Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

[Sundogue]

I was talking with Tom (T-Bone) Wolk awhile back about strings. This is when Tom was playing bass with Hall & Oats. He told me he was using D'addario Halfrounds (the SS ones),and would use a SS Roundwound for the E string. Not saying to try it,just interesting. blowabs,I've found that flats don't work in every situation. Steve

Very good point. I had read that he had used rounds and flats on the same bass at the same time.

I've tried it myself as I've never been very impressed with roundwound D and G strings that come with a set. I've either used higher gauge rounds on those two strings or tried flats on the D and G only.

Good point and worth a try. There is no rule saying it has to be all flats or all rounds. Go with what works.

 

[T40Chump]

I'm about to hop on the flatwound wagon myself. One of my basses is a Spector Legend fiver. To me, it just doesn't have the stuff I want. It's just too bright. I like rounds on my T40, but it doesn't have a bright tone to begine with. My rounds on my P are almost dead, which is perfect.

So I'm going to wind a set of D'Addario Chromes on and see what happens.

Bo

 

[blowabs]

I was talking with Tom (T-Bone) Wolk awhile back about strings. This is when Tom was playing bass with Hall & Oats. He told me he was using D'addario Halfrounds (the SS ones),and would use a SS Roundwound for the E string. Not saying to try it,just interesting. blowabs,I've found that flats don't work in every situation. Steve

steve

The arranger and others never liked my rounds on the R&R covers we do-- at the 1st rehearsal-- so, next rehearsal i showed up with Chromes and the 1st to notice the new, great sound was my drmmer (w/ a big smile on his face throughout the rehearsal). The arranger said he agreed, "that's it!!!". I can never take 'em off now...

I like to practice on rounds alot too. But i have flats (different companies) on 4 of my basses now.... tapes on 2 .....and rounds on only 2 others 'cause i like to try slappin' and poppin' when i am practicing...(I am rally liking tapes too these days...)

But playing out with the theatre company band its flats all the way (I guess i fit in nicely with the flats instead of repeatedly trying to fit in w/ rounds and constant EQ'ing)!!!!

Learning is fun!!

 

[p-bass]

blowabs,I am not saying you should switch back to roundwounds.If you have found the strings you like, and they give you the tone you and your band likes,stick with them.I just thought I would share with you all what Tom Wolk told me.Steve

 

[blowabs]

blowabs,I am not saying you should switch back to roundwounds.If you have found the strings you like, and they give you the tone you and your band likes,stick with them.I just thought I would share with you all what Tom Wolk told me.Steve

Cewl. thx.

 

[sixway]

Heck, if you have a spare set of Chromes, or just want a flat B, PM me, I have a spare Chrome B, or two, I'll send you one. They ain't getting used by me at the moment, I can stand to send one on.

I Pm'd Darkstrike for one of those B-strings a couple of weeks ago, and he kindly offered to send me one - in fact, he sent them both!

Kudos to a fellow Bass player, and fine gentleman....

 

[pmaraziti]

Finally put a set of TI flats on my Fender AV'62 RI P bass... so far I love the tone and although the tension is low as everybody here said, I think I can adapt my playign quickly... looking forward for my rehearsal tonight... if it goes well, I'll take it to my next gig...

 

[monsterthompson]

So I have been interested in trying Chromes based on the love they get here. I've been running LaBella's for the past couple of months. I figured that I'd wait until the band was done recording the album and we were on a live-show hiatus for a bit. Well, that time has come and I slapped a set of Chromes on yesterday... I'm pi$$ed; I should have done it sooner

The chromes still have that awesome flat feel, but more of a "round" sound that works much better with my Corvette$$. I went with a medium set of chromes and the string sizes on the E and A strings are almost the same, but the D and G strings are thicker with the Chromes, which gives the bass better balance from string to string. I have a pedal (a Subdecay Noisebox) that is sensitive to input levels and the effect changes when the attack gets harder or softer; the box is more useable now, as the bass output levels appear to be more consistent from string to string.

I also noticed that the chromes have BOOM. They punch much harder and tighter than the LaBellas. The new-string high-end sizzle and boing is noticeable, but not awful. It should be interesting to see how that fades with use.

