what will flats do to my p-bass?

xshawnxearthx · #1 09-28-2005, 07:28 AM

i keep hearing about flats and im debating trying a set out.

now, im told they sound dead and muddy. is this true?

what types of sound would i get with my p.

i play hardcore, semi distorted stuff. would i still be able to get distortion.od with flats?

also. i usually play elixirs because i kill strings with my sweat. do flats die easy like roundwounds, or does that dead sound just naturally come from the flats, and remain that way for the life of them?

xshawnxearthx · #2 09-28-2005, 07:29 AM

also, what would be some good flats to try out?

pickles · #3 09-28-2005, 08:24 AM

Flats have less highs, less sustain, and a very warm sound. I really doubt you'll like them for hardcore. Think Motown.

bassguitar · #4 09-28-2005, 08:30 AM

Get some wide wrist bands for the sweating. Both hands, and it will keep the neck from getting "sticky"

xshawnxearthx · #5 09-28-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguitar

Get some wide wrist bands for the sweating. Both hands, and it will keep the neck from getting "sticky"

? i asked about flats, not about sweatbands

jacove · #6 09-28-2005, 09:17 AM

Some flats can get a you bright flat tone with plenty of definition, for example sadowsky flats....I use Thomastik flats and they have plenty of sustain and brightness IMHO...

xshawnxearthx · #7 09-28-2005, 09:48 AM

growl?

Quality · #8 09-28-2005, 09:55 AM

What about half rounds?
I tried some S'Addario half rounds a while back on a fretless I used to own.
In comparison to flats they were a bit brighter and had better sustain.

http://www.daddario.com/DADProducts....D=3&CLASS=ACCA

jacove · #9 09-28-2005, 10:34 AM

yes, Flats can growl, but not like roundwounds...imagine a kind of warm bassy 60's stax/motown sound....The Thomastisk I use have more midrange than trad. flats and IMHO have a bit more of the roundwound growl...

Distortion, I'm not sure how this will work....

Thurisarz · #10 09-28-2005, 12:07 PM

If your not sure about going directly to flats i would suggest as mentioned before to try either Halfrounds or pressurewounds. I love GHS Pressurewounds, they are eggshaped and nickelplated and they take away about 75% of string noise. After about 1-2 months they are, to me, 50/50 Roundwound and flatwound in sound and they are smoother to play then roundwounds.

xshawnxearthx · #11 09-28-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacove

yes, Flats can growl, but not like roundwounds...imagine a kind of warm bassy 60's stax/motown sound....The Thomastisk I use have more midrange than trad. flats and IMHO have a bit more of the roundwound growl...

Distortion, I'm not sure how this will work....

also. unlike roundwounds, that when they die, they sound like ****. these are supposed to sound dead? i wonder how they would hold up against acid hands.

pickles · #12 09-28-2005, 03:15 PM

Try to find a bass with flats to try out. You'll know whether or not you like them within a minute.

Kilian. · #13 09-28-2005, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xshawnxearthx

these are supposed to sound dead? i wonder how they would hold up against acid hands.

Flats will pretty much sound the same for quite a long time. They go like "thump" in the beginning and "thump" in the end

zongeek · #14 09-28-2005, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xshawnxearthx

? i asked about flats, not about sweatbands

I think it was a friendly suggestion to help allieviate that problem.

nowhereian · #15 09-29-2005, 01:20 PM

fender flats work really well for hardcore, imo. especially on a BEAD strung P.

Mojo-Man · #16 09-29-2005, 01:30 PM

TI-flats on my 1966 P-bass.
My fav sound.
Of all the basses I've owned flats work best on a P-bass.
Just brings out true sound of bass.
A Jazz bass, and musicman stingray, also sound great.

metalguy2 · #17 09-29-2005, 01:33 PM

Try em out and do what you feel like doing. Steve Harris used flatwounds in Iron Maiden(on a p-bass). Don't let anyone tell you something is for a certain kind of music.

metalguy2 · #18 09-29-2005, 01:37 PM

As for the Mo-Town thing. That is just what they happened to used back then. It used to be that flatwound strings came stock on most bass guitars. So people got used to them. Thus making it the Mo-Town sound.

To best recreate what they were doing, it would be good advice to use what they were using. But if you are doing you own ****. Do what you want.

I encourage you to try the flatwounds with your distortion on your p-bass.. It might sound awesome!

nad · #19 09-29-2005, 01:48 PM

i have an american standard p that i recently strung with d'addario chrome flats. i really like the feel, and the sound is pretty one dimensional but very good when i want to thump. then i picked up a tech 21 xxl bass distortion pedal and tried it with that bass. it just plain sings with that setup, very cool tone.

in short: p-bass + flatwounds + distortion = WOW

xshawnxearthx · #20 09-30-2005, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalguy2

As for the Mo-Town thing. That is just what they happened to used back then. It used to be that flatwound strings came stock on most bass guitars. So people got used to them. Thus making it the Mo-Town sound.

To best recreate what they were doing, it would be good advice to use what they were using. But if you are doing you own ****. Do what you want.

I encourage you to try the flatwounds with your distortion on your p-bass.. It might sound awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

i have an american standard p that i recently strung with d'addario chrome flats. i really like the feel, and the sound is pretty one dimensional but very good when i want to thump. then i picked up a tech 21 xxl bass distortion pedal and tried it with that bass. it just plain sings with that setup, very cool tone.

in short: p-bass + flatwounds + distortion = WOW

these are the types of things i like to hear.