Also a Flatwound convert on here, put them on my SX P-Bass and ooh my, only thing I need to do is find a lighter gauge, my current set of Jazz Bass 77's are a bit too heavy for my liking, any reccomendations?
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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...
- Thread starter Sundogue
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D'Addario Chromes 45-100
A step down is too light, a step up is too heavy.
These were made for Goldilocks ! Just right...
I think i might try these too...the 105 (Chrome) is too heavy for the arranger of our band (says it sounds a lil muddy). Better yet..... i may try to just put the 100 on the E...everything else is fine. A lil difficult too get good articulation on the 105 when playing quickly with 105 flats....for me, anyway.
If you can afford it switch them all. You won't regret it.
The 105's have way too much tension IMHO.
I've got a set of 105's brand new sitting in a draw... Bought them, played them a day and took them right off.
A custom set of 50 70 80 100 might be cool but I find the 45 65 80 100 to be perfect. The stay nice and taught but I can bend if I want to.
Good luck and let me know what you decide.
sundogue,
It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you mention playing flats with a pick! A great, unique rock sound that can really stand out! Your post should be printed in on the the bass mags!!!
It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you mention playing flats with a pick! A great, unique rock sound that can really stand out! Your post should be printed in on the the bass mags!!!
Just bought the D'Addarios today, I shall let you know how I get on when they arrive
Mine should be here by the end of the week, but don't get the bass they're destined for until mid May.
Will be my first set. Dern flatwound noob, am I.
Thanks.
Kind of funny how I came full circle with this. It's also interesting how at one time flats with a pick was the norm, and now it's unique.
It certainly is different than what I've done in the past (except long ago when I started playing back in the Jurassic period). I started on guitar as a little kid, emulating Paul McCartney (whom I thought at the time was playing guitar...never knew then it was a bass). So I just played on an old acoustic my brother gave me that was missing a couple of strings, back in the sixties.
After I actually took up playing a real bass (and knew what it was
) I just kept playing with a pick. I just left whatever strings were on the bass at the time (which were flats). By the time I was playing in a real band I had already switched to roundwound strings. I've tried flats off and on for years but every time I tried them it was by myself and I just never could get past the sound playing alone. This time I made an effort to really take my wants out of the equation and think of what suited the band best. First time out with flats and the band and it was just what we needed. Every time out after that was just more convincing. Now I don't think about my strings at all (whereas with rounds I was anal about cleaning them and changing them as often as I could afford to).
So yeah, now I'm back to kick-ass rock music playing flats with a pick. Perfect. Punchy, tight, focused, well defined low end and beefy highs with absolutely no subtlety whatsoever. Just a good smack upside the head along with a kick in the chest on every note. What's not to like?
i've tried to convert to flats (damn you steve harris) several times in my playing years, and i cannot do it. round wounds just have the grit, grind, ping, and wonderful finger shredding quality i love. yes steve harris sounds great, but the slide sound i get and the bell ching when i bang a chord just only sound right with round wounds. flats seem to sound dead a lot faster to me also.
Wow ....a lil Jacoesque....cant find any albums he's on....he makes those flats sing...
MORE:
I have too experienced some of what you say, but a little different as I play in two bands (one is classic RnR, and the other playing Blues, R&B with some soul, and jam band type music. My band has gtr, sax,trumpet, drm, vocal, and occasional harmonica. I have found the obvious....i.e. the flats sound great with some music, but the rounds bring more deffinition to most of what is played in both bands.
the flats sound great but leave alot to be desired when the bass line is very detailed. The rounds help in reproducing detailed bass lines.
The largest influence on how much Bottom End, or Tone for that matter, that I get seems to lead more towards a discussion on finger technique rather than strings.
Regards, Robbie
the flats sound great but leave alot to be desired when the bass line is very detailed. The rounds help in reproducing detailed bass lines.
The largest influence on how much Bottom End, or Tone for that matter, that I get seems to lead more towards a discussion on finger technique rather than strings.
Regards, Robbie
This has been my experience as well. As much as I love the sound of flatwound strings,I find in most settings I favor nickel plated roundwounds. Alot of the gigs I play I never know what the room is going to be like. I find with rounds I can come in,dial in my tone and be ready to go. You really can do so much with technique. Steve
I experienced that same thing as Sundogue; thought I didn't like flats - learned why I really should like flats - went to flats and LOVED 'em (especially when playing with a pick!)... Then something happened...
After about 6 months of being a flats convert, I decided I was ready for a change of pace and put a set of rounds back on my Jazz V... Guess what... Fell right back in love with how great that bass sounds with rounds...
I still have a very strong affinity for the flats sounds and I love the avenues it opens up that are somewhat closed off to the rounds world. But the flip side of that coin is equally true. I've been able to make both worlds work for me and I've come to the conclusion that it's a good idea to keep a set of flats around and to change things up every so often to re-fall in love' with your bass!
Just when things are starting to feel dull or like you might want to go try a new instrument or amp, change those strings and the newness will do wonders for how you feel about your bass and your playing.
I am curious if the OP (Sundogue) will experience the same sort of thing...
After about 6 months of being a flats convert, I decided I was ready for a change of pace and put a set of rounds back on my Jazz V... Guess what... Fell right back in love with how great that bass sounds with rounds...
I still have a very strong affinity for the flats sounds and I love the avenues it opens up that are somewhat closed off to the rounds world. But the flip side of that coin is equally true. I've been able to make both worlds work for me and I've come to the conclusion that it's a good idea to keep a set of flats around and to change things up every so often to re-fall in love' with your bass!
Just when things are starting to feel dull or like you might want to go try a new instrument or amp, change those strings and the newness will do wonders for how you feel about your bass and your playing.
I am curious if the OP (Sundogue) will experience the same sort of thing...
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