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Back & Forth w/flats my Stingray

Orpheus55

Orpheus55

Nov 7, 2006
2,443
633
75
Punta Gorda FL
#1
I've been using EBMM Stage III flats on my Ray for years but, on a whim, went back to the OEM EBMM Slinky rounds. I was disappointed. The flats had a lot more punch and presence, but still sounded like a Ray should (as in not like a P). So I put them back on. After the show last night, through my Hartke LH500, several people commented on how good the bass sounded, so maybe I was right.
 
#2
I noticed this also after removing my flats on my Ray just to try how some Kaliums sounded...
They sound crisp and very nice! But flats on a Ray is sweet. I had Fender flats on my ray which are now on my jazz bass where they won't come off anytime soon...
But hey, why play rounds if you don't want too? ;)
 
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#3
Levin said:
I noticed this also after removing my flats on my Ray just to try how some Kaliums sounded...
They sound crisp and very nice! But flats on a Ray is sweet. I had Fender flats on my ray which are now on my jazz bass where they won't come off anytime soon...
But hey, why play rounds if you don't want too? ;)
Click to expand...

I've played my ray for 10years and to be honest I was getting sick of the tone from it. I always used rounds, however one day I decided to try fender flat wounds on it. I kicked myself for not doing it sooner, they suit each other perfectly. It's still a stingray but smoother, more natural.
 
#4
I have a EBMM Sterling but the pickup is alnico. I love flats, but it's my main bass and flats don't work 100% of the time in my situation. When they DO work (90% of the time) they sound so great...I have only used GHS Chomes so far. For the time being I have settled for dead roundwounds (Elixers). 6 months in and they still sound pretty good. The flats don't work as well for chordal stuff, or slapping, which I admit is happens rarely within the set, but does occur usually at least once per performance.

Now, I'm thinking about getting a passive P bass and the real dilemma will be which bass gets the flats and which gets the rounds. I'm thinking flats on the Sterling, rounds on the P bass (probably the opposite of most people). The flats sounds so sweet on the EBMM, and my theory is strung-through-body P bass (more overtones, less fundamentals) will really bark with rounds. Although, a lifetime of experimentation with no definitive results is time well spent!
 

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