Are flats less dependant on the instrument?

[TheArchitect]

The title says it all. I had flats on an Ibanez SR300 and they sounded like a bass with flats. The EQ etc all worked and all but with all the highs rolled off by the strings ultimately the strings seems to overpower any subtleties of the instrument.

Where I am going with this is the Ibanez is long gone, and I rather like the new P and J with rounds. I am pondering picking up something to run flats on. I am thinking something like this would suffice since the strings seem to overpower everything else anyway. What do yo think?

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I think you're onto something.. I guess since flats have less high frequency content it will be harder to distinguish between basses when they have flats on them.

 

[TheArchitect]

This is the instrument I referred to in the original post and forgot to link to

Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass Black with Maple Fingerboard

A P/J config would probably not even be necessary but just in case you go back to rounds....

 

[HelpImaRock]

Not in my experience, no. The pickups will still impart their own sonic signature.

 

[trothwell]

I think you're onto something.. I guess since flats have less high frequency content it will be harder to distinguish between basses when they have flats on them.

I think that's pretty much it exactly. It doesn't mean that the difference drops to zero, but it's less.

Likewise, if you ran a passive bass with the tone knob all the way down, I would expect that string choice would make less difference.

 

[pbass2]

Hmmmm...I dunno. I think flats vs rounds just reveal a different part of the instrument's voice (not very scientific I realize). I don't think either is giving you more or less sonic information from the bass, the strings just sound . . . different. I never thought of flats as being a sound with less high end than rounds. It's a different texture, attack, and envelope to the sound. For example a P with flats and a pick with highs wide open can be very bright and clanky, while one with rounds will also be bright, but more zingy than clanky.

 

[Doner Designs]

Yes and no.

 

[JimmyM]

Hmmmm...I dunno. I think flats vs rounds just reveal a different part of the instrument's voice (not very scientific I realize). I don't think either is giving you more or less sonic information from the bass, the strings just sound . . . different. I never thought of flats as being a sound with less high end than rounds. It's a different texture, attack, and envelope to the sound. For example a P with flats and a pick with highs wide open can be very bright and clanky, while one with rounds will also be bright, but more zingy than clanky.

I would agree.

 

[iiipopes]

Are flats less dependant on the instrument?
Yes and no. If you have a neutral flat, like a La Bella, then you can put them on just about any bass. If you have something with a pronounced character, like the current Fender flats, the growl can either be accentuated by the bass, for example the traditional alder body/rosewood fingerboard recipe, or turn nasal, as they did on my Ibby with an Asian mahogany body. If you have a dark flat, as DR Legends can get, if you have a dark toned bass you will lose definition. The downside is that flats are generally more expensive than rounds, so experimentation can get pricey.

 

[ToddB1963]

Are flats less dependant on the instrument?
Yes and no. If you have a neutral flat, like a La Bella, then you can put them on just about any bass. If you have something with a pronounced character, like the current Fender flats, the growl can either be accentuated by the bass, for example the traditional alder body/rosewood fingerboard recipe, or turn nasal, as they did on my Ibby with an Asian mahogany body. If you have a dark flat, as DR Legends can get, if you have a dark toned bass you will lose definition. The downside is that flats are generally more expensive than rounds, so experimentation can get pricey.

I agree.

A few examples:

1) 3eq EBMM Stingray - I tried TI jazz flats and didn't like the sound of them at all, so I swapped them out for a set Sadowsky black label flats (similar to LaBella) which totally transformed the bass. I was astounded at how much better they sounded. I also have the Sadowsky black label flats on a CS '59 Precision and they sound equally as good.

2) 3eq EBMM Stingray fretless with piezo - This bass has been strung with the same set of TI jazz flats for 15 years, and while they sound great with the piezo, the sound with the magnetic pickup and the 3 band EQ is not so good. Nevertheless, I've kept them on the bass because I like to blend the magnetic pickup with the piezo as that gives a more balanced, less colored sound. That, and I so seldom gig the bass, it's really not worth changing the strings.

3) Yamaha BB2000 - I bought it several years ago from a guy who had it strung with a set of non-descript flats with rainbow silks that sounded terrible. I replaced them with TI flats, and voila...the bass came alive.

4) Yamaha BB3000 - Again, I bought it several years ago, and it came with what I now believe to be LaBella low tension flats. These are great sounding strings on this bass and I don't plan to change them anytime soon.

The conclusion I've reached:

Having used TI flats on and off different basses over a period of twenty-five years, they seem to have a tonal character that suits some instruments (passive) very well, and others (active) perhaps not so well.

All personal preference of course....

 

[GIBrat51]

Are flats less dependant on the instrument?
Yes and no. If you have a neutral flat, like a La Bella, then you can put them on just about any bass. If you have something with a pronounced character, like the current Fender flats, the growl can either be accentuated by the bass, for example the traditional alder body/rosewood fingerboard recipe, or turn nasal, as they did on my Ibby with an Asian mahogany body. If you have a dark flat, as DR Legends can get, if you have a dark toned bass you will lose definition. The downside is that flats are generally more expensive than rounds, so experimentation can get pricey.

^^THIS^^ Which is the main reason why the 24 basses I own (out of 26) have, between them, 14 different brands and gauges of flats between them. In 54 years of playing basses that have almost all worn flats, I can say with a little authority that there's an awful lot of difference between brands - and gauges - of flats. I just ordered a new bass last week - a 30.5" scale Serek Sacramento. When it finally arrives, it will be wearing flats - Dunlops. Will I like them? Maybe... or maybe not. But, I have enough experience with flats that I'll be able to tell you why I like them - and, if not? What kind of flats I'll like better on that bass... So, yeah; it does depend on the bass - mostly...