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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#941
steve bailey said:
Great Topic. I have been toying with trying Flats. I too like rounds as they getter older. Everybody said I would not "cut through with flats playing classic rock and blues. You convinced me to go with my instincts.... next set of strings, Flats. :)
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Well, I'm here to tell you that "everybody" is wrong. I switched to flats and my bass, while sitting in the mix better, is also heard more clearly than it was with rounds because I'm in a different sonic space than the guitards. I had a buddy who's been coming to see us for years tell me after I switched, "I had no idea you were such a good bass player, when did you get good?" Obviously, he has low standards, but the point is, you can hear me better...
 
#946
First I just want to say I love your simile.
Sundogue said:
Like opening the fridge over and over expecting something tasty to suddenly appear in there where there wasn’t anything before
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Second, I've been planning to get flats for awhile. I've always like cello, and have played it since 4th grade, and orchestral instruments use flats, so I figured I would like it.

I'm really glad to read this and here more pluses about flats. I've always been unhappy with my sounds in a mix, especially with fuzz (but that's another problem).
 
#951
So, this thread inspired me to try flats after 14 years of round-woundery... figured I'd throw a set of Chromes on my 4001C64. Using a pick... Yipes! Still a TON of harmonics, especially on the open notes or lower frets. More genuinely piano-like than any round I've tried... They sound really neat but are still pretty clanky on the Ric. Maybe they'll break in a bit? I'd love this thing to sound more McCartney-esque...
 
#953
If you want them to warm up faster, don't wash your hands before you play... I don't sweat much when I play, and I always wash my hands before I pick up the instrument. My Chromes still sound very bright after a month or two. I like it that way though, I get the roundwoundish highs with a stronger attack and fundamental.

I love the chromes, but honestly if I were going for a real old-school sound I would probably go for laBellas.
 
#956
I can't tell you what pickups work best with flatwounds,but I can tell you what pickups I like best with flatwounds. I like passive pickups with alnico 5 magnets. Keep in mind I string my Fender P-Basses with flatwounds,and am after the Motown/Stax Bass tones. I really like the basic Fender Orginal '62 P-Bass pickups.
 
#958
JSK5String said:
Well, I'm here to tell you that "everybody" is wrong. I switched to flats and my bass, while sitting in the mix better, is also heard more clearly than it was with rounds because I'm in a different sonic space than the guitards. I had a buddy who's been coming to see us for years tell me after I switched, "I had no idea you were such a good bass player, when did you get good?" Obviously, he has low standards, but the point is, you can hear me better...
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I've had the same experience myself.....switched to flats about 4 years ago....will never go back to rounds.
 
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