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ALL BASS PLAYERS USE FLATS!!!

#101
mrjim123 said:
Has anybody tried the new square wounds yet?
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I stick to my isosceles triangles, I find they have a bit sharper tone, more 3 dimensional and not as flat or as round as most. They're perfect for me because I like the sharp feel of a point when I play (not to be used with a pick)...they're gauged by side length too so if you want to pick up a pair be careful. I enjoy my .045/.045/.042 - .055/.055/.052 - .085/.085/.082 - .105/.105/.102, I really think isosceles triangles are the best strings for metal.
 
#103
I think I prefer rounds, but I've been playing flats tuned up to a standard in my church worship team.

It was more of a 'take one for the team" sort of thing. We have two bass players... so to change it up I did what i did. I like it. But I still think I'd prefer rounds.. ah the need of two basses.
 
#105
I am a round wound guy. Tried flats a couple times and hated the feel and the tension found them sticky. Now the guys who dig the feel and reaction of flats cool I can understand that. The thing that I don’t however understand is the preference of the tone. I have heard it makes them cut through better or more thumpy? Maybe can be more wooly or warm?

It sounds to me like a cheap solution to a bad rig. My live rig can cut through a mountain side, I can eq warm, wooly, thumpy, I can chop shred dice and grate any tone I can think of. Last gig I did a bass player from the band before us said his chest hurt from my tone in a great way. It’s just an Aguilar DB750 and a Mesa Powerhouse 1200 cab but it seems to do any trick I ask it with any bass or string I’m playing. Just saying maybe you don’t have the right amp?
 
#106
Means2nEnd said:
I am a round wound guy. Tried flats a couple times and hated the feel and the tension found them sticky. Now the guys who dig the feel and reaction of flats cool I can understand that. The thing that I don’t however understand is the preference of the tone. I have heard it makes them cut through better or more thumpy? Maybe can be more wooly or warm?

It sounds to me like a cheap solution to a bad rig. My live rig can cut through a mountain side, I can eq warm, wooly, thumpy, I can chop shred dice and grate any tone I can think of. Last gig I did a bass player from the band before us said his chest hurt from my tone in a great way. It’s just an Aguilar DB750 and a Mesa Powerhouse 1200 cab but it seems to do any trick I ask it with any bass or string I’m playing. Just saying maybe you don’t have the right amp?
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You're a Howard Stern fan, so I'll take it easy on you ;) but all I can say to that is "Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop the clock!" A DB750 is an awesome amp but string preference has zip-ola to do with what amp or bass you use.

Instead, it has to do with what the medical profession calls "bassist disease." Bass players have this uncanny knack of not being able to see past themselves. They all want everyone else to play the same gear they like, have the same sound, and they can't process it when someone does something completely different from what they do.

The good news is it can be cured. All you have to do is realize that not everyone likes what you like, and then when you're tempted to blame someone else's preferences on inferiority in their signal chain, remind yourself that it doesn't make your gear inferior if someone else doesn't choose to use it, and then you won't be tempted to post such blatantly arrogant stuff anymore.
 
#109
This seems to be a boiling topic as is the old Jazz/Precision Bass debate. As far as I am concerned each person has the right to use what they want, sound how they want, and speak openly about it in a mature an non threatening way, but what I don't understand is the "Sharp tongue" debate over a topic that exist with these too topics. They always end up with someone's "crappy" remarks about one or the other. No two people are alike "thank goodness" as it would be a boring world. I hear the round wound comments and have felt that way at some point. Flat's aren't for everyone. In fact the vast majority like round wound sound. I like it too, however at the moment flats seem to be doing what I am wanting to do. I am sure at some point I may get tired of them and return to rounds. We'll see.
 
#112
Means2nEnd said:
I am a round wound guy. Tried flats a couple times and hated the feel and the tension found them sticky. Now the guys who dig the feel and reaction of flats cool I can understand that. The thing that I don’t however understand is the preference of the tone. I have heard it makes them cut through better or more thumpy? Maybe can be more wooly or warm?

It sounds to me like a cheap solution to a bad rig. My live rig can cut through a mountain side, I can eq warm, wooly, thumpy, I can chop shred dice and grate any tone I can think of. Last gig I did a bass player from the band before us said his chest hurt from my tone in a great way. It’s just an Aguilar DB750 and a Mesa Powerhouse 1200 cab but it seems to do any trick I ask it with any bass or string I’m playing. Just saying maybe you don’t have the right amp?
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Maybe players that use flats are into the Jack Bruce (Cream), John Deacon (Queen), Sting (Police), Dee Murray (Elton John), Duck Dunn (Booker T) or similar sounds? Possibly reggae or rockabilly?
 
#113
I learned early about flats. There was a bassist in town with a late 50s P Bass and the original flat strings. 6 nights a week for 16 years - there was NO tone left in those wires. I'm sure if you boiled them, you'd get some good chicken and rib stock! Probably the holy grail to some here, just another bad sounding, lifeless bass to me.
 
#114
I like flats on my fretless and on my p-bass reissue just in case I ever play a Motown tune and just for fun.

That being said I prefer roundwounds, but they sound good to me after a few months of dulling the strings. I hate the sound of new roundwound bass strings which is why whenever I put a new set on, my tone knob goes straight to "0".
 
#115
wideload said:
I learned early about flats. There was a bassist in town with a late 50s P Bass and the original flat strings. 6 nights a week for 16 years - there was NO tone left in those wires. I'm sure if you boiled them, you'd get some good chicken and rib stock! Probably the holy grail to some here, just another bad sounding, lifeless bass to me.
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That one example wouldn't work for me either.

Fortunately I grew up listening to way more bass players than just that one guy you described.
 
#120
theduke1 said:
:cool: What he said;) Play what you like:D
Oh If you really must push what you feel is "The Best" is it really about the music? or, your wanting to be right?
Love & Peace
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Agree.

Play what you like.

Don't diminish what others like because it's not what you like.

If everyone sounded the same it wouldn't be music anymore.

I think there was a Twilight Zone episode that addressed "not being the same". :)
 

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