Can't stand roundwound strings?

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I like this post because its about the sound, not the feel.

I can't stand how everyone on talkbass talks about feel when the subject of strings comes up, whether it's flats vs rounds or light gauges vs heavier gauges. People always talking about how their strings feel to them are completely missing the point and a reminder that talkbass can be a terrible place to seek advice.

Flatwounds have a certain SOUND. You either want/need that sound or you don't. It's that simple.

It's not quite that simple. We are literally touching the strings with both hands the entire time that we are playing the bass. Whether or not one enjoys how the strings, neck, body etc FEELS makes a big difference! It may seem trivial to you, but to enjoy playing one's bass is just as important as any other factor.

EDIT: Then again, I understand that each player has different priorities. For one, it might be scale length. For another, it could be how the instrument feels. For another, it could be how the instrument sounds.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Flats? ... Naaa ...

 

[Wiremessiah]

I always get bored with flats after a few minutes

Thats good for exercise. Because you are focred to make it more interesting. Rounds are more instant gratification, but also more fatiguing because they are bright. If you try just using flats for a few weeks you will get acclimated to them. Its kinda like eating junk food, and health food tasting bland. But if you just eat health food, eventually you enjoy it more.

 

[jwilson67]

It's not quite that simple. We are literally touching the strings with both hands the entire time that we are playing the bass. Whether or not one enjoys how the strings, neck, body etc FEELS makes a big difference! It may seem trivial to you, but to enjoy playing one's bass is just as important as any other factor.

EDIT: Then again, I understand that each player has different priorities. For one, it might be scale length. For another, it could be how the instrument feels. For another, it could be how the instrument sounds.

I think it is VERY much about feel as well. It is all the elements that go into how a string feels and sounds together!

 

[Ric5]

Thats good for exercise. Because you are focred to make it more interesting. Rounds are more instant gratification, but also more fatiguing because they are bright. If you try just using flats for a few weeks you will get acclimated to them. Its kinda like eating junk food, and health food tasting bland. But if you just eat health food, eventually you enjoy it more.

When I started playing bass I played flats for 4 years before I got my first set of rounds ... then I switched to rounds and now that is what I prefer ... my first 4 basses all had flats ... so I tried different basses with different kinds of flats so I gave it more than enough try ...

 

[Gab124]

Yep! Left to my own devices? Flats. Necessary to cut thru my band? Rounds.

Its weird. I think a lot of people use flats either for their feel or due to the popularity of "flats are the new cool". However, when I first tried them it was because of all the statements of the clarity in the mix, how they slotted in etc. I got em and forced myself to play them - different brands on different basses. I never ever felt like they cut through, or even had clarity in the mix (for rock and pop). I even had band members ask me to change back to the "good strings". No matter what I always went back to rounds and felt at home and that I was once again back "in the mix". That is until my last attempt at flats - I put a set of Fender flats on my 50's classic P and for the first time they actually did sit in the mix with clarity, growl and definition. I won't take them off that bass, but rounds will dominate on my others. To me they are really dependent on the instrument, more so than rounds in my opinion.

 

[matante]

EDIT: Then again, I understand that each player has different priorities. For one, it might be scale length. For another, it could be how the instrument feels. For another, it could be how the instrument sounds.

That's my point. Music is all about SOUND. Prioritizing how your strings feel over how your instrument sounds is the mark of an amateur hobbyist rather than a dedicated musician. There's nothing wrong with that, but a lot of young impressionable people on talkbass think of this as a place to glean the advice of experienced players, with the assumption that these players are "good" and know more than they do. It's a disservice to them to constantly talk about strings in terms of feel.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I really can't stand the feel of roundwound strings. I've got three full scale basses with flats and two shorty's with ground wound (would update them to flats but I hardly play them and at $60 per set i'm too cheap to change them). The only bass with rounds is my ABG which never gets played.

Whenever I try out basses at shops now it just keeps reminding me of how much nicer it is to play a bass with flats........

Flats feel good for people who don't play often or for very long. If you play more often you'll build up good calluses on your fingers and probably end up liking rounds a lot more. Not saying flats is a lazy way to go. It's definitely it's own sound and while I do prefer fresh rounds on modern basses, old flats on a p bass is its own sound which many people love. And really if you don't want to deal with changing your strings much flats is probably the better option as rounds don't sound good once their dead. I like to change roundwound strings about once a month but flatwounds can go for a year or two.

Also some rounds feel better than others. I think Warwick strings feel like sand paper. For rounds I typically go with DR high beams. Coated strings like the DR black beauties on the thumb bass in my avatar also are a little easier on the fingers.

 

[RyanKW]

I have both. Just takes getting used to. Gives you an entirely new sound pallet to use. FWIW, your technique has to be better. You also don't have to spend $70 on flats. For example Chromes - one of the more popular sets, are around $25.

