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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...
- Thread starter Sundogue
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Listen to this! D'Addario Chromes + StingRay=
excellent!
bite of the 'ray + smooth of the flats = Funk-o-licious City
The tone of the chords on the last bit, was sounding a whole lot like Chuck Rainey's tone on Steely Dan's "Peg"...
Dang it! I'm listending back to the tracks the band has been recording for the new disc and one of them has a drum+bass intro and it just sounds lifeless. Once the rest of the band kicks in, the mix sounds dialed. But I hate the way the bass sounds naked. It is a fine "flat" tone, it just doesn't snarl enough for the feel of the song that I hear in my head. Perhaps time for an overdub for that part. Live, I stomp on the fuzz for that intro, but I ran it clean in the studio. It felt snotty enough for the track, but now that it has been through the first round of mixing, it feels limp and I miss the Lo-Riders.
I'm sure there are things that can be done to compensate for the tone and I'm not blaming the flats; I'm just pointing out that they have some pitfalls to be considered and "workarounds" may be required for certain settings.
That said, I was in the shop the other day and picked up a J with some rounds on it and I hated the feel of the rounds on my fingers. Perhaps it is time to look for another flat with more snarl. I'm on the LaBella DT now, and I've been running searches on other flats. I'm thinking about the TIs as an option. I know lots of people like the Chromes too. I'm looking to avoid the zingy piano-highs of a round, so any suggestions on where my tone would go if I moved to the TIs or the Chromes (or any other for that matter) all other factors being equal?
I'm sure there are things that can be done to compensate for the tone and I'm not blaming the flats; I'm just pointing out that they have some pitfalls to be considered and "workarounds" may be required for certain settings.
That said, I was in the shop the other day and picked up a J with some rounds on it and I hated the feel of the rounds on my fingers. Perhaps it is time to look for another flat with more snarl. I'm on the LaBella DT now, and I've been running searches on other flats. I'm thinking about the TIs as an option. I know lots of people like the Chromes too. I'm looking to avoid the zingy piano-highs of a round, so any suggestions on where my tone would go if I moved to the TIs or the Chromes (or any other for that matter) all other factors being equal?
I guess that's the trade-off. You don't hear grindy bass intros played with flats (usually). Not that there's anything wrong with it. I think pick-punk stuff is cool, just different. Can you keep the Lo-Riders and make them work in the mix? They have more low-mids than other strings, like Sunbeams.
Well, I got my Chromes in and put them on one of my Stingray's and oh man, I love the tone i'm getting! Everything I loved about the Stingray is still there without the clank of rounds.
I'm going to test them out tonight during brand practice and see if anyone says anything.
I'm going to test them out tonight during brand practice and see if anyone says anything.
Sadowsky flats are growlier and more aggressive than Chromes, and sound amazing overdriven. They are the bomb as a flat set for rock, much more 'personality' than the d'Addarios, IMO.
The heavier low mid presence does it as opposed the the higher mids that the Chromes accentuate.
The heavier low mid presence does it as opposed the the higher mids that the Chromes accentuate.
Saw them for sale, I guess you didn't like them in context...
I love the Chromes on my Sadowsky 5, but I think I might try a set of the Sadowsky flats to compare. Do they have the high end that the Chromes do? My hands don't really sweat, and the Chromes still have that brightness and clank after a month or so, which I really like.
yea you saw em for sale.
they sounded great when i was playing by myself, but for the type music i play, i just didn't like the sound of them in the mix.
if i used Flats again, i would use the chromes.
No, the Chromes have a bit more high mids. No clank at all with the Sads, just more sustain and attack and a bit more growl than trad flats, with the same basic voice, if that makes sense. They cut through in their own way, great strings.
Once the top end is gone on the Chromes they can sound a lot like typical flats, but the Sadowskys keep their character.
I've had TI's, Chomes, and Lakland flats on some of my basses. I think what I miss with flats is the sustain. From experience, what flats have the most sustain?
Chromes are the best I've found so far, it is also what I'm searching for. The chromes are ok but they still feel that little bit off in the sustain dpartment.
That's the conclusion I've come up with as well...I just wish Chromes had a little more.
Sorry guys. I really tried to like the Chromes. But they just lacked personality imo, and the tension was bothering me. I just put on a set of DR Nickel Lo riders and I am happier with my tone. YMMV as always.
Next time I get a wild hair for flats I am going to try TI Jazz or Sadowskys.
Next time I get a wild hair for flats I am going to try TI Jazz or Sadowskys.
I still like the 40-100 Chromes on my P-bass. Not for pick playing though. But.... my P-bass can thump wonderfully with Nickel Lo-riders. Both great strings!!
I am now a fully-fledged flatwound convert! Chromes on both my Squier Affinity Jazz V and Precision!!
Hello all,
I got sucked into this vortex and put some chromes on my graphite necked five string(Graphite Guitar Systems). It's a lot like a Modulus Q5, with Bartolini pups. A couple of weeks ago, I switched from DR Lowriders. I love the sound and feel of the Chromes. I feel like I can use my bridge pup more and have more usable range on the active EQ. I have been gravitating towards a more old school sound, with more thump and pure low bass tone. With the Chromes, graphite neck and active EQ, I can get all the high end I need. Also, the drummer, keyboard player and guitar player noticed the difference and liked it.
I think I'm sticking with the Flats.
- Todd
I got sucked into this vortex and put some chromes on my graphite necked five string(Graphite Guitar Systems). It's a lot like a Modulus Q5, with Bartolini pups. A couple of weeks ago, I switched from DR Lowriders. I love the sound and feel of the Chromes. I feel like I can use my bridge pup more and have more usable range on the active EQ. I have been gravitating towards a more old school sound, with more thump and pure low bass tone. With the Chromes, graphite neck and active EQ, I can get all the high end I need. Also, the drummer, keyboard player and guitar player noticed the difference and liked it.
I think I'm sticking with the Flats.
- Todd
I'm using chromes on my double P. I dig these strings a lot. Huge tone, great call for any precision bass. Only minor gripe is that if I change basses, I have to change the settings on all of my effects. Not much of a big deal though as I'm starting to strongly favor the flats on the P.
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