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Confessions of a flatwound convert pt 2.

#281
Been reading on here for a while about flatwounds and been wanting to give them a try, but didn't want to spend a lot cause it seems like most people either love them or hate them (not much in between). Recently found some Ernie Ball flats in a clearance bin at GC, so gave them a try. I LOVE them!!! I might try a smaller gauge when I get a better set, but I really get some of the things people have said on here. The thing I like the most is the sound I get from amp. It's really makes you "feel" the bass moreso than "hear" it, if you understand what I'm saying. =) I am a flatwound convert!! =)
 
#282
J2BassPlayer said:
Been reading on here for a while about flatwounds and been wanting to give them a try, but didn't want to spend a lot cause it seems like most people either love them or hate them (not much in between). Recently found some Ernie Ball flats in a clearance bin at GC, so gave them a try. I LOVE them!!! I might try a smaller gauge when I get a better set, but I really get some of the things people have said on here. The thing I like the most is the sound I get from amp. It's really makes you "feel" the bass moreso than "hear" it, if you understand what I'm saying. =) I am a flatwound convert!! =)
Click to expand...

Before you go to lighter gauge, try lowering the action. Flats have much higher tension and allow you to have razor thin action if you want it. I use Group I Ernie Balls but they are easy to play because I have the saddles almost as low as they will go and almost zero relief (bow) in the neck.
 
#283
Ya, I read that a few times in here. But I'm a little nervous about setting it to low. 1) I'm just learning how to set my bass up (within the last week or so) and 2) the nut action height (hopefully I'm refering to the right name) is really high, so I'm afraid to file it to far and then still want to go to smaller gauge and then action be to low when I put smaller gauge on there. I haven't looked into how you add to nut if it's to low.
 
#284
If you go too low, you can tell. Honestly, learning to do your own setups is very important. Hit these pages and do the research. It'll save you hundreds later in tech fees.

The key is to make SMALL adjustments.

Flats are interesting. ALOT of people get put off to them at first when they try to play them with their bass set up the way it was for rounds. The tension of rounds is usually ALOT lower than flats, so with rounds you usually have a higher action and it's still comfortable.

With flats, they just aren't as "active" in their vibration, not sure if that's the correct term, but whatever.

My point is that depending on the bass and the flats used, you can get your action insanely low. It's worth investigating. Of course, mine is so low that it requires a very light touch to avoid buzzing, and most people that pick it up can't play it without really ugly noises happening. I should probably raise it a hair, but it works for me.

I can't see a reason to go back to rounds any time soon.
 
#285
Leave the nut alone when you experiment for the first time. Just lower the saddles and reduce the truss rod neck relief to see how you like it. When you tighten the truss rod don't go more than 1/4 turn per day and you will be fine.

You might have to adjust the intonation by moving the saddles forward or back but its easy to do and I would not mess with it until you get the string height you like.

If its a Fender or Squier the nut is very easy and cheap to replace. You can find them online precut with flat or rounded bottoms (Squiers are usually flat) so its not a big issue if you have to change it back.

As someone said, make small adjustments if you file (sand) the nut slots. Give yourself a week or more to massage it. But with the saddles, you can drop them all the way down until they buzz and then work your way back up to taste.

The internet is your friend on setups and will save you a ton of $. FFF is an easy reminder on how intonation adjusmtnets work (if the Fretted note is Flat, move the saddle Forward).
 
#286
Thanks for all the great thoughts and ideas!! I did order some La Bella ultra light gauge from bassstringsonline. I'm excited to try them out. I did lower my action quite a bit in the mean time. It helped a lot!! Still not all the way there, but thanks countbassiedad for the advice with the truss rod. I hadn't read yet about only doing a 1/4 turn a day. Once again, THANKS!!
 
#287
I've put about 7-8 shows on the Chromes, and they still sound great. No signs of dying like rounds would've done a few shows ago. Really happy I tried them out, and I truly believe they're going to save me money on the long run.
 
