Huh? I have a B-string left over as after I removed the previous set, I gave EADG to a new bassist for his Cort P-Bass, leaving me with said B-string. What was your question, though?
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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...
- Thread starter Sundogue
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Huh? I have a B-string left over as after I removed the previous set, I gave EADG to a new bassist for his Cort P-Bass, leaving me with said B-string. What was your question, though?
just to let me know how your 5'er sounds with the Chromes. I have a B and..i have a set of 4 string Chromes ...just dont feel like making the swap out of the rounds...unless you say you Love it...
I know the sayin "to each their own". But I just can't enjoy the zing sound from round wounds. I just got as new bass that had hi-beams already installed....and when I first played it...I thought there was something wrong with the bass. Sounded like a piano...not a bass.
I put on a new set of Jamerson flats.....and there was the thump. The D & G strings don't remind me of a banjo like the rounds.
Having the higher tension from the jamersons is much better when I want to dig in as well. I was getting a clack noise from the rounds when I really wanted to dig in. I know my technique could cure that as well...but the flats allow me to strum inwards instead of upwards....which is my natural lazy way.
Every once in awhile the sound of the rounds match the song....but for the most part....flats just seem to boost the overall sound of a song.
Cheers,
BT
I put on a new set of Jamerson flats.....and there was the thump. The D & G strings don't remind me of a banjo like the rounds.
Having the higher tension from the jamersons is much better when I want to dig in as well. I was getting a clack noise from the rounds when I really wanted to dig in. I know my technique could cure that as well...but the flats allow me to strum inwards instead of upwards....which is my natural lazy way.
Every once in awhile the sound of the rounds match the song....but for the most part....flats just seem to boost the overall sound of a song.
Cheers,
BT
Another convert to the Pyramid Golds. Big Vintage Fender sound coming from my L-1000. Superb for Blues.
If it wasn't for the price, I'd use them on everything.
I recently tried ordering a custom set, which they do and was quoted $90 from them directly $76 from Elderly.
This was a great clip, thanks!
Nuh uh!
So, I've had a set of TI Flats on a Carvin LB70 for about 3 months now, and even though I have 7 other basses, I play that LB70 90% of the time, now. I love the rich, full fundamental. I love the playablility, so much easier to do glissandos and less clickity clack and "zing" string noise. I still like the roundwounds for the sizzling kinda' mwah I get on my fretless, and I find that I want the rounds for some high, melodic kinda' stuff I do at times. Overall, though, I am, in fact, a flatwound convert.
+1 EXACTLY how I feel. I'm in a classic rock cover band and there's about three-four songs per night out of 30+ where I miss the round wound sound. But for the most part, the flats just plain make the band sound better...
i bet you all knew this, but....i learn the hard way sometimes.
inspired by this thread, i installed a set of La Bella flats on my Rogue Violin Hofner copy bass just the other day, and have found that it's THE sound i've been chasing for quite some time....
The flats in combination with the Rogue hollow body's decided lack of sustain just works and sounds sooo right for Rock n' Roll....
Count me in as another flatwound convert, i'm convinced ! i'm going to try a set of Chromes on my Cort Curbow5 next....
Thanx to Sundogue (the OP) for the thought provoking thread/topic, much appreciated !
inspired by this thread, i installed a set of La Bella flats on my Rogue Violin Hofner copy bass just the other day, and have found that it's THE sound i've been chasing for quite some time....
The flats in combination with the Rogue hollow body's decided lack of sustain just works and sounds sooo right for Rock n' Roll....
Count me in as another flatwound convert, i'm convinced ! i'm going to try a set of Chromes on my Cort Curbow5 next....
Thanx to Sundogue (the OP) for the thought provoking thread/topic, much appreciated !
Forgive me my flat wound brethren, but I almost fell off the wagon this week. I came "this close" to putting on rounds again, but managed to somehow hold off the urge. We had a gig at a small club with house PA support and toward the end of the night I ventured to the back of the room with my wireless to listen.
What was I thinking? Man, the band sounded big, sounded good, and the crowd was having a great time. Somebody slap me next time I get that urge...
What was I thinking? Man, the band sounded big, sounded good, and the crowd was having a great time. Somebody slap me next time I get that urge...
I do think generally, flats make the band sound a bit better. But... after playing the chromes for 6+ months, I put a set of SS Lo-Riders back on my stingray yesterday, and I'm really glad I did. The band still sounds good, but I sound much better and am inspired to play in different ways, melodically. And I can still roll off a lot of treble and hi-mids to get maybe 80% of the thump or old school sound from before (if I ever feel like it).
