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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#81
coolrunner989 said:
I guess I am going to be the minority opinion here...
I like flats. I've used them before, and love the sound of chromes on a P bass or a J bass, even the S.U.B. Mm copy I had for a while sounded great with flats

But I've never had any problems locking in with a drummer and providing the deep, tight low end that is so characteristic of flats with rounds. I love the fundamental, and having the bass just kick you in your chest, to make the groove the most important thing and not solo/wank off trying to showcase my abilities as a player, but I only have one bass right now, and it has rounds on it. I find it is alot more versitile than flats (there is a tone knob on my bass :P ) and I can cover everything flats do to my sound and then also get the classic trebly, grindy harmonic roundwound tone.

I think I'm going to give TI flats a try sometime soon, but I'm perfectly happy with my Sunbeams.

Just my two cents
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While I agree with you to some degree (as I've spent decades doing what you are doing), tone controls on your bass or your amp will not replicate what Flats do for the overall low end of your band's sound. I know, I've spent thirty years trying it.

I've explained my reasons in numerous other posts, but there is a reason we have a choice between flats and rounds...and many different kinds within each type.

I choose to support the band with a tighter, fuller sounding low end rhythm section by using flats. Everyone has their own reasons for what they're doing. It's all good. Different strokes and all that. :)
 
#82
Since my last post, I put a set of flats on the bass, (no idea what they are, fairly light gauge with orange silk at the headstock end only) and I'm sort of liking the sound. I'll leave them on for rehearsal, see how it goes...

Sundogue, many thanks for that, I think I'll have to suck it up and buy some, and this VERY interesting thread. Sticky?

Has anyone heard the clips of the Lakland hollowbody w/flats being slapped? It sounds incredible.
 
#83
There are several really good reasons to like flats, which Sundogue thoughtfully covered back in post one.
I did not read past mid page two, but, here's my best reason to use flats:

It means I *must* own *two* of nearly every bass I like.
One sportin' rounds, one sportin' flats.


This message brought to you by
Rationalisations-R-Us, the Flatwounds Council of America, and The International Association of Organisations.
 
#84
Chef said:
There are several really good reasons to like flats, which Sundogue thoughtfully covered back in post one.
I did not read past mid page two, but, here's my best reason to use flats:

It means I *must* own *two* of nearly every bass I like.
One sportin' rounds, one sportin' flats.


This message brought to you by
Rationalisations-R-Us, the Flatwounds Council of America, and The International Association of Organisations.
Click to expand...

Very good point.

I should say that if one is considering flats or rounds, there are some basic questions to ask yourself...

Why do I play bass?

How do I view my role as a bass player?

What's more important to me with regards to my sound, laying down the foundation in the rhythm section, or playing more melodically with perhaps soloing and/or chordal work?

What kind of music do I play?

What kind of volume does my band play at?

The answers to those questions will determine if Flats or Rounds are better suited to the task (far more than tone itself), and as Chef pointed out, you may very well be better off with at least two basses, if not more (ones with Flats and ones with Rounds). Can't think of a better rationale for owning lots of basses...and that's always a good thing. ;)
 
#85
I would also add this:
There are many flavors of flats, just as there are many flavors of rounds.
Nickel, stainless, tapes.

Not all of them are as thick as others. Some have more harmonic content that others. Some seem to have highs equal to some rounds.

It's not really as simple as "switching to rounds solved all my problems."

Until recently, I've used "mostly flats to track with," and "mostly rounds when playing live."

But, I've been having fun figuring how to make flats work for me, live. It's a good sound when it's working as well as it can.
I was kinda taken back last weekend to find that over the course of 3-4 songs I had incrementally rolled the tone off on my bass til it was dang near shut. I woulda bet you $5 it wouldn't have sounded good, but it did;)
 
#86
I think I like WORN OUT roundwounds better than flats...

great post..

can someone please tell me.. are my newer flats going to get a bit dull(er).. they are thomastiks nickel medium .. they are good, but there is less tension.. so I am finding them harder to play.. but I like my dead Rotosounds, that are years old, better than my new flatwounds.. will the flats dull a bit.. I can get used to the lesser tension.
 
