What's the deal with flats?

Jewbass · #1 05-09-2009, 08:15 AM

Ok, so I'm now definitely thinking about playing some flatwound strings. From checking the website, I've found that they play great with little to no fretboard string sound. Unfortunately, I've also found a problem. I've heard that flats produce a very "dull" sound. But what exactly is that? Is it just the bassists who dig that bright sound that think flats sound dull? Or is there just nothing there? Should I stick with my rounds or move to flats?

thobbinghotrod · #2 05-09-2009, 08:21 AM

They're not dull at all, they sound like a bass and not a piano, that might be what they were thinking. I took my D'Adario Chromes off because they were too bright.

totallybacan · #3 05-09-2009, 08:21 AM

I switched to flats on my fretless andi love it. IME, imagine a passive bass where the tone is turned down close to zero. that's the most noticeable effect on sound that i can describe when using flats. the highs, if played by the neck pickup, will be alot less noticeable than roundwounds. Highly recommended for jazz, bluegrass, and rock that needs some low end, especially if fingerstyle and you have another guitarist. Again, this is IME and IMO.

Deacon_Blues · #4 05-09-2009, 08:24 AM

Read the "confessions of a flatwound convert" thread.

Before switching to flats I thought they would be too dull and that I'd lose definition by switching to them. How wrong I was...

tomshepp · #5 05-09-2009, 08:26 AM

Flats have a more focused fundamental to the note and less sustain. Rounds have more overtones and lots of sustain. I like LaBella flats on a Fender bass.

fretlessguy · #6 05-09-2009, 08:46 AM

They have their uses and strong points. They have more of an "upright-ish" sound. I have found them to really be an excellent fit for the folk/roots music I play. I am now seeing more and more people in the rock field use them as well.
Flats range in their sound to the deeper and old school sound (Labella, GHS Flats) to the modern brighter sound (Tomastic-Infield) to in the middle (D'Addario Chromes). Two years ago I played exclusively rounds, but now 6 of my 10 basses wear flats of one kind or another. I may take a couple and put some Chromes on them.

FG

dubstylee · #7 05-09-2009, 08:55 AM

For me, I switched to flats because I always wanted my tone to sound like most of the old school recordings I was into, being classic rock, motown, reggae, blues; with most of those older recordings, I know the bass player was using flats, b/c I could never match that tone when I was using rounds. They just thump, and pretty much keep your bass tone in it's own frequency spectrum. I just really like them, I used Chromes or Fender 9050M's. Chromes being brighter like mentioned earlier, and the 9050's sounding old school as they come. BTW, always give flats time to break in before you judge their tone.

grifff · #8 05-09-2009, 08:58 AM

I would try them, but I only know of one company that makes a 6 string flatwound set and they are around $75USD.

Relic · #9 05-09-2009, 09:17 AM

I'm kind of so so with flats... while I'd say I'm more of a round-wound player, I can't deny that flats can sound sweet in a mix. You do loose some presence and sustain w/ flats (IMHO, of course) but what you do gain is a rock solid and smooth low end that you just cant beat.

If you're looking for something in-between, try half-rounds.

RCCollins · #10 05-09-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grifff

I would try them, but I only know of one company that makes a 6 string flatwound set and they are around $75USD.

that seems like a lot to try them out for sure, but most folks who favor flats keep one set of strings for a long time, so you could go through 3-4 (or more) sets of rounds in the lifespan of a set of flats.

If it turns out you don't like 'em, though, I suppose you're out 75 bones

Stumbo · #11 05-09-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Read the "confessions of a flatwound convert" thread.

Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

seracis · #12 05-09-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grifff

I would try them, but I only know of one company that makes a 6 string flatwound set and they are around $75USD.

labellas http://elderly.com/accessories/items/7676F.htm
roto 77's http://www.juststrings.com/rts-rs776ld.html

grifff · #13 05-09-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seracis

labellas http://elderly.com/accessories/items/7676F.htm
roto 77's http://www.juststrings.com/rts-rs776ld.html

Hmm, the Roto's seem appealing, but the Labella's are too thin for me. I like the .32-.130 gauge which is almost what the Roto's are. Thanks for the links.

wateroftyne · #14 05-09-2009, 12:11 PM

Contrary to popular belief, flat aren't dull... if you have your amp EQ'd for rounds and switch straight to flats, it might have that effect I suppose.

mrufino1 · #15 05-09-2009, 12:38 PM

I have had good service and results from bassguitarstrings.us, I bought a set of TI flats for six string on there for $80, didn't check out other brands because I wanted TI. Probably other sets on there too.
Rondo had labella 6 string flats on there at one point, I just looked and only saw the 5 string set. Stay far away form the "Indie" strings on Rondo's site though- I tried them and they were not good at all. However, as usual with Rondo, Kurt's service was awesome. The B string in the set I got was totally dead (had no sustain at all, contrary to the rest of the set, which had some sustain- the B was just gone). Kurt sent me a labella B for free, very cool of him. But ultimately I replaced the other 4 strings with labellas on my own. Also, try bpstrings.com, good prices and Bob's service is great.

precision punk · #16 05-09-2009, 01:46 PM

chromes or TIs are great sounding flats no dull at all

COOL AND DEADLY · #17 05-09-2009, 01:54 PM

It seems to me most players play rounds, I've always preferred the tone, feel and playability of flats. I think they feel a little tenser and obviously smoother. I think the dark, round, old school tone they produce is the sound of bass for me. I do dig what a lot of bassists do with rounds too.

Greevus · #18 05-09-2009, 02:29 PM

Man I'm feeling rebellious here. I prefer rounds almost in every way. I don't hear the deepness everyone claims exists. I hear the loudness, sustain and grit of rounds and the flats sound more thumpy or percussive. I am willing to give them a go one more time before I close the door however. I tried flats two or three times in twenty years, and I always run back to roundwounds.

mccartneyman · #19 05-09-2009, 03:14 PM

Flats were the sound iof the '60s, till Entwistle change it all. Dull? Not really. Listen to Joe Osborn with the Carpenters, the Association and untold other '60s hits. Flats with a pick on a Jazz bass. Modern flats don't sound dull. I love TI flats myself. Expensive, yes, but they stay usable for years. No clanking, and they are absolutely even in repsonse over the entire range.

Mudfuzz · #20 05-09-2009, 03:17 PM

Anything other than flats are merely oversized guitar strings.