I'm still on the flat-wound train, I just think I found the luxury car on this train.

 

[blowabs]

So I have been interested in trying Chromes based on the love they get here. I've been running LaBella's for the past couple of months. I figured that I'd wait until the band was done recording the album and we were on a live-show hiatus for a bit. Well, that time has come and I slapped a set of Chromes on yesterday... I'm pi$$ed; I should have done it sooner

The chromes still have that awesome flat feel, but more of a "round" sound that works much better with my Corvette$$. I went with a medium set of chromes and the string sizes on the E and A strings are almost the same, but the D and G strings are thicker with the Chromes, which gives the bass better balance from string to string. I have a pedal (a Subdecay Noisebox) that is sensitive to input levels and the effect changes when the attack gets harder or softer; the box is more useable now, as the bass output levels appear to be more consistent from string to string.

I also noticed that the chromes have BOOM. They punch much harder and tighter than the LaBellas. The new-string high-end sizzle and boing is noticeable, but not awful. It should be interesting to see how that fades with use.

I'm still on the flat-wound train, I just think I found the luxury car on this train.

+1. That explains just what i feel.....thx, MT.

 

[blipndub]

Typcially a roundwound player, steelDR Low Riders or Diaddario nickle, but I've got a set of chromes on my pbass and really love the feel and sound. I had TI's but they were too loose, had Fenders but they were too tight, the Chromes are just right and sound wicked. For some situations they are the trick.

 

[pmaraziti]

So, I tested TIs on my Pbass and so far loved it. They're deep sounding strings , very powerful and pushing to my ears. I experimented those in 2 band settings (guitar/keys/electric drums and 2 guitars/drums) and in both sounded very nice. Especially I had the feeling to cope much better with the subwoofers of my e-drummer. Again not the greates sounding standalone playing, but when the my bandmates start playing, they loved the sound as well as I did.

As many stated indeed they are a bit loose, but it seems I'm getting used to them. I put them new a coupel fo days back, so I think they didn't break in yet. I'll probably dare to use them live in the next gig a couple of weeks away. Maybe I'll brin my jazz bass with rounds along, not sure yet if they will fit all the setlist songs, but since I never slap in that band, it might well fit the whole gig....

we'll see....

 

[experimental bassist]

So, I tested TIs on my Pbass and so far loved it. They're deep sounding strings , very powerful and pushing to my ears. I experimented those in 2 band settings (guitar/keys/electric drums and 2 guitars/drums) and in both sounded very nice. Especially I had the feeling to cope much better with the subwoofers of my e-drummer. Again not the greates sounding standalone playing, but when the my bandmates start playing, they loved the sound as well as I did.

As many stated indeed they are a bit loose, but it seems I'm getting used to them. I put them new a coupel fo days back, so I think they didn't break in yet. I'll probably dare to use them live in the next gig a couple of weeks away. Maybe I'll brin my jazz bass with rounds along, not sure yet if they will fit all the setlist songs, but since I never slap in that band, it might well fit the whole gig....

we'll see....

Cool, thanks for the update.

I remember my first flatwound experiement almost crashing and burning before it even took off. I had just put a set of TI's on my P bass and my wife came in as I was tuning up and trying them out for the first time.

Mind you, she was used to hearing my P sporting a heavy set of roundwounds, and for years before that my Ric also with roundwounds.

She just had the confused look on her face and said something along the lines of "I thought those were supposed to be NEW strings???"

Well, I told her for this band I was in now (southern rock, country, and blues) I was going for more of an "upright" sound.

I'm glad I stuck with it, b/c like you mentioned in a band setting is where TIs really shine, especially once the strings settle in.

 

[pmaraziti]

Yeah, I don't think I will change anytime soon back to rounds on this bass. The only thing that annoys a bit is that the E seems to have less volume than other strings.

I've tried to raise the pickup below it and I can still lower the action with the saddle a bit, but when the same bass had some rounds on it, the E was very powerfully sounding.

The TI flats have a gauge on the E which is slightly less than the previos set (it's now 100 vs. 105 previous I think), but I think I've already more than compensated that with raising the pickup, nor I think that the "E" might be faulty...I can still lower the pickup on the other strings, but they do sound nice, so it doesn't seem the way to go.

anybody experienced the same?

