Can I still play aggressively on flats?

[MtManiac]

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.

I don’t know either - to me it sounds like his tone knob is on full, but that’s what I do when I play flats too; with rounds I’m usually around 20-50% on, keeping my amp EQ mostly flat in either case. I’d guess he likes that amount of highs with that amount of lows.

I find the thing with flats is that you *can* EQ with non-cut highs and don’t get all the zingy brightness of rounds. Sometimes I’m looking for that zing, usually I’m not. EQing flats that way gives you enough highs to cut and sing without taking heads off.

 

[SpeakerBoxxx]

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

Wow! Thanks for posting this... this is the tone I have been trying to achieve my whole life! Looking at his video description, he lists his whole set-up, but I bet he'd sound this good on pretty much any rig.

 

[GIBrat51]

I know this is a bit repetitive, but can all flatwounds be “played hard” or certain ones, as I said before my dad told me they sound warm like I want, but sacrifice the aggressiveness that I tend to need in certainty songs in order to get that warmth, is that true or false?

In my experience with playing flats - almost exclusively - for more than half a century? Depending on which flats you decide on, yes, you can play as aggressively as you can manage. While there are flats with a round core wire, they tend to be the lighter tension, more flexible flats. TI Jazz Flats are a perfect example. Most flats, though, have a hex core wire; they tend to be the higher tension, stiffer flats. Any of those, in the 45-100/105 gauges, will be what you probably want. The only other question is; how "Modern & mellow" - or "Old School Thumpy" - do you want them?

 

[lilbassboi]

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?

He’s a bassist and sound guy, so you could say he has insight the average musician doesn’t

 

[Dan_reeves]

He’s a bassist and sound guy, so you could say he has insight the average musician doesn’t

I think you can get what you want from a variety of setups - but I wonder if you should listen to your dad in this case. Either way I wish you the best of luck on your journey!

 

[Winton]

Wow! Thanks for posting this... this is the tone I have been trying to achieve my whole life! Looking at his video description, he lists his whole set-up, but I bet he'd sound this good on pretty much any rig.

You’re welcome! I’m glad that this is the sound you’ve been looking for. I strive for this kind of aggressive punch.

Here’s the entire tune. I just listened to it again this afternoon, and hot damn!