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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#1,021
Here is a great way to A/B the sound of Flats vs. Rounds:
Invalid Link Removed. pick any bass you like but you can really see how flats fill out a song a little better.

I've been moving in this direction. First with GHS Pressurewounds which I love and I recently bought a set of GHS Brite Flats which I love even more.

Years ago I let a set of rounds go completely dead and kept them because I loved the tone. Recorded an album with them. Preview of things to come I guess.
 
#1,022
Holy cow, this thread has legs!

I still can't decide if I want Chromes or XL's on my main P Lyte. There is so much to like about the Chromes now that they've settled in. I love that dead tone where you goose up the treble a bit and you get that smack in the attack. But I'm not crazy about the feel of flats. And I've been letting my rounds go dead, but I recently decided I don't like that either. Instead of sounding full and smacky with the treble, they sound boxy. And the guitarist in my regular band thinks I sound a lot better with new rounds, and I always try to respect his and the rest of the guys' opinions. Nobody else cares but him so it's not like I'm stuck with rounds if I don't want them, but I do try to play along with everyone's likes and dislikes.

And still the flats keep calling me to play them. This could easily be solved if I brought 2 basses to every gig, but I already bring an upright and a tube amp to most of my gigs. And I don't like changing basses during a show. I do it occasionally but something disastrous always happens eventually, so I don't do it nearly as much anymore.

Sigh...what to do...what to do...
 
#1,024
JimmyM said:
Holy cow, this thread has legs!


And still the flats keep calling me to play them. This could easily be solved if I brought 2 basses to every gig, but I already bring an upright and a tube amp to most of my gigs. And I don't like changing basses during a show. I do it occasionally but something disastrous always happens eventually, so I don't do it nearly as much anymore.

Sigh...what to do...what to do...
Click to expand...

+1 with your feelings about changing basses at the gig. A total pain and just inviting disaster. However, have you already tried TI Flats? I have found that the D and G string have an amazing warmth, presence and clarity without the annoying Zing and lack of volume that I get with even the best rounds if I play any notes on the G string. Also, the guages on the D and G, and corresponding tension are relatively normal. I don't really notice the lowered tension until I get to the E and A strings. But, now that I have had a couple weeks to adjust to that lowered tension, I have found that the small gauge allows these strings to be brighter and sustain more than normal flats would.
Maybe these strings could satisfy your yearning to play flats, and satisfy your drummer...
 
#1,025
A flatwound odyssey

I used the GHS Pressurewound strings the ones with the oval wrap, for years on a P bass but as they went dead I too was getting that boxy thing going on.


Then I made the switch to a Jazz bass and used nickel rounds, they worked very well in a three piece with the guitar player using a 2x12 tube amp and a Gibson SG, the P bass was just dipping into the guitars sonic territory, the Jazz with rounds cut much better.

Not using the P bass as much I tried XL Chromes on it "perfect" great bottom with an edge. Still using them.

Times change new guitar player, Strat with a 4x10 Super Reverb ... now the Jazz with rounds are in his sonic space Uhhh! :hmm:

The P bass sounds great with the Strat, but I still like playing the Jazz ... OK lets try XL Chromes on it, nada :scowl: not what I was looking for. The Chromes on the 73 maple neck Jazz was not right, the edge I liked on the P bass was just over the top on the Jazz. OK then maybe TI flats ... "Perfect"

Anyone tried the flats from that webstrings site ... gotta love the prices!

Felixwhistlethumb.jpg
...
 
#1,027
I had been using TI flats on my pbass for almost a year, but recenty changed them over to rounds. In my experience, the flats didn't fit in any better than rounds. It is all about EQ anyway. What I have noticed is that when in the full band mix, the higher end zing of rounds can get lost, but the fundamental lows are still there, which is what the flats sound like too, but even when soloed. So if anything, I would prefer having the rounds for parts of the song where the bass stands out more, where the listeners can hear that extra bit from rounds. I have had no problem getting any of the clarity or punch or any other "virtue" that many feel are exclusive to flats. There's my "Confessions of someone who has experience with both"...

IMO,YMMV,blah blah blah
 
#1,028
engedi1 said:
+1 with your feelings about changing basses at the gig. A total pain and just inviting disaster. However, have you already tried TI Flats? I have found that the D and G string have an amazing warmth, presence and clarity without the annoying Zing and lack of volume that I get with even the best rounds if I play any notes on the G string. Also, the guages on the D and G, and corresponding tension are relatively normal. I don't really notice the lowered tension until I get to the E and A strings. But, now that I have had a couple weeks to adjust to that lowered tension, I have found that the small gauge allows these strings to be brighter and sustain more than normal flats would.
Maybe these strings could satisfy your yearning to play flats, and satisfy your drummer...
Click to expand...
Guitarist, actually, and yes I've tried them, and they're a string that people either love or hate, and I hated them. And the reasons you cited for loving them are the exact reasons I didn't like them ;) I'd rather play rounds if I'm playing a bright and twangy string.
 
#1,033
JimmyM said:
I still can't decide if I want Chromes or XL's on my main P Lyte. There is so much to like about the Chromes now that they've settled in. I love that dead tone where you goose up the treble a bit and you get that smack in the attack. But I'm not crazy about the feel of flats. And I've been letting my rounds go dead, but I recently decided I don't like that either.
Click to expand...

You might give the GHS Pressurewounds a try. Best of both worlds. I liked the SIT Silencers as well but when they died down a bit the tone went a little flat for my tastes. Pressurewounds still have a bit of a ridge to them and a little more top end but not as "bright" as rounds. I'm currently trying some Brite Flats and I think these might be the ticket for me.
 
#1,036
I've been using the 50-105 Chromes, with a 132 B string. I love the feel and sound, but I really want a thinner B... Even though the 