Who likes both rounds and flats equally ?

fearceol · #1 08-31-2010, 06:37 AM

From reading the posts here, it seems when it comes to flats and rounds, it is generally an "either/or" situation.

I know they both have their niche music, but I'm just talking generally...feel, tone etc.

When I play my bass strung with flats, I think I'll never return to rounds, and vice versa.

Just wondering if many other people are the same ?

greggster59 · #2 08-31-2010, 06:58 AM

I use Curt Mangan Nickel Rounds on my Birdsong Cortobass as Scott Beckwith, the builder, recommends.
I recently bought a used MIA Fender Jazz that was loaded with Thomastik Infeld Jazz flats on a maple neck.

The basses are polar opposites in scale, tone, strings and feel and I enjoy playing both almost equally (slight edge to the Cortobass :-)).

Surly · #3 08-31-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearceol

When I play my bass strung with flats, I think I'll never return to rounds, and vice versa.

Yeah. Until I used flats with a guitar and drummer.

fearceol · #4 08-31-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greggster59

I use Curt Mangan Nickel Rounds on my Birdsong Cortobass as Scott Beckwith, the builder, recommends.
I recently bought a used MIA Fender Jazz that was loaded with Thomastik Infeld Jazz flats on a maple neck.

The basses are polar opposites in scale, tone, strings and feel and I enjoy playing both almost equally (slight edge to the Cortobass :-)).

I have the TI flats on my G&L SB 2... a marriage made in heaven IMO.

After trying out a few brands in rounds, I have settled on DR Sunbeams, though the Dunlops are nice also.

WarriorJoe7 · #5 08-31-2010, 07:07 AM

I used flats in a reggae band for a long time. Before that i never liked flats. Now I like both

IdealWay · #6 08-31-2010, 07:07 AM

A friend of mine likes them equally enough to use rounds on his B, E, and A strings, and flats on the D and G. At first I thought, "what the hell are you thinking!?'" but it actually makes sense, and sure enough it sounded good. Made the high notes still sound like a thumpy bumbin' bass!

fearceol · #7 08-31-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly

Yeah. Until I used flats with a guitar and drummer.

I use flats with a guitar and drummer.

Tell them to drop the volume !!!!

**SamanthaCay** · #8 08-31-2010, 07:28 AM

I usually let the bass decide what kinda strings it wants and I love em all.

MarkusBass · #9 08-31-2010, 07:36 AM

^ Me too.

Surly · #10 08-31-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearceol

I use flats with a guitar and drummer.

Tell them to drop the volume !!!!

I meant to say that the flats work better with guitar and drums.

giacomini · #11 08-31-2010, 07:40 AM

I do. Totally different horses.

Have flats in my P and rounds in my Yamaha 5er.

JTE · #12 08-31-2010, 07:43 AM

Different tools for different jobs. I'm blessed to have seven basses, so I've got flats on three (the Fender Precision, the Sting, and the mongrel fretless) and rounds on four (the Lakland 4-94s, the 55-01, and the Guild Pilot). Use 'em for what they do.

John

T. Alan Smith · #13 08-31-2010, 08:35 AM

> flats on my SX-P
> grounds on my Bongo
> compression-wounds on my 'Ray
> rounds on my 'Ray5

Tampabass · #14 08-31-2010, 08:38 AM

out of habit, I guess ...
I've always used flats on my fretless basses.
and rounds on my (active) fretted basses - in recent years, Marcus Miller and 2 I no longer own - Sting Ray, Lakland 5502

fearceol · #15 08-31-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly

I meant to say that the flats work better with guitar and drums.

Sorry !! Picked you up wrong.

Never thought about that, but you could have a point.

C.Linton · #16 08-31-2010, 10:57 AM

I started out some 40 years ago with flats (Short-scale Labellas, about $10 a set) about twenty years later got onto roundwound. Just recently got back to flats as I was going for an old school tone.
Currently,I have on my Squier VM Jazz and SX Ursa 1 GHS Precision flats for a more "vintage" sound, Dean Markley Blue Steel rounds on my MIA Jazz for a more modern sound. Between the 3, I get a good selection of tones. For the time being, I will likely keep it that way.

JimmyM · #17 08-31-2010, 09:58 PM

not equally...i'm probably 60/40 rounds, but i have spells where all i want to play is flats.

Bassamatic · #18 08-31-2010, 10:22 PM

I like them both - for different uses. Flats on my '08 P, Foundation S for Classic Rock, Various rounds on other basses for harder rock and for jazz. Don't forget the Elixir strings and the Sunbeams - both a nice compromise.

Elrend · #19 08-31-2010, 10:23 PM

I use both on my one bass guitar.

JoZac21 · #20 08-31-2010, 10:25 PM

I'm in that boat... my main bass has rounds, but I have two w. flats... different basses for different musical situations.