Flatwounds for the first time! Wow!

[TheBogart]

For the first time in my life i installed a set of flatwounds in a bass. My new Ibanez Artcore AGB 140 has now a new set of Ernie Ball Flatwounds Group II. And it sounds amazing! With the bottom end very round, and the highs very tight.

They are smooth and they give that "Thump-like" sound that i love.

Where have i been all this years?

Why the flats are not the main strings in our days?

I'm converted to this church. Flatwounds all the way!

PS: Sorry my lame english!

 

[brndn123]

I know, it makes you want to install flats on all of your basses...mwwwuuuaaahhhaah

 

[Mustangbass]

Yeah - I've already done that to all of my basses!
(Thomastik-Enfeld)

 

[fourstringdrums]

Agreed. I started playing them a few years ago and I will never go back to roundwound.

 

[Antny]

Welcome to the Dark Side.

 

[king_biscuit]

Indeed! One of the cool thing about flats is how different the various sets sound from one another -- versus rounds which sound more similar comparatively. Don't be afraid to try other brands/gauges in the future.

 

[TheBogart]

realy.. i know that rounds are the rule, but hey! the flats are amazing.. they give me the growl i was looking for..

Eheheh.. This is really the Dark side!!

 

[Rugaar]

Sweet! Congrats and welcome to the wonderful world of flats.

So how about a picture of your bass?

 

[avvie]

... but I'm totally curious...

 

[Surly]

Rounds are guitar strings

 

[CTC564]

I'm also a recent convert to flats...played roundwounds my whole life and recently bought a Lakland 55-94 that many claimed sounds just as good w flats

I bought DR Flats and couldn't be more thrilled!!!

What a round, woody, thunky vintage tone

Great sounding!!!

 

[faulknersj]

Right on! Congrats! It is so fun to find inexpensive new ways to move your tone in a positive direction (for u of course). If you dig an old school vibe, try throwing a foam mute underthe strings by the bridge. Cheers.

 

[gai113]

i just got the ernieball flats for the first time and man THEY RULE...

the best part is im a pick player mostly and it sounds so much better

 

[Marton]

Indeed! One of the cool thing about flats is how different the various sets sound from one another -- versus rounds which sound more similar comparatively. Don't be afraid to try other brands/gauges in the future.

I'm with you on this, but the die-heard rounds players seems to think the exact opposite.

 

[faulknersj]

I play flats and rounds...they both have their place and the style of music played is an important factor. I do however hope that someday I can be a full time flats player by virtue of being able to make a living playing only my favorite stuff...old school funk, soul, Motown goodies!

 

[jordy_on_bass]

I use both - I love the sound of a fresh set of rounds on my blackbird for rock and metal applications, however the softer sound of a set of flats on my streamer are nice and juicy when I grab my bass from upstairs and have a jam with one of our soloist's that perform at the pub I run. Both have their merits for me, I don't particularly prefer one over another. But yes, the first time you use flats is an amazing experience lol

 

[P. Bass]

Welcome to "Thunk City".
I have played nothing but flats for 40 years. Talk about a habit !!!
B.

 

[dscott11]

I have flats on my 65 EB-O, rounds on my fiver and just put chromes on my Ric. I've run Roto 77's .110 and thought I could reduce tension a bit. As I've read here on TB, they are quite bright right now, but that is way cool on the Ric because you can balance the bridge and neck pup volume and tone to get a very wide range of tones. Plus new strings are always a good excuse to play more!

 

[Soul Power]

The only bass's that I wouldn't put flats on are ones with jazz pups.
Mainly just because I might eventually want to learn how to slap properly.

 

[DeeBassist]

Flats are amazing. Real rich, low, smooth sound from them. They also don't knacker your fretboard or fretwire, which is... always a good thing.

I have flats on my Cort, rounds on my Squier, and grounds on my Yammy.

Everyone likes a little variety, right?