#288
I just switched from Ernie Ball rounds to some Chromes on my 5 string Ibanez...love the sound and I'm pretty sure this is a long term thing for me. The flat sound clicked for me after listening to some Flea lines and knew that his sound was a tone I liked...bye bye rounds, at least on my Ibanez!
 
#290
Chromes just don't do it for me--too much grit in the feel and too much zing/midrange in the sound. Just call me impatient--I don't want to wait weeks/months for them to calm down. :)

Am liking LaBella Deep Talkin' 760FL's better on my P-bass, whose feel is much smoother. They do however sound a little dead to my ears when played solo finger-style, but I don't notice that much when EQ'd just right and playing along to music at home or in a full band setting. I love their sound however when using a pick with some palm muting, a sound I could never quite pull off using rounds.

Add just a touch of zing to LaBella Deep Talkin' flats, and I think that would be my ideal flat.

And Flea used flats? Inconceivable. :) Which songs?
 
#291
I used to be adamantly opposed to flat wound strings preferring the sound of a fresh set of nickels. I threw a set of Fender flats that were included with a bass I bought on my Lull. At first they were kind of thunky, lacked shine and felt slippery... yuck.

I'm primarily a finger style player and after a bit I began to love the flat wound sound while digging in. Fat, low middy and authoritative... really a great bass sound. Don't care for the picked sound so much. I am and will always be a round wound guy but because I have the luxury of having multiple basses I will always have one strung with flats!!
 
#292
The string tension on TI's flats is really low, fyi. They're like cooked noodles compared to just about every other strings I've ever used.

I initially preferred the sound of broken-in Chromes but a couple months now with the TI's and they're great. I do prefer a heavier gauge string, though.
 
#294
I just put a set of TI's on my jazz. First time I have ever put a set of flats on one of my basses (and I've been playing since 76').
I was pretty hesitant as I have always played rounds, but I thought, what the hell...
...Not what I was expecting.
Seem to be about the same tension as the Fender 7250ML I had on it.
Also much brighter than I expected (I guess that will tail off a bit over time). Great feel, good thump, articulate, and fun.
Simply love them.

Old dog, new tricks, nice surprise.

BM
 
#295
Big Mother said:
I just put a set of TI's on my jazz. First time I have ever put a set of flats on one of my basses (and I've been playing since 76').
I was pretty hesitant as I have always played rounds, but I thought, what the hell...
...Not what I was expecting.
Seem to be about the same tension as the Fender 7250ML I had on it.
Also much brighter than I expected (I guess that will tail off a bit over time). Great feel, good thump, articulate, and fun.
Simply love them.

Old dog, new tricks, nice surprise.

BM
Click to expand...

Isn't that awesome? I had the same experience a couple of years ago with Chromes, never looked back...
 
#299
Need some help from the Fat & Flat brethren here.

I bought a Fender Highway One P. I wanted one bass set up that gives me that old school fullness in the mix. Don't need out-front clink clarity, but don't want muddy and lost either.

I yanked the p/u's and installed the new Aguilar AG4P-60s. These things sound incredible. Phenominal low-mids. I am so close to the sound that I am looking for that I am almost certain that flats will get me there.

I am going to start with TI Jazz Flats. I am still confused on the different sets. I am not a big fan of playing big steel cables. Conversely, I don't want to push my E off of the fret board.

From a string tension perspective, think D Addario 170XL's or the slightly more stout DR Sunbeams with a low E at 105 ish. This tension range is perfect for me.

I would be in everyone's debt for suggestions.
 
#300
Of course I am a huge ti flat fan. But they are less tension. I am using 105 sunbeams right now and I can tell you that ti flats are very different. Chromes in the 100 guage will be closer in feel, but I don't like their tone as much as the ti. Sadowsky flats might be another on to try. Ti is worth trying. Just raise your saddles a little and learn to play closer to the bridge. You can get some righteous fingerfunk that way, and your left hand will never have been happier.
 

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