About those flats on my P bass...

[Chicken Wing]

So I put some heavy flats on my precision bass because that's what you should do, right??? LOL

I'm on stage thundering like Thor, and then suddenly I am told we're going to play "rock & roll" by Zeppelin at a million BPM. Never played it live.

Halfway through I was cursing these new strings, but i was able to hold on. So much fun.

I've always wanted to play that song live. We had a female singer, it was killer. Anyway, I had a chuckle to myself on stage.

 

[dmrogers]

Yeah, I have flats on one bass. A '75 Precision that I never gig with. They are fine, sound good and easy to play (D'Addario Chrome 100).
Flats have their place, but, except for way back in the late '60s and early '70s, I have used rounds and find them to be more versatile.

 

[Chicken Wing]

My take for me personally is that I way prefer rounds on stage overall.

 

[UntitledProject]

I don't understand the issue.

 

[shirojiro]

I was assuming that he’s saying that the fast notes were harder to play on the stiffer and less flexible flat wound strings.

I find that to maintain speed on stiffer strings, I need to pluck more gently and let my fingertips roll over the strings more rather than plucking through them.

 

[oMetaloHead]

I'm all about flats on a P bass, but I think the heavy gauge are not a necessary part of the equation. I thought I hated La Bella flats because the first set I ever tried were the "Original" 52-110 gauge strings, but I have since learned that I love La Bella flats, and flats in general, when they're not so heavy. Many people say thicker strings have more bass, but I think they just have less treble, which I don't prefer. If your strings are giving you trouble, consider dropping a gauge or two.

 

[PDW30]

So I put some heavy flats on my precision bass because that's what you should do, right??? LOL

I'm on stage thundering like Thor, and then suddenly I am told we're going to play "rock & roll" by Zeppelin at a million BPM. Never played it live.

Halfway through I was cursing these new strings, but i was able to hold on. So much fun.

I've always wanted to play that song live. We had a female singer, it was killer. Anyway, I had a chuckle to myself on stage.

And that's why you need to buy another bass.

 

[ctmullins]

Anything that impedes your playing ability is generally a bad idea.

Maybe low tension flats?

 

[Wez Yo Bice]

Yeah, I've got 40-60-80-100 flats. But even removing the mute, I don't think I could do the Dusty Hill thing. Makes me want to go find out.

 

[bassdude51]

So I put some heavy flats on my precision bass because that's what you should do, right??? LOL


Halfway through I was cursing these new strings, but i was able to hold on. So much fun.

"So I put some heavy flats on my precision bass because that's what you should do, right??? LOL"

Response.........if a P Bass's truss rod can tolerate heavy flats, why not? I've had several P Basses that were pretty much maxed from the flats I had on them. I found heavy flats to be a paradox in the sense that I was able to lower my typical action but it took me greater strength to play notes.

"Halfway through I was cursing these new strings, but i was able to hold on. So much fun."

Response........IMHO, if you were cursing the strings, doesn't that mean that they are too heavy in gauge?

As an "I only use flat wounds" bass player, I have 2 favorites. #1, TI Flats!!!!!!!!!! #2 D'Addario Chromes flatwounds (40-60-75-95) ECB80SL.

Bass strings are like different flavors of ice cream. Everybody has their own favorite.

LZ's Rock 'n Roll is one of my all time favorite songs and JPJ's bass playing is super top notch!!!!!!!!!

 

[Danny C]

I've been on DR Pure Blues for years and would love to find a set of flats I get along with. I started with TI and they didn't have the tension I like, too floppy for me. What should I try that has decent tension? I kinda like a tight string. Sorry to stray from the OG post.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I've been on DR Pure Blues for years and would love to find a set of flats I get along with. I started with TI and they didn't have the tension I like, too floppy for me. What should I try that has decent tension? I kinda like a tight string. Sorry to stray from the OG post.

Fender flats, standard gauge does it for me. I also tried the TI and they were way to "over cooked spaghetti" for me.

 

[Danny C]

Fender flats, standard gauge does it for me. I also tried the TI and they were way to "over cooked spaghetti" for me.

Exactly what I thought about them. But I drank the Kool aid and bought them. Thanks for your answer, much appreciated. Love that bass you have as your pic.

 

[DaveDeVille]

... maybe you should try a lighter gauge string ,
i use Thomastik JF344 flats on my P-Basses !!

 

[logdrum]

The thing with flats is you have to commit to it, even if you will not be a primarily flats player. Put it on in one bass, if possible a passive one. Just keep at it even though it seems it's a mistake

I am going to keep on promoting, light gauges and higher action. The more you clear the frets, the more bloom you get -- Move that right hand around to get a range of timbres and tones. Slap , pop, chords, tap and harmonics

I will always be primarily a round wound player but will always keep my 1 passive precision - 20 frets , 4 string strung with flats and set with 3.5 + mm action on the 12th

 

[LanEvo]

I've been on DR Pure Blues for years and would love to find a set of flats I get along with. I started with TI and they didn't have the tension I like, too floppy for me. What should I try that has decent tension? I kinda like a tight string.

LaBella Olinto flats might be perfect for you. Very smooth finish and medium-high tension. They feel great and sound a bit more midrangey than classic flats. Not as mid-heavy as TI Jazz Flats. Very well balanced.

The thing with flats is you have to commit to it, even if you will not be a primarily flats player. Put it on in one bass, if possible a passive one. Just keep at it even though it seems it's a mistake

Agree 100%. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

My take for me personally is that I way prefer rounds on stage overall.

Agreed. Especially with a PB. However, in the studio in certain genres flats fit pretty well.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Maybe the OP oughta fill in a few blanks. What exactly was the problem with flats on that tune at that tempo? The feel under your fingers, or the lack of top-end in your ears? Feels like folks are solving two different problems before we even know which one it is.

 

[MrAB4003]

So I put some heavy flats on my precision bass because that's what you should do, right??? LOL

I'm on stage thundering like Thor, and then suddenly I am told we're going to play "rock & roll" by Zeppelin at a million BPM. Never played it live.

Halfway through I was cursing these new strings, but i was able to hold on. So much fun.

I've always wanted to play that song live. We had a female singer, it was killer. Anyway, I had a chuckle to myself on stage.

I have La Bella DTFs (49-109 gauge) on my fretless Sire P5 and D'Addario Chromes (50-105 gauge) on one of my Ric 4003s. But... I tune to D Standard, so neither set feel that tense. I can still feel like Thor and not have to sweat playing eighth notes at 209 BPM.

Best of both worlds!