Can I still play aggressively on flats?

[invalidprotocol]

Use whatever you want. If you don’t like it, change it up. Any string can sound good. Just focus on the opportunity, practice, enjoy working with the team and don’t forget why you’re there. Right notes and having fun are more important than the string. Don’t forget to pray for the sound guys. They will have more impact on your sound than the strings.

 

[MtManiac]

They very well could be. I can't find any clear information on exactly what strings he was playing at the time, but here's a snippet from an interview he did for MusicRadar:

Your bass sound was different after Sabbath’s debut album in 1970. What was going on?

“I probably changed the strings on my bass! On the debut album I was too poor to buy new strings, so they were always, like, 10 months old. I’d only replace them if they broke, so that’s what gave the record that dull, flat thud sound.”

This was just a couple of years after Rotosound rounds became popular in the British rock scene, so it's hard to say for sure what he would have been using at the time. But he does attribute his dull thuddy sound to the age of the strings rather than the construction, which suggests roundwounds. I really am just guessing at this point though.

Now though (since 2000 at least) he uses DR Black Beauties because they don't give him finger blisters.

I’d say we’d all be guessing, including Geezer - which really says a lot more about the tonal stereotypes we apply to both flats and rounds.

 

[lilbassboi]

Thank you all for your insight!! I’ve narrowed it down to a squire precision with flats (type TBD, or squire affinity PJ and blending the 2 sounds to assist in the warmth of my sound, and of course if anyone has advice for this please give because I don’t have much bass knowledge myself and I’d hate to waste money because I didn’t know lol

 

[Altitude]

Maybe. I think Steve sounds pretty great, and a few million fans seem to agree.

Including me. I'm saying that when I hear his tone, it sounds like a guy deliberately EQing as much brightness into a flatwound situation as the strings will allow. Why do that when roundwounds provide that tone organically? Only Steve and his sound techs know.

 

[Topkat13]

It might help if you growl while playing.

 

[elkkid2]

Maybe Half-rounds...I've never tried them, but they exist for a reason. (I'm very aggressive on my flats.)

 

[Dan_reeves]

Could you tell us some of the songs you will be playing and maybe a band that has a tone you like? That might help with suggestions. Also, I am a little hung up on what your dad told you - is he a bass player himself? Musician? The sound guy? Not saying he is wrong or right, but he may have some insight that a bunch of random strangers on the internet don’t have?

 

[Neon Blues]

I know I do, but if you need further validation, ask Steve Harris.

Now that's some worship music I want to hear.

 

[Thebiggestjerk]

I’ve never like how p/j types blend.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

I’m joining a praise + worship
And want to find my own sound on bass because so far I’ve only done what I saw and what my father says I should do, I want a warm full sound but my dad says if I use flats for this I won’t be able to play aggressively which I will have to do quite often, what’s the best way for this? I considered getting a PJ and blending the the 2 pickups to get a warm sound and having rounds to have some pop and keep the aggressive ability, I also thought on putting rounds on a jazz bass, or flats on my (or another bc I’ve been looking into other basses) P-bass. And by the way I don’t have lots of money to throw around

I played flats on an unlined fretless with a single split coil, passive, 3 services a week in an improvisational worship team with a multi-genre thing going on, for 4 years. I never needed another bass. To me, it's in your hands. A well-worn phrase, but so true.

YMMV, carrots, and all that jazz (no pun on "jazz").

Carry on, TB.

 

[lermgalieu]

Including me. I'm saying that when I hear his tone, it sounds like a guy deliberately EQing as much brightness into a flatwound situation as the strings will allow. Why do that when roundwounds provide that tone organically? Only Steve and his sound techs know.

See above re tonal stereotypes.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Now that's some worship music I want to hear.

No such thing as a

d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum
question.

Used to worship his playing.

(Maybe engage a boost or compressor pedal when your part calls for you to stand out momentarily)

 

[Isaac_James]

Thank you all for your insight!! I’ve narrowed it down to a squire precision with flats (type TBD, or squire affinity PJ and blending the 2 sounds to assist in the warmth of my sound, and of course if anyone has advice for this please give because I don’t have much bass knowledge myself and I’d hate to waste money because I didn’t know lol

Squires are pretty good value for the money, I'd also suggest looking into Sire and Yamaha for good basses that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

What is your budget? And what are you using as an amplifier? Do you have one at home or is it just at church?

 

[Neon Blues]

No such thing as a
View attachment 5122241
d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum d-d-dum
question.

Used to worship his playing.

(Maybe engage a boost or compressor pedal when your part calls for you to stand out momentarily)

Same here! One of my early bass heroes. Such excellent note choices.

 

[Winton]

When I think of an aggressive Pbass with flats sound that cuts through, I think of this guy, Kevin Scott.

 

[eddododo]

I’m joining a praise + worship
And want to find my own sound on bass because so far I’ve only done what I saw and what my father says I should do, I want a warm full sound but my dad says if I use flats for this I won’t be able to play aggressively which I will have to do quite often, what’s the best way for this? I considered getting a PJ and blending the the 2 pickups to get a warm sound and having rounds to have some pop and keep the aggressive ability, I also thought on putting rounds on a jazz bass, or flats on my (or another bc I’ve been looking into other basses) P-bass. And by the way I don’t have lots of money to throw around

Here’s my experience for flats in a P&W setting and some thoughts about flats generally..

-NEW flats can sound a lot like rounds in terms of things like pick attack and slap/pop sounds, digging in etc. as flats age they can take on the characteristic warm syrupy thumpy sound, but when they’re new I find that they’re actually LESS boomy than rounds, and mostly very close in sound with perhaps a more stout fundamental.

-The one ‘issue’ I DO have with flats in a church is that we’re often playing direct-in, often without even an amp. The sound of the strings hitting the frets can sound a little thwacky, like weedwacker strings whipping something. This can be pretty prevalent in a DI box -> FOH situation, and you have to be aware and control it. I don’t find every bass sounds good in that setting for that reason, as certain pickup locations can emphasize unpleasant frequencies that enhance the problem. Sometimes I just don’t like a bass for flats, but other times I’ll adjust my action or tone or approach to avoid the thwack

 

[thewildest]

Flat, like in an apartment? Sure. Just make sure your partner there goes along with it.
In some cases it may be better to do it in a house.

 

[eddododo]

When I think of an aggressive Pbass with flats sound that cuts through, I think of this guy, Kevin Scott.

really one of the best Pbass tones out there working today.

 

[Winton]

really one of the best Pbass tones out there working today.

Seriously. If I can have a tone like that all the time, I’d be completely content only playing oompahs.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

I do. Not suuuuper aggressive but enough to get a nice distorted thud out of a big tube amp. I find it’s a nice way to get a tone that cuts through without losing low end.