#89
ahollowhd said:
It seems to me some years ago I played some half round bass strings that were like filed down round wounds. Does anyone else remember them. Are there strings like still around?

Hollowhead
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Gorundwounds, Brite Flats...there are quite a few of those. They are really roundwounds, but the windings are ground down to feel flat. Closer in tone to rounds, though not as bright.
 
#90
Chef said:
I would also add this:
There are many flavors of flats, just as there are many flavors of rounds.
Nickel, stainless, tapes.

Not all of them are as thick as others. Some have more harmonic content that others. Some seem to have highs equal to some rounds.

It's not really as simple as "switching to rounds solved all my problems."

Until recently, I've used "mostly flats to track with," and "mostly rounds when playing live."

But, I've been having fun figuring how to make flats work for me, live. It's a good sound when it's working as well as it can.
I was kinda taken back last weekend to find that over the course of 3-4 songs I had incrementally rolled the tone off on my bass til it was dang near shut. I woulda bet you $5 it wouldn't have sounded good, but it did;)
Click to expand...

Elsewhere within the many pages of my ramblings I pointed out that since the advent of roundwounds, there have been many advances in technology...not only with amps and basses, but also with string manufacturing.

There are definitely a lot of different flats and rounds to choose from, with some kind of being in-betweeners. Flats today aren't your grand-daddy's flats (though some of those still exist).

There are some flats that sound far brighter than some rounds. So much to choose from that a message board for bass players actually created a separate forum just about strings!

I'll see if I can find a link to that. ;)
 
#91
Loving the feel of my current flats, La Bella Deep Talkin, but would still like to have some of the tone my Lo-Riders (stainless) gave me. Any suggestions on a flat that gets closer to that tone to give me the feel and sound I'm looking for? Help a guy save a few $$$$ on the search for strings :D
 
#92
monsterthompson said:
Loving the feel of my current flats, La Bella Deep Talkin, but would still like to have some of the tone my Lo-Riders (stainless) gave me. Any suggestions on a flat that gets closer to that tone to give me the feel and sound I'm looking for? Help a guy save a few $$$$ on the search for strings :D
Click to expand...

While I'm not familiar with the LaBella's, if you are looking for a brighter flatwound that has higher tension, then maybe the D'Addario Chromes will work for you. They are stainless steel flats that are brighter. Others can tell you if they still retain that LaBella thump. I would think they would work for you.
 
#93
Thanks for letting me pull in a temporary hijack of the thread. I don't think the brightness is what I'm going for as much as the growl. I would sacrifice a bit of thump for that.

I can hardly wait for rehearsal next week (on hiatus this week) to get my flats in the mix and see where they sit. I love playing them, they just feel so smooth and sexy it makes me want to play smooth sexy bass lines.
 
#94
The Labella are stainless as well.
It's been my experience that the LeBella's more accurately deliver "Motown," while the chromes are something else...more mid present.
 
#96
monsterthompson said:
Ah, perhaps that is the ticket then. Not sure how I will feel about the extra tension, but only time and experience will tell.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the tension of the Chromes are compared to the LaBellas (you could check). But I had thought of recommending TI Jazz Flats, but since you play LaBellas I thought that TI's having less tension, that it might be concern.

I just got my Chromes this morning. They do have more mids to them and perhaps they will give your bass more growl. Really only you will know what works for you and what doesn't...and there is only one way to know for sure. Ultimately our opinion is just that, ours. What one thinks about a brand of strings could be the exact opposite of another's.
 
#97
Agreed. Though I do find it helpful to ask those who have been down the path before if they think it is worth going down. If everyone says no, then the risk may not be worth the reward. I'm still new to the flat world, so everything is an adventure. Lots of people do seem to like the TI Jazz.
 
#99
Just to be clear, we are talking about the D'addario chromes and not the TI chromes, right? I know the term "chromes" gets used a but around here, but I want to make sure we are talking about the $30 strings and not the $130 strings.
 
#100
monsterthompson said:
Just to be clear, we are talking about the D'addario chromes and not the TI chromes, right? I know the term "chromes" gets used a but around here, but I want to make sure we are talking about the $30 strings and not the $130 strings.
Click to expand...

"chromes" always means Daddario Chromes.:)

Good strings IMO, only Daddarios I like, great rock sound.
 
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