/ Register

Best Flats for Throaty/Scooped/Picked thump?

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by Rea, Dec 25, 2014.

  1. Dec 25, 2014 #1
    Rea

    Rea

    Dec 10, 2014
    Brooklyn
    Hi-

    Im deeply in love with my $450 Univox Hi Flier. It has a sound no other of my big collection of top end basses has. Deep scooped thump when played with a pick and palming the strings. Insane Gainsburg on steroids.

    However, there is a bit of brittleness coming from the rounds, so i want to go flat but not lose the click and high end.

    Any advice?
     
  2. Dec 25, 2014 #2
    markjazzbassist

    markjazzbassist

    Apr 19, 2005
    Shaker Heights, OH
    labella 760FL are pretty scooped and are flats, but don't have a lot of high end content, more just thump and scoop.
     
  3. Dec 25, 2014 #3
    Turock

    Turock

    Apr 30, 2000
    Melnibone
    TI Jazz flats have a beautiful high end on my '51 re-issue.
     
  4. Dec 25, 2014 #4
    FrenchBassQC

    FrenchBassQC Supporting Member

    Jul 13, 2011
    Gatineau QC CA
    This guy uses LaBella Deep Talking on his...

    And I really love the sound of it...
     
    2manynotes likes this.
  5. Dec 25, 2014 #5
    Luckydog

    Luckydog

    Dec 25, 1999
    +1 on the Labella 760FL. Scooped a bit, major thump.
     
  6. Dec 25, 2014 #6
    markjazzbassist

    markjazzbassist

    Apr 19, 2005
    Shaker Heights, OH
    yes but they are the opposite of mid scooped. they are severely mid humped and have a lot of treble content without a lot of bass. basically the opposite of what the poster is asking for.
     
  7. Dec 25, 2014 #7
    Rea

    Rea

    Dec 10, 2014
    Brooklyn
    Yep= Need scoopage- but scoop means, in my case, nice high/high mids and bass with a drop from between around 700-300hz
     
  8. Dec 25, 2014 #8
    Jay2U

    Jay2U Not as bad as he lóòks

    Dec 7, 2010
    22 ft below sea level
    I'd say use an equalizer, so you can manipulate the tone to your liking.
     
  9. Dec 25, 2014 #9
    Rea

    Rea

    Dec 10, 2014
    Brooklyn
    Yep. But i still want a start point. Evidenally with the rounds i cant eq to maintain high AND get rid of brittlness... So, as always, better to start w the sound ur after. Eq is just last stage sweetening for me.
     
  10. Dec 25, 2014 #10
    Rea

    Rea

    Dec 10, 2014
    Brooklyn
    Im in love with it. I cant believe non of my super hi end expensive rare basses, some cost over 10 times this one, can't come close to this particular tone! They do other things better then this one for sure, but nothing can do this particular type of scoopy thump. I love underdogs that kick ass!
     
  11. Dec 26, 2014 #11
    friendlybass

    friendlybass Guest

    Jul 19, 2012
    Colorado
    Theres one of those at my local GC, if it makes it a month maybe ill haggle for it
     
  12. Dec 27, 2014 #12
    markjazzbassist

    markjazzbassist

    Apr 19, 2005
    Shaker Heights, OH
    hey go for tape wounds, they are very scooped IMO. all bass and treble/high mids. that's what herbie flowers used when recording with serge gainsbourg.
     
    Rea likes this.
  13. Dec 27, 2014 #13
    iiipopes

    iiipopes Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    The click-thump-no mids were best done with '60's and '70's Fender flats with a pick, which are no longer made. GHS gets close after they have had time to settle in. La Bella black tapes in regular gauge are similar, but because of he nylon wrap the pick attack is not quite as authoritative.

    The other version of click-thump-no mids was Sir Macca with Maxima flats on his Rickenbacker, which again, are no longer made. The closest now made are Optima flats (regular, not the gold) which claim to be made the same way.

    The more "wooly" version is the T-I pure nickel flats, but they go almost too dark. I have not used Pyramids, although there are those who swear by the 40-105 set for that tone.

    The La Bellas, whether their regular 760's, or the newer "low tension" flats (made to compete with T-I) should also work well.

    Remember that Sir Macca was one of the first to use the "smiley face" eq, which has a lot to do with the tone, as much or more than strings.
     
  14. Dec 27, 2014 #14
    Rea

    Rea

    Dec 10, 2014
    Brooklyn
    Wow overwhelming;) hard make a choice without trying al of the above... Pricey test but i guess its the only way
     
  15. Dec 28, 2014 #15
    Klonk

    Klonk

    Apr 28, 2011
    Norway
    Pyramid or LaBella 760FS should work nicely, IMO