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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...
- Thread starter Sundogue
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Yeah...I'd love to, but having just bought a new amphead, I have to pay that off first. But I'd really like another P-Bass again (my favorite bass) and THAT would be great with the Chromes!
I'm sure you can take the new approach you developed with flats into the other band with your rounds wearing bass now.
That's a good point,I was using flatwounds for a while in a band, and when I switched back to roundwounds I was able to take alot of the flatwound feel with me. Roundwounds ain't all bad now.
I never thought rounds were...but I agree that some of what I got from playing flats gave me a better sense of feel with the rhythm. Even with some of our rehearsals with the new band, I'm still laying back a bit and making thing more solid, even when some songs allow for more extended melodic playing. And it is more effective.
The ideal is having two basses, one with rounds and one with flats. I still feel like switching back to flats whenever I'm playing with my main band...it just sounds different with rounds now and not necessarily in a good way. As much as I can cop a bit of a flat tone, it's just not the same. Much like it wasn't with flats in my new band.
They each have different strengths and weaknesses. I still prefer flats, but we'll have to see how this works out.
I'm sold on the chromes with my deluxe P bass. Love how strong the note is, nothing but the main note kicking you in the chest. Took me a while to make the leap from rounds. In fact this is my second go around with chromes. Didn't care for them the first time but since then I forced myself to keep a set of fender flats on another p bass and I got pretty used to them. Now the chromes seem like a comprimise between the glassy high end of a roundwound and the total thud of the fender flats. It's probably my imagination but I think my speakers (swr 2x15 behind a svt) actually seem to have to work less at the same volume. I like them and I can't really see switching back to roundwounds on this bass for the forseeable future.
I put Fender flats on my Pbass, and started playing better (simpler, more focused) bass. After a few weeks, I'm back on rounds, too (D'Addario halfrounds). I got a deal on a Sadowsky outboard preamp, and am now using it to kick in extra bass. Not the same as flats, but mentally it's like crossing a line: "time to think flat". I spend most of the time in that flatzone now -- but I like having the option of a little more clank now and then.
Hey, I got sucked into the flatwound vortex a few months ago, and I'm still really loving the sound and feel. Also the awareness of the pocket that they give.
I picked up a back-up bass(SX 5 string), which I thought I would put some DR Lowriders on for some variety. I tried to let them break in well, but I can't take the lack of fatness, the zingy zing and even the rough feel.
I found my answer, after reading all the string threads and such, I decided to try the "Ken Smith Slick Rounds". Loved them right away. I'll see how I like them after they beak in, but they have a nice fat bottom end, fairly smooth and just enough zing to be a good alternate to my other bass with the Chromes.
- Todd
I picked up a back-up bass(SX 5 string), which I thought I would put some DR Lowriders on for some variety. I tried to let them break in well, but I can't take the lack of fatness, the zingy zing and even the rough feel.
I found my answer, after reading all the string threads and such, I decided to try the "Ken Smith Slick Rounds". Loved them right away. I'll see how I like them after they beak in, but they have a nice fat bottom end, fairly smooth and just enough zing to be a good alternate to my other bass with the Chromes.
- Todd
I really dig how staccato you can play with flats. My double-precision is a true thump machine with the chromes and I can really control note durations and articulations very well.
I also play a Peavey DynaBass (DR Lo-Riders) and an MIJ Ibanez SR800 w/ EMG's (D'Addario Nickels). Neither of those basses sound good with flats.
If you play in a lot of different styles, I think you really need both. As much as I love the P with flats, I try to get the Peavey to sound as different from the P as possible.
I also play a Peavey DynaBass (DR Lo-Riders) and an MIJ Ibanez SR800 w/ EMG's (D'Addario Nickels). Neither of those basses sound good with flats.
If you play in a lot of different styles, I think you really need both. As much as I love the P with flats, I try to get the Peavey to sound as different from the P as possible.
I strung up my SX P in BEAD with rounds awhile ago to try them out as all my other basses have flats. I tried to like it--I really did. I left them on for several months but just couldn't get into the sound. I switched them over to flats last week and used the bass exclusively at our last practice session and I loved it. I really can't see myself going back to rounds for any reason.
I might be putting the Chromes back on, even though I'm doing some wild prog rock with my other band.
I just recently got a BX1200 and now I'm bi-amping and the Carvin head allows me to put effects only into the highs, leaving the lows clean and dry.
I could use some wicked effects on the top mid-range cab, which would juice up the Chromes, but the bottom would stay tight and focused...with no effects.
I just recently got a BX1200 and now I'm bi-amping and the Carvin head allows me to put effects only into the highs, leaving the lows clean and dry.
I could use some wicked effects on the top mid-range cab, which would juice up the Chromes, but the bottom would stay tight and focused...with no effects.
Go for it. If everyone else playing prog is using rounds and a bright zingy tone then you'll be something unique and memorable.
...or unique and forgettable. Either way, no one will know until I try.
Like using rounds is really going to make you memorable? Just like everyone else?
Yep same here
At the gigs I've been swapping basses at different brackets. I have 2 Lakland 5's, one with slinky rounds, one with flat chromes.
I run my own PA so have the opportunity to adjust the mix to my liking. I use an Avalon U5 for bass pre.
I'm reverted back to roundwounds, I've found the flats aren't for me. I'll be having rounds on both basses now.
At the end of the night I can get the old school warmth by adding a touch of low end via the onboard preamp.
I just love them Slinky's too much oooh!
Wow - read the first 10-15 pages and then started skimming. Great thread. Looks like I'm going to string my Carvin LB70P with the (VERY old) GHS flats from my de-fretted Yamaha tomorrow and see what happens... no band right now, so why not?
A band setting is where they really shine though. I have found that I can't judge any piece of new gear(strings, bass, amp) until I try it on the stage. IME
FOAM MUTE + ROUNDWOUNDS=Just as Good or Better than Flats and you retain tonal qualities of the strings without encroaching into Guitard territory.
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