warwick corvette owners, flatwounds?

chjohnst · #1 09-03-2009, 10:28 AM

I have been running roundwound slinkys on both my 4 and 5 string, they sound good but can be a little flat/fat sounding and dont cut through the mix very well to the way I would like them too. They sound good for heavier rock (maybe metal or something) where you need the bass to fill in the sound more. I am bit shy to run SS strings as I find them to clanky on the frets and seem to be slightly noisier with slides/fretting. I really dont like hearing clanky strings.

I was thinking of checking out a set of flatwounds on my 5 string to see how they sound. Curious if anyone has done that before? (or if there are other strings to check out to give my warwick a bit more ZING and shape up my tone a little bit more).

Also I play music ranging from funk bass driven lines in one band as well as in an acoustic rock band. In the acoustic rock band the bass seems to overpower the guitar so I need something a bit more punchy.

-Chris

lowregister · #2 09-03-2009, 01:31 PM

I have a Warwick Corvette Standard and I have had a set of GHS Stainless Steel Precision Flatwounds and they sound really good on my bubinga bass (hearty sustain and punch)

I played an acoustic show (just guitar and bass) and they (the GHS strings) definitely clawed at the air but were still mild mannered.

Also from GHS are their Brite Flats which are roundwound strings that were grounded down to be smooth like flats (they're called groundwounds) and those retain a lot of mids and are worth a try too.

Alle Die Beste

toomanybasses · #3 09-03-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowregister

I have a Warwick Corvette Standard and I have had a set of GHS Stainless Steel Precision Flatwounds and they sound really good on my bubinga bass (hearty sustain and punch)

I played an acoustic show (just guitar and bass) and they (the GHS strings) definitely clawed at the air but were still mild mannered.

Also from GHS are their Brite Flats which are roundwound strings that were grounded down to be smooth like flats (they're called groundwounds) and those retain a lot of mids and are worth a try too.

Alle Die Beste

+1

I have used these same setups and both work great

chondro776 · #4 09-03-2009, 01:43 PM

I just went from slinkys to DL lowriders on my standard 5 (bubinga).
I am in heaven, though I was mainly looking for stiffer/tighter strings.

I don't hear much 'clank', and the big deal made over the steel being harder on your hands hasn't been the case for me.

Seems to me, FWs would be going against the entire point of having a 'wick. But that is just my thoughts....

chjohnst · #5 09-03-2009, 02:07 PM

I thought lowriders were nickel.. guess I was wrong..

http://www.guitarcenter.com/DR-Strin...12-i1122531.gc

I think nickel strings on the warwick just sound like they have a real fat tone for me, or at least thats how they sound with the slinkys. I am looking for a more compressed punch tone. Reason I was thinking flatwounds is I know they can be a puncher and warmer toned.

I think maybe I will give the DRs a try, do you find SS strings to be too bright on the warwick? I wouldn't mind a stiffer B string the slinky B is way too floppy. What worries me is I don't too much slap/popping or tapping.

"Lo-Rider stainless steel bass strings from DR are roundwound and constructed upon a hexagonal core. Lo-Riders provide more depth of tone and are a bit stiffer than Hi-Beams. Bass players who are into slapping, popping, and tapping will love the high end and depth of Lo-Riders. The slight bit of stiffness makes these strings very accurate when playing harmonics. Great consistency and great string-to-string balance are DR hallmarks. Fits bass scale lengths up to 37-3/4"."

-Chris

standupright · #6 09-03-2009, 02:13 PM

flatwounds will not give you more zing. they are mellow compared to rounds. you can compensate for this by boosting the highs and get more bridge pickup than neck in the mix.

chjohnst · #7 09-03-2009, 02:22 PM

I have been playing with that a little, by boosting the bridge pickup over the neck pickup. I play with my fingers exactly in the middle between the two pickups. I tend to keep the cut back the bass a little and boost the mids (right over the middle mark) with the knobs.

I will play with it more tonight, but I am thinking its time to try some different strings.

RFord04 · #8 09-03-2009, 02:33 PM

Flatwounds will do the opposite of what you want. They might be punchier in a way... I'd say it more of a dulled thump, as opposed to the zing you will get with Lo-Riders. If you're looking for zing, that's the string you want. I agree that putting flats on a Warwick is kind of taking away from the signature sound of a wick. Flats will work great for an acoustic set, but if you want funk, I'd go with Lo-Riders... unless you're playing old school, James Brown type funk, then flats would do it.

BTW, Lo-Riders come in both Nickel and Stainless Steel

chondro776 · #9 09-03-2009, 02:48 PM

There is more high end, but not anything I would consider bad.
I do slap about 1/3 of the time, but honestly I have been happier with the switch with regard to fingerstyle than slapping.

I have a few riffs that involve semi-intricate (for me-lol) low b fingerstyle stuff. The stiffness has been a god send. I piked up my G&L tribby 5 strung w/ slinkys the other day....the difference was night and day (of course the different instruments made a huge difference as well, but you take my point...).

Keep in mind that you ideally want taper wounds for your bass. The low b on a set of LRs will not fit w/o squishing the fat part down a little. It wasn't a problem for me though...

bertbassplayer · #10 09-04-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chjohnst

I thought lowriders were nickel.. guess I was wrong..

They have both Nickel (Purple Package) and SS (Silver Package) Lo-riders.

When I had my Corvette Fretless I used to use D'Addario Chromes with good results.

chjohnst · #11 09-08-2009, 02:54 PM

I picked up a set of daddorio chromes to check out on my fender so I have a set of flat wounds for when I do some studio work with the band.

I cant explain it but I am just not satisfied with the sound of the ernie balls nickels on my corvette. Maybe try some DR low-riders, but I am hesitant to use SS strings as thats what is on my Fender now and they are very clanky and bright, lots of finger/fretting noise. I am just super anal about hearing the noise of my frets or strings clanking against the frets. I know a lot of this has to do with the action in my right hand when I am digging in which I am working on breaking that bad habit.