on that?

You can by single low B's and high C's so you aren't stuck with any particular gauge with either. If you can get your 6 string strung up with rounds, there are flats that will work.

I'd look at your current string gauges and go to juststrings.com and check out the length and gauge of single strings from sets you're thinking of trying.

rjr225 · #20 03-02-2009, 03:34 PM

OK, so assuming that Flats have a longer life than Rounds . Would that mean that Half rounds would last somewhwere in the middle? Bout to change from rounds to 1/2 rounds and it sure would be nice to know. Thanxz