are flatwounds too mellow for rock?

[JTE]

Sure you can! Most rock was recorded with flats until around 1972 or so. Entwistle used Rotosound rounds from early on, but it wasn't until Chris Squire and Stanley Clarke came along (and when GHS started marketing Boomers) that roundwound bass strings became easily available in the US.

jte

 

[Gord_oh]

Sure you can! Most rock was recorded with flats until around 1972 or so. Entwistle used Rotosound rounds from early on, but it wasn't until Chris Squire and Stanley Clarke came along (and when GHS started marketing Boomers) that roundwound bass strings became easily available in the US.

jte

im using GHS boomers on my SX right now.
nothing fancy, but i do like them.
kinda wanting a different sound with my jazz so im going flat.

 

[Darkstrike]

Can flatwounds be used in rock?




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[nonogz]

maybe its just me....i hate flats. dont cut through the mix in my band. i would love to try them in a trio. i play in a 6 piece..sometimes 7, and they are just muddy. only tried them once....chromes. maybe it was a bad pair,but i found them wayyyy to stiff and too muddy for what i was doing. i would, however, love to try them in the studio

 

[LowBSix]

Ask Paul McCartney, Duck Dunn, Carol Kaye, etc.

 

[fourfinger]

I played rounds only for years; just tried flats recently (chromes) and am currently playing rock (non-metal). They truly cut through, but in a very bassy, punchy way, not in the guitarish twangy way that I had become accustomed to. I doubt I'll ever want to go back to rounds again, though I'll admit the honeymoon isn't over yet.

 

[groovenut57]

They truly cut through, but in a very bassy, punchy way, not in the guitarish twangy way...

That's exactly what the flats are all about!

 

[Ryan Mohr]

 

[halloweenfiend]

Flats WILL be too mellow if u are underpowered, playing with loud guitarists. However if you got the wattage and play decent bass lines (not just root notes) u will be heard. I just played a gig last nite, an outdoor gig and I could definitley be heard (playing with two loud rock guitarists). I was playing Rotosound flats on a Fender Mustang with the tone turned down all the way and the amp set flat and playing with a pick. Sounded great.

 

[Pilgrim]

If flats weren't good for rock, we'd have no music from the 50's, 60's or early 70's.

All that remains is to pick some.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

YES!!! Almost all replies to your question have at least one reason the answer is "yes". Read, learn, purchase, install, tune-up, ADJUST YOUR TONE CONTROLS, & Jam-on! I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[Beefbass]

I use TI jazz flats on a Peavey Milleniun BXP, and they sound great! Works for everything i play-even the one slap song IMHO sounds good with these.

 

[precision punk]

i used to use flats for punk and they were ok. sit in the mix very well but after experimenting with different string types i just stuck to nickel plated they are warm and have just enough zing not too much like steels but idk they are perfect for me. buy sum chromes try em out with your band and if you dont like em go back to rounds.

 

[Nashrakh]

As already said, flats generally sit well in the mix, so you won't be missing the zing...

btw, think the first Black Sabbath LPs. P-Bass with Flats, lots of clanking (low action helps) - awesome tone!

 

[Jayhawk]

elixers are flats i thought...did you mean chromes?

The Elixers I'm talking about are coating rounds:

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I use GHS Precision flats and prefer the way they sound and feel.

 

[stflbn]

elixers are flats i thought...did you mean chromes?

Elixirs are definitely not flats. They are coated roundwounds. IMHO Elixir's have a tone that's very similar to broken in stainless steel roundwounds. Never fully as bright as new stainless strings, but don't get completely dead as stainless do when they die.

 

[Tom Howland]

Definitely not too mellow for rock. I like where they sit in the group mix sonically speaking..

Big yes.
Plus, you can make any style string sound good.
With effects, and amp adjustment.

 

[Bassdude15]

Flats WILL be too mellow if u are underpowered, playing with loud guitarists. However if you got the wattage and play decent bass lines (not just root notes) u will be heard. I just played a gig last nite, an outdoor gig and I could definitley be heard (playing with two loud rock guitarists). I was playing Rotosound flats on a Fender Mustang with the tone turned down all the way and the amp set flat and playing with a pick. Sounded great.

+100000000000000000000000000!

 

[sotua]

I got Chromes 45-100 on my JBass and they do rock just fine. Will not be ultrazingy, but they give me just enough bite and tons of solid articulate low end.

 

[bassdude51]

Ummm, based on 90% of all rock n roll, pop, pop rock and rock recorded from 1955 to about 1975............"no!". (ask Steve Harris)