 

[experimental bassist]

Yeah, I don't think I will change anytime soon back to rounds on this bass. The only thing that annoys a bit is that the E seems to have less volume than other strings.

I've tried to raise the pickup below it and I can still lower the action with the saddle a bit, but when the same bass had some rounds on it, the E was very powerfully sounding.

The TI flats have a gauge on the E which is slightly less than the previos set (it's now 100 vs. 105 previous I think), but I think I've already more than compensated that with raising the pickup, nor I think that the "E" might be faulty...I can still lower the pickup on the other strings, but they do sound nice, so it doesn't seem the way to go.

anybody experienced the same?

Hmm...is it drastically less volume? I actually had to drop the top of my pickup slightly away from the E because I thought it was just a tad too boomy relative to the others.

I wonder if you got a dud E string.

 

[pmaraziti]

Thanks, I'll see if I can record the difference and post itto quantify how much, but it's noticeable. I ordered also a pair of chromes together with my TI that as backup, I might check with those to see if there's a difference and the E string is a bit dead then...

Is it possible to buy just an E string from TI?

 

[Sundogue]

Hey guys, just an FYI...

Pickup height in relation to the strings doesn't just affect volume, it also affects tone.

All things being equal, there is very little difference in output or volume when a pickup is raised or lowered, at least compared to the differences you will notice in tone.

The closer a pickup is to the strings the brighter the output will be. The farther away the pickup is the fatter and deeper the tone will be.

If your low E is too boomy, move the pickup closer to the string, not further away. The further away you get, the more boomy it is likely to be.

I'd suggest EQ'ing out the offending sound instead. That's what an EQ is for. Boominess is typically associated with low-mids more than lows. Your low E is 41 Hz but I seriously doubt your rig produces that fundamental. Check your EQ around 82Hz or even 164Hz and cut it a bit and recheck how your low E string sounds.

Of course, you still could have a bad low E string, though with flats the fundamental is more pronounced and perhaps you are just noticing it more than you did playing rounds.

 

[pmaraziti]

very useful, thanks. I'll check

 

[nemo]

Hi, great thread. Flats lover for almost two years here.

I tried Fenders, TI, Labella, Chromes and Sads and Sadowsky flats are on the top of my list.
If you want the thump now and dont want to wait for mellowing out, get Fenders, they are dead from the box, but the most stiff of the bunch.
Chromes are the most clackier. TIs are too loose, great tone though.
Sadowsky and LaBellas are happy tone medium with LaBellas being a bit thumpier and Sads clearer but still smooth.
Both have similar tension, good resistance for digging in, but still comfortable.
Sadowsky flats are the most excellent flats I have come accross. Give them a try. All IMO and IME.

 

[blowabs]

Hi, great thread. Flats lover for almost two years here.

I tried Fenders, TI, Labella, Chromes and Sads and Sadowsky flats are on the top of my list.
If you want the thump now and dont want to wait for mellowing out, get Fenders, they are dead from the box, but the most stiff of the bunch.
Chromes are the most clackier. TIs are too loose, great tone though.
Sadowsky and LaBellas are happy tone medium with LaBellas being a bit thumpier and Sads clearer but still smooth.
Both have similar tension, good resistance for digging in, but still comfortable.
Sadowsky flats are the most excellent flats I have come accross. Give them a try. All IMO and IME.

Nemo

I have Chromes and Sadowsky's........i wanted to like the Sad's badly...heard from another TB'er that they were very nice.... so i tried them. But to me, on my P/J (w/ DiM 126 set pups) they are just to smooth (iguess, not enuff oomph) --- maybe they need some time. The Chromes thumped from day 1....time will tell i guess...what do you mean Chromes being 'clackier'....thanks for any enlightenment.

....this is a great thread...

allan

 

[nemo]

I guess you need to give them time. The Sads were almost zingy for couple of days, but settled later for smooth full thump with definition.
Chromes I admittedly had shorter time, but I disliked their high-mid clicking sound, they probably need to be settled for longer time, but I did not have the patience.