That said, I will miss the chromes on my stingray occasionally, and I'm keeping chromes on my P-bass.
For many rock bands where the bass isn't doing anything too fancy, flats are the way to go.
That said, I will miss the chromes on my stingray occasionally, and I'm keeping chromes on my P-bass.
For many rock bands where the bass isn't doing anything too fancy, flats are the way to go.
I think I've just joined the flatwound club. Put a set of TI flats on my '74 Fender Precision and it sounds gorgeous. Can't wait to try them out with the band on Tuesday. I may have to string my fiver with a set after hearing and feeling these beauties. I really like the tension and managed to maintain the low action that I like without too much buzz. I was worried that the tension of the TI flats might cause me to have to resort to using a higher action, especially since the Precision has a jazz neck which is getting a bit tired with age. But, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, the TIs do the trick. 
-1 I beg to differ: McCartney, Jamerson, Wyman just to start the list of a few players who are plenty fancy on flats...
I did a Blues gig tonight in a room from hell,no PA support.The room turned my P-Bass with Chromes into nothing but boomy mud,and no amount of EQ helped. Grabbed the Jazz with Rounds and it saved me. For me,as much as I love my P with flats...some rooms just don't.
Well, point taken, but I didn't say you can't be fancy with flats. But I feel if you're sticking to roots, might as well play them for the bigger sound.
Since Ive switched to flatwounds Ive noticed some things I would have never considered before. Flats are powerful strings. Using a pick with flatwounds when you are locked in with the drummer is just plain POWER. but with Flats the RHYTHM SECTION has that sound that just punches people in the chest and smacks them upside the head. With flats its ALL about the power of the low end. I no longer give a crap if anyone notices me. I only care that they are grooving to the whole band.
For those who are thinking about switching to flats. Consider why you play bass and what you feel your role is within the context of the band. You certainly dont have to stand in the background and play root notes just because you play with flats. But you should think about yourself as a musician in a band. And if you play in a rock band, consider what ROCK music is all about and how you fit into it as the bass player in the rhythm section. Flats do not need to be dull. In fact, in many ways bright flats have more snap and bite than even rounds do (in a different way), especially in a live setting. Rounds sound brighter when playing alone, but more like a guitar in a band setting. With flats the opposite is true. Flats sound duller alone but more distinct in a band setting than rounds do. I feel that its all in how flats seem to produce more fundamental of each note without weird overtones. From the lowest note to the highest, with flats the notes smack you in the face instead of singing to you. Perhaps thats why Im a flat convert. I realized I didnt want my bass to sing I want it to hit you and knock your lazy ass off that barstool.
NOTE: Apologies to roundwound low end guitards and lazy drunks. No offense intended.
I tell you what, I had to borrow a buddy of mines bass, he had a shcecter studio.. My G&L tribute was in the shop. I didnt like the 35" scale but I did sorta like his half rounds..
Before I got my bass back from the shop, I asked that they install some half rounds.. when I picked up the bass, I was told they did not have any half rounds in stock and they installed instead a set of d'addario chromes.. and only charged me half price for them.
well I was sorta disappointed too, bc alone practicing, they sounded like doo doo... when I got em to rehearsal with the band, I tweaked my EQ... and set set my gain about 1 click higher and they sounder good in the mix.. next gig.. running through, my amp.. and PA.. my bass was coming through loud and clear.. after the first set, the sound man came up and said "i dont know what you changed up but your sound id phenomenal tonight and your cutting through with a more cleaner and balanced tone"...
Then after the gig, I had a lot of people come up and said they could hear me better and the band sounded more tighted and not as muddy...
My drummer told me that he had no problems at all hearing me that night... and the flats.. do punch hard in the back and chest...
That was 4 years ago... I've been hooked ever since and I've tried a few different brands such as LaBella, D'Addario, Fender and Rotosound... so far I like the Rorosounds the best.
If you'r thinking about just try a set, im sure you'll like em.. and one more thing.. if you are a rock player or metal player..definitely a good string.. makes your bass lines smooth without all of the fret noise, and sliding is so smooth...
Just listening to the first Maiden albums. How can you not love the classic P-bass tone? Too bad we don't all have Steve's mix!
I actually just purchased a P-Bass and plan on stringing it up with flats as soon as I get it. Hopefully I recieve it tomorrow, so I can string it up with flats in the afternoon before my show tomorrow night. I'll be sure to post my experience.
Maybe with so many of us rediscovering the greatness of the mighty flatwound, and the economic virtues of not have to cut down so many metal trees because flats last 80x longer than rounds--we should have a "cash for clankers program" to get all those nasty polluting the sound waves rounds off the streets? So what we we don't have the money!
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