Why ?

[p-bass]

I have two Fender P-Basses,one with rounds and one with flats. I love the sound of my flatwound strung P-Bass in my Blues band. My question is, Why have most of the flatwound players switched to roundwounds ? George Porter,Rocco,Verdine White,Bob Babbitt,David Hood and the list goes on. Could anyboby tell me ? Thanks

[fetfet]

Gigs.

Usually, session musicians are hired to be more modern in their sound, and nothing sounds more modern than roundwounds.

[p-bass]

But most of these guys are doing live shows now and their studio days are behind them. Could it be roundwounds are better in a live situation and easier to dail in a usable tone even if the recordings were done with flatwound strings ?

[Jaco who?]

Obviously can't answer for any of the names dropped, but I'd guess versatility has something to do with it. You can't add treble to source that doesn't have enough to begin with.

[One Drop]

Is Bob Babbit really using rounds now?

[Kyon`]

I still think it's just the modern tone idea. That and while I always thought my TI flats were really flexible on tone on my l2k, it is just easier in my opinion to dial in more tones. You can roll of the tone a bit and get something similar to flats, and just with a little spin get that bright mid sound again. Much easier then having to switch basses midshow especially if you're playing a gig where you're only supporting someone.

[Loel]

What is your source?
these player's are
using round wound strings!!

[bassfrenzie]

Tone versatility, I'd agree.

You can get rounds to sound like flats but you can't get flats to sound like rounds.

Not in my experience anyway.

Blues sounds cool with rounds, you just gotta be discreet.

[Ampeg SVT]

Originally Posted by HooDoo

What is your source?
these player's are
using round wound strings!!

Rocco has signature RW round core strings, Verdine White uses Rotosound Swing 66's, George Porter is using Daddario Xl's.

IF you took some time to look then you would know

[svenbass]

In a live situation, I can get the flatwound vibe on rounds with technique, but not the other way around. So I almost always go that route unless I really know the sound is gonna work. I've been stuck a couple of times with my old P that has 9 year old, very dead flats and that sound just wasn't working on stage.

I did just get a J bass dedicated to flats - which I will change on a regular basis - for live use.

Perhaps these guys are only using them live?

[p-bass]

Saw The Funk Brothers a few years back and after the show they had a meet and greet. I asked Bob Babbitt what kind of strings he was using for the show and he said GHS Boomers. He played a Kramer P/J Bass at the show

[p-bass]

The reason I asked Bob Babbitt what kind of strings he was using is because as my wife and I walked in and took our seats Bob Babbitt was up on the stage alone sitting on his Cabinet with his bass doing sound check. When he first started playing his tone was bright and grindy and I could tell they were roundwounds. The sound man began to dial in his tone and it got very fat with alot on bottom but was still clear so you hear the notes. In the mix he sounded very good and flatwoundish.

[david fitch]

I am glad I came across this thread. I am a Jamerson Fannatic. I have been to every Funk Bros. show they have played in Southern California,from The Wiltern in 2004 to last September at The Lancaster Street Fair. Bob used his 65/66 Fender Precision with La Bella flatwound strings on the first couple of shows. Then he did use a Kramer Bass with GHS Bass Boomers roundwound strings, he said some of the rooms sounded to boomy with the flats. He now uses a custom PJ bass made by a friend of his named Toad. He uses Elixers roundwounds on the "Toad" bass. Dave