I just started using EB Cobalt flats. Well uber $30, and like them better than the Sadowskis or Labella DTFs I've used.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I use both, but flats are comfy and have a very unique tone...so I have to say that I dig their uniqueness.

 

[Chrisk-K]

As for me, no string feels better than SS Hi-Beams.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

So riddle me this: Why do people put posts up about things that they do not like? Seems... a bit like baiting, yeah?

 

[songwriter21]

@Wiremessiah

I think a company actually did that but I can't remember who. I think they were ground wound in the plucking area and full round over the frets.

These?

Dean Markley FretMaster

 

[Watchootognbout]

I played a bass with flats.

Once.

Back in '79 when I was saving to buy my first bass.
I borrowed my cousins EBO copy with flats.
They were stiff like cables.
Clacky.
The sound?Dull...dull......dull.......dull.
BLEAH!!

Needless to say when I took delivery of my bass.....Rotosound Roundwounds!!
There's that Stanley Clarke zing!
That Geddy Lee sound!
That Chris Squire grunt!
That Anthony Jackson growl!
That Jaco "mwah"!
Been an avowed round user ever since.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I played a bass with flats.

Once.

Back in '79 when I was saving to buy my first bass.
I borrowed my cousins EBO copy with flats.
They were stiff like cables.
Clacky.
The sound?Dull...dull......dull.......dull.
BLEAH!!

Needless to say when I took delivery of my bass.....Roundwounds!!
There's that Stanley Clarke zing!
That Geddy Lee sound!
That Chris Squire grunt!
That Anthony Jackson growl!
That Jaco "mwah"!
Been an avowed round user ever since.

Frets have a place. If I had a motown review or CW gig, I can see getting a simple P-bass and putting flats on it. Aside from that? Nope - not in my world.

 

[davy4575]

Not in my world either. I understand the place for them and that people seek that tone, for me it feels like eating really soggy cereal made of cardboard. I had a fretless that had flats on it. Sold the bass. Just not for me.

 

[BadBobbyH]

I've been playing rounds for 20 years pretty exclusively. I occasionally would put flats on a bass the first 5 years I played. Recently put a set of flats on one of my American P's, turns out I still prefer rounds.

Flats just don't give me the brightness & response I prefer. They just sound kinda dead (chromes are the only ones I've messed with though) I play through A SWR 750x & 2 Goliath III's. Everyone has their own opinion, which I totally respect. And maybe I just haven't put the right set on. Or maybe I haven't dialed my amp in with them enough.

 

[BadBobbyH]

Plus I love the sound of new roundwounds.

This is the truth.

 

[BAG]

Well, I feel the other way around.

To each their own I guess.

Nice for you I guess that you know what you like though, that is a privilege for the lucky few not born with a sheep brain.

Feel grateful for that!

Back at ya!

My suggestion to you good sir is to put tape wounds on your ABG. Mine never got played until i did the same. Much warmer tone and feel similar to flats. Also mine were not very expensive. Around the $20 mark of i remember correctly. Bass strings online is the place to go. If you don't already know.

The ABG is for sale. Really don't enjoy playing it...... but i may try some tapes on one of my full scale basses.

This begs the question - what kind of music do you play primarily?

I'll play anything from the 50's or earlier through to current stuff but usually with a folk/rock flavour. I don't slap....... at all.

The only flats I have played are Chromes and they had almost a "round" tone when they were new. Very good flats.

That's what i use.

Some of the deadest sounding basses I've ever heard or played had rounds on them.......which should have been changed long ago.

You might want to try copper tapewounds from Labella. They are closer in tone to rounds and feel even smoother than flats and clean sounding but not dead sounding.

I might give some a try.

Flats feel good for people who don't play often or for very long

I play on average around 1.5 to 2 hours a day with about half of that playing with songs and half just noodling. Don't gig very often but when i do it's a minimum of three hour sets. Last gig we did a couple of weeks ago the first set was one and three quarter hours.

 

[Wiremessiah]

That's my point. Music is all about SOUND. Prioritizing how your strings feel over how your instrument sounds is the mark of an amateur hobbyist rather than a dedicated musician. There's nothing wrong with that, but a lot of young impressionable people on talkbass think of this as a place to glean the advice of experienced players, with the assumption that these players are "good" and know more than they do. It's a disservice to them to constantly talk about strings in terms of feel.

Well feel dictates sound. My sound with flats vs tapes is different because of the grip, and different with stiffer strings vs ti jazz flats. The thing is that sound or any sense does not exist in a vacuum. People legitimately perceive sound different based on other factors like visuals and feel. They did a study where everyone tested said potato chips tasted different even though they were the same, but in a different colored bag. And how many basses sound the exact same yet we choose basses that look good and feel good.


Saying sound is all that matters is like saying its whats inside that counts. It sounds good as a cliche but we all know in the real world its a falsehood.