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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#681
pmaraziti said:
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?
Click to expand...

Good idea about comparing the Chromes w/ the TIs. I'd be interested to know how the E string compares.

Just a FYI, took a snapshot of my pickups for reference. Basically was showing a pretty hot output on the E based on the VU meter when I was recording direct, so maybe "boomy" was not the best choice of words, as it was as much a volume issue as much as anything. I lowered the pickup under the E string slightly to even it out.

IMO it could also be as much my playing style as anything else, so a BIG YMMV!!!! ;)

Pickups1.jpg



Also I'm not sure if TI sells just an E, but IIRC they do sell individual B strings, so maybe???
 
#684
Darkstrike said:
I'd say it does, its that bright, high mid, nasally tone that makes them great for fretless, brings the mwahh.:cool:
Click to expand...

Yes...true. I like the Chrome's tone better personally. Seems to have more mid-lows, but not muddy at all. Very clear and crisp to my ears. Like breaking through a delicate crust (attack) to get to the sweet pie (tone). :-)
 
#685
MarkusBass said:
Yes...true. I like the Chrome's tone better personally. Seems to have more mid-lows, but not muddy at all. Very clear and crisp to my ears. Like breaking through a delicate crust (attack) to get to the sweet pie (tone). :-)
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Ahh...describing tone like a declicious pastry...now you're speaking my language. :cool:

Just give me a heaping helping of thick warm lows, supporting some tasty creamy mids, -- and a thin delicate layer of sizzling crunch when I dig in.

And top it all off with a bass that plays like butter. :hiding:

SH1006_Spiced_Peach_Pie_lg.jpg
 
#686
DogBone said:
Ahh...describing tone like a declicious pastry...now you're speaking my language. :cool:

Just give me a heaping helping of thick warm lows, supporting some tasty creamy mids, -- and a thin delicate layer of sizzling crunch when I dig in.

And top it all off with a bass that plays like butter. :hiding:

SH1006_Spiced_Peach_Pie_lg.jpg
Click to expand...

Exactly! Tastes great and MORE filling!:D
 
#692
Sundogue, thanks for the great thread. Oddly enough I've been coming to the same conclusion you have when I came upon this thread. Been using rounds for years (late 70's) and recently haven't been happy with the fullness of the sound. It was there, but always seemed to be missing something. I've always thought flats sound like soft, mushy, musical turds so I kept changing everything but to flats. I've slapped some Chromes on a '00 Fender Precision Hotrod (it's a P/J) and was surprised at the sound in band setting. Got a good deal on some TI's and put them on another P-bass and played it and I don't think it ever sounded as good in a band setting.

What you've said it what I'm finding--rounds sound better (to me) with no band, but flats seem to be sounding better in a band setting (to me). I'm not going to put flats on everything, but I'm certainly thinking which one will be next!

I'll have to give them several more outings, but thus far I'm very impressed. I'm finding those turds can fart big-time!
 
#694
Believe it or not, I use three flatwounds (TI) and one roundwound
(Fender nickelplated taperwound) on my P bass.

I purchased a whole bunch of brands and types of strings ($expensive)
just to try them out and see what worked best for me. I particularly
liked the TI flatwounds on the upper (D & G) strings. However,
flatwounds on the E were dull and lacked that classic P bass growl that
the roundwounds gave me. To me, the roundwound had a far superior
sound on the E -- so that's what I used.

It turned out that these two particular brands (TI flats and Fender
taperwounds) sounded very similar on the A string. I could have
gone either way. There is no perceivable difference as I transition
from the Fender E string to the TI A/D/G strings.

So, that's where I am today and loving it.
 
#695
Hey guys,
Glad to have an audience that can share my enthusiam after a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] on Saturday night. Wedding. I had recently put a set of Fender 9050L's on both my basses, P and J. I think I have finally found the sound I am looking for. Cut through the mix way better than I thought, had plenty of "rip" to it, none of the clackitys that I got with the Hartke 410 and rounds. I was really surprised at the clarity. Only problem I had was in one song, You Got The Love," which has a really bottomy F to G part. Anyway, there was some unwanted barking and I started to worry that my PS112 was getting stressed. The 15 seemed fine.

Then at lunchtime today I got a surprise opening in my schedule, so I went home to my house, which is never empty enough to crank the rig. On a hunch, I figured that I might not have had enough head room on Saturday, so I cranked the output volume louder than I had it on Saturday, kept the Gain the same, and voila, PUNCH. I mean RIPPING PUNCH!!! And no barking. So I can't wait to take this giant on the next job in 2 weeks to see how it does...

Thanks for reading... And thanks for all the info about flats. It was this thread that helped me the most!
 
#700
p-bass said:
I think it's "Just you". I just beat out a guy for a Motown Tribute gig. The other guy was playing a Fender Precision with flatwounds. I got the gig with my Fender Jazz with DR Sunbeams..funny ! Steve
Click to expand...

Congrats!

Could it be that you were better? Though perhaps it was just the strings.

(refer to the pie with the sly grin). :D

Sunbeams are my favorite roundwound string.
 
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