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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#321
p-bass said:
Sundogue,I have not directed one insult at you and yet you continue to insult me. Everything I have said you have taken very personal and I really don't understand it. Believe me,you would never make it out here with that kind of attitude.
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This is my last response to you. I could spend a lot of time responding to you via your veiled insults, quoted line by quoted line...as to professionalism, the caliber of musicians I play with, where I'm from, the yokel talk, etc. but I don't have the time. Suffice to say you are right, you haven't directly insulted me...more like insulting a lot of people when responding to me. Whatever, I'm over it.

I know you prefer rounds and they work for you in your situation. Good for you. This is MY thread on flatwounds, so go somewhere else.

The kind of attitude I have is all about the 'bands' I play in. I've been doing this a long time and if rounds suited whatever situation I found myself in, I'd certainly use them. You haven't read much of my posts in MY thread obviously. Contrary to your opinion of me, I AM professional. I do whatever it takes to make the music work, 'cause it ain't about me, and what works for my bands is me using flats right now.

Have fun in LA. I'm happy your workin' out there. I hate LA (and every other large, sprawling, polluted metropolis) and you can have it all to yourself. You'll never have any competition from me. I have no illusions of "making it big" in the music business. I have other, much bigger priorities now.

Peace.
 
#322
They both work for different things. I have a USA P Bass with TI's, and Jaguar Bass with TI's and a Geddy Lee Jazz with DR Sunbeams. I really love the TI's but believe that I need to have the flexibility to play with a set of roundwounds if the situation ever calls for it. I am not making a living doing this nor am I auditioning to play for anyone. I pretty much write and/or cowrite all the music in all the bands I am in so I dont have to worry quite as much about what everyone thinks my bass should sound like. I mostly play flats but 3 of the 10 songs on our CD have rounds. There is room for either or. There is room for both.
 
#324
Sundogue said:
I think it's cool whenever bass players try to do what's best for the band instead of being consumed with their own 'tone' like they were a solo act. We all have to find our groove, but if we're not thinking about it's affect on the overall sound of the band, we might as well be playing alone in "Madison Square Living Room". Whether it's rounds or flats...it's all about the band.

Now about that Ampeg your using, and that VT pedal...:D
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LOL...well it does seem a bit of overkill to have both, doesn't it? ;) Oh well, overkill's my bag these days.
 
#325
Another fine weekend in the studio with the Labella's on the $$. I am definitely pulling toward the Sundogue philosophy. I've found myself punching up the mid-range to "hear" myself more when writting a part, but once I'm comfortable that I've got it, I cut the mids, roll back the highs and just bump away. The silky-smooov flats help create the feel I'm looking for; being able to have my fingers slip-slide around the fretboard helps me write grooves instead of riffs. At one point yesterday, I couldn't "hear" any of what I was playing, but I could feel it all. I leaned back against the wall of the studio and I could feel the wall pulse with every note. All that, and I wasn't fighting for sonic real estate with the guitarist and keys. While flats may not be the only way to get to this desireable end-result, they have been a good tool for helping me arrive.
 
#326
p-bass said:
As far as being "snotty"
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I apologize for the name-calling, and perhaps you don't intend your posts to come off as they do. You might consider changing your language a bit, though.


p-bass said:
I am not claiming to be a "bass virtuoso", I am telling you what works for me in the real world.
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The bold red words, make it seem as if only you reside in the real world. I am sure you didn't mean to be condescending, but that's how it reads to me. We are all sharing information about what works for us in the real world.


p-bass said:
If I had walked into 98% of the auditions I have gone to with only a flatwound strung bass ,I am sure I would have walked out the door not getting the gig.
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That is quite possibly true. Or maybe not. Either way, do what works for you. We can't and shouldn't all sound the same. I hope to catch you playing at a show some day, and I'm sure your tone will be great. :)
 
#327
p-bass said:
My language is fine and by no means should offend anybody.
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OK then. I was just trying to let you know how it looks to others.

p-bass said:
I treat the other musicians with all respect and would never call a guitar player a "guitard",even behind his back. Steve
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Neither would I. What does this have to do with anything?
 
#331
LOL...

So I was wondering what was taking my first-ever flatwounds (Chromes) forever to arrive, when I got this email:

Hello [fourfinger]

Your item was returned to us today from USPS

The package was damaged unfortunately your Postage was ripped off so they could not deliver luckily they went by the invoice inside and shipped it back to us

We repackaged it and It is being resent.

I apologize for any delay or worry this may have caused you and your new package should arrive within a few days

[seller]

Sure hope my flats don't arrive TOO flat!

So my shipment, and this thread, did get derailed, but hopefully both are on track again now.

p-bass, you didn't start off saying anything that I would have thought would have started a war.

However, Sundogue clearly put a lot of thought and time and energy into his well-reasoned analysis of how/why his own appreciation of flatwound strings has awakened after all these years. It was a great read and some of us (including me) were even inspired by it to give flats a try. He growled a bit, but it's no big deal.

Anyway, I can't stand the wait for my new strings any longer! I have two very bright-sounding, endlessly sustaining basses and after hearing the Lakland clips I am very optimistic about what flats will do for them.

Question: knowing that 50-105 Chromes are going to bring extra tension compared to the 45-105 Elixirs I have on now, what's everyone's opinion on whether that extra tension will translate into lower action?
 
#332
They may actually make the action a bit higher, as the tension will want to bow the neck up. You may have to make an adjustment to the truss rod. But, having said that, put them on and let your bass and neck adjust to the tension for a couple of days to a week, before deciding to make a truss rod adjustment.

It may be easier to just make a small action adjustment at the bridge. It just depends on the "bow" in the neck after the strings have been on your bass for awhile.

Ian
 
#333
GREAT POST, Sundogue!!!!

I just discovered this post, Sundogue. And just in time as i was going to remove my Chrome flats and bring my GL (of all basses) to rehearsal next month with roundwounds back on. That would have been a mistake. Funny thing i find it dull alone too....yet the arranger of the band listened to a recording of us playing and he said i really sounded good coming out of the mix (7 instruments). So i will now try TI''s for just (hopefully) a lil more highs. And maybe get a little less tension, and hopefully a lil lower action.

thx again, Sundogue
Allan
 
#335
GHS precision flats have blown me away. Never thought I would like a set of flats more than Rotosound 77s. Still like my nickel rounds on one P and steel rounds on a J, but my T-40 (which I just put them on) and my other P are both going to be GHS Precision flat heaven.
 
#336
MakiSupaStar said:
Good to see the Dogue back. You know, I might have to revisit this flats thing, especially since I'm playing more dub reggae now. Thanks for the great OP Dogue. I didn't read everything in this thread.
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Hey Maki. Yes, I'm back...for a limited run. ;) Life has been very, very good to me.

I think everyone should try flats again. I can remember a time when there weren't a lot of different roundwounds available (when rounds were becoming the rage) and flats were just what one typically strung a bass with.

But there are so many different flavors of flats these days that one can find a brand, gauge and tension that suits almost any style. Though I hear they are not real popular in LA, so don't try them there or you'll never gig. :D

Otherwise, give them a shot.
 
#337
blowabs said:
GREAT POST, Sundogue!!!!

I just discovered this post, Sundogue. And just in time as i was going to remove my Chrome flats and bring my GL (of all basses) to rehearsal next month with roundwounds back on. That would have been a mistake. Funny thing i find it dull alone too....yet the arranger of the band listened to a recording of us playing and he said i really sounded good coming out of the mix (7 instruments). So i will now try TI''s for just (hopefully) a lil more highs. And maybe get a little less tension, and hopefully a lil lower action.

thx again, Sundogue
Allan
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You're welcome. It's always nice to help someone. Hope it works out for you.

I've found I can get lower action with Chromes than TI's. I had the TI's on and I had to have them sit a bit higher as the lower tension makes them a bit more floppy and prone to buzzing on the frets with lower action.

But I play hard and with a pick, so if you have a lighter touch, lower action would work. The TI's are awesome. I may still go back to the TI's as I've only had a couple of band rehearsals with the Chromes. I'll finally play a gig with the Chromes on Saturday. I'll have a better idea which work better for me. I'm quite happy with both as I don't play with real low action anyway.
 
#338
Sundogue said:
You're welcome. It's always nice to help someone. Hope it works out for you.

I've found I can get lower action with Chromes than TI's. I had the TI's on and I had to have them sit a bit higher as the lower tension makes them a bit more floppy and prone to buzzing on the frets with lower action.

But I play hard and with a pick, so if you have a lighter touch, lower action would work. The TI's are awesome. I may still go back to the TI's as I've only had a couple of band rehearsals with the Chromes. I'll finally play a gig with the Chromes on Saturday. I'll have a better idea which work better for me. I'm quite happy with both as I don't play with real low action anyway.
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I love low action.easier on the fingertips too.. i dont use a pick..for now... I might put Fender 9120's (I hear they are good and they are $20) on another bass now??
Post back on Sunday and let know your findings, please....TC
 
#340
Any of you recent Flatwound converts notice an hand injuries or soreness ariving with your flatwounds.? I've had some right hand soreness that seens to have come along with the arrival my flatwounds. Was thinking it might be the strings. They are stiffer and can be a bit sticky. I used a bass with rounds for 2 gigs last week and no problems. Used the flats last night and my wrist is very sore today.
 
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