ALL BASS PLAYERS USE FLATS!!!

[landau roof]

Based on the direction of the threads in this forum as of late, you would be able to draw no other conclusion than 99% of the world uses flatwounds instead of the other way around.

A bit like watching the news, eh?

 

[Lackey]

I vehemently dislike flats, both for tone and playability reasons.

I do kinda dig nylon tapewounds on certain acoustic / semi acoustics, but thats it.

Of all my bassist friends, only one (1), has a bass with flats, and that is not his primary bass either.

 

[mrjim123]

Has anybody tried the new square wounds yet?

 

[FenderBassist]

I used rounds for 25 years, then started using flats for 50s music, which felt weird at first. Now I prefer them, for the most part. Still, when I play my Waterstone TP 12 string bass, I use rounds on that, and my Gibson Thunderbird will always have rounds on it. Depends on the bass and the type of music I am playing.

There is room for both rounds and flats in this crazy world.

I also used rounds for 27 years, 1985 to 2012. This year I just changed over completely to flats. I'm using what I believe are considered "bright" flats...D'Addario EB-81 Chromes and Rotosound RS77LD Monels.

Been playing rock gigs with them and getting great sounds from my P basses. Plenty of presence, not dull sounding at all, actually cleaner sounding. I'm glad I made the switch, though I wouldn't talk down about using rounds.

 

[N.F.A.]

I like flats better for the genres that I play. However, I have a bass with rounds too, just in case I need that sound.

 

[FenderBassist]

I like flats better for the genres that I play. However, I have a bass with rounds too, just in case I need that sound.

Sounds like a smart approach for a bass player wanting versatility.

 

[chadhargis]

I have a P with flats, a J with nickels and a Lakland with steels.

 

[Audiophage]

Probably more like 1000% of bass players use flats. They're just that popular.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I think you'll find that many use them on certain basses. I have them on my Squier CV p-bass and considering a Danelectro with them as well. My Warwick, Squier VM j-bass, and my custom P have rounds on them.

 

[mdogs]

Probably more like 1000% of bass players use flats. They're just that popular.

I am actually quite a bit more amused at the serious posts on this thread!!!!

 

[LoveThatBass]

I am actually quite a bit more amused at the serious posts on this thread!!!!

I get amused at post like yours that provide no help at all

 

[JimmyM]

I get amused at the no help serious posts

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

Why spend good money on flats when you can get used dead rounds for free and get the same tone?

 

[LoveThatBass]

Why spend good money on flats when you can get used dead rounds for free and get the same tone?

They don't feel the same, LOL

 

[JimmyM]

And they really don't sound the same either. And where do you get dead rounds for free?

 

[LoveThatBass]

And they really don't sound the same either. And where do you get dead rounds for free?

You find someone who plays bass with rounds and check their trash can everyday

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

'Twas a joke, guys. Lighten up

 

[KingRazor]

I don't take dead anything. They just sound plain bad to me. I like DR rounds and the only flats I seem to get along with are Roto 77's (but they are short lived) and TI Jazz Flats (good tone, long lasting)

My favorite is week-old rounds. Still plenty bright, but they don't sound brand new.

 

[TigerInATrance]

I don't like the way rounds sound when I'm playing faster lines. I also don't like the way higher notes sound on rounds. I do like the bouncy feel in the sound with flats, and I like the way the Low B rumbles. Sometimes I feel like I would enjoy playing rounds, but after a little while the novelty wears off and I put the old set of Chromes back on.

That said, I also prefer the sound of flatwound guitar strings when I play rhythm guitar, so I'm definitely not right in the head, and, in no way delusional enough to think that even in the bass world I might be sort of mainstream with my string choice...

 

[sifi76]

I have tried plenty of flatwounds but find them all rather dull and lifeless, I prefer the lively zing from roundwounds.. flats.. well, you might as well be playing upright