Acoustic flatwound problem?

[PfB]

I have been given conflicting advice and I would appreciate feedback from others who may know more than I do about the way guitars work. I was thinking of replacing the strings on my long-scale acoustic bass with flatwounds, for the sake of the sound and the tone this produces. However the technician at my local guitar store told me this would be a bad idea as it supposedly interferes with the "intonation" and this is apparently a tricky problem to fix. On the other hand the luthier in another guitar store tells me he can't see why this should be a problem at all. What do you guys think?

 

[Gorn]

Very light flats work great. Regular or heavy tension is no good. I don't know the mechanics behind it but that's been my experience.

 

[cavemanbass]

I have flats on my ABGs no problem. With the fixed saddle intonation is rarely perfect regardless of the string type.
I suggest you check intonation as is, then put on flats and check again so you can see for yourself. Might just improve…

 

[Barton Lee]

I've had a long scale Breedlove fretless acoustic bass with TI Jazz flats on it for two years now without issue, and the factory strings were D'Addario Chromes, which are higher tension strings than the TIs and they worked perfectly fine. I just prefer the TIs. Your tech is misinformed.

 

[ahbass2500]

Running TI Jazz flats on my Emerald Balor. Tech was critical of string choice when I dropped the bass off, but put them on at my request. After install, he apologized for being critical and admitted that they play better than any of the various acoustic strings I have used on the bass (D'Addario Acoustic Bass and GHS Pressurewound Bronze).

If your acoustic strings through the top (most do), then I would probably avoid flats that do not play well with string through body. Other than that, I would go for it. While I recommend TI Jazz flats (on everything not just acoustics... I really love those strings), I will echo previous poster's note that some ABGs that come with D'Addario Chromes from the factory (Emerald offers it as an option for instance).

If you want something between flats and phosphor rounds, GHS Pressurewound Bronze strings are popular for acoustic basses. I used them for a few years, but I really hate bronze strings. Very happy that I made the switch to the TI Jazz Flats.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I have been given conflicting advice and I would appreciate feedback from others who may know more than I do about the way guitars work. I was thinking of replacing the strings on my long-scale acoustic bass with flatwounds, for the sake of the sound and the tone this produces. However the technician at my local guitar store told me this would be a bad idea as it supposedly interferes with the "intonation" and this is apparently a tricky problem to fix. On the other hand the luthier in another guitar store tells me he can't see why this should be a problem at all. What do you guys think?

They may be right. It depends. Gauge being equal, flats are almost always stiffer than rounds, which requires more compensation. However, setting the bass up for lower action, which stiffer strings allow for, may...compensate for that (less down-pulling when fretting, less sharpening of the note), and make it a wash. However, it could require a lower bridge saddle, not just tightening the truss rod.

That, or use thinner flats, as suggested above. Or not, but more flexible ones (look into suggestions on these very boards).

 

[cavemanbass]

As has already been said, intonation will likely be imperfect no matter what kind of strings. IME flats work great on ABG, I much prefer them to RW bronze.
Most ABG manufacturers call for light gauge strings, look for 40-100 gauge or lighter. I use TIJF, Pyramid, and LaBella LTF on different basses. No problems whether traditional style bridge with pins, or top loading like my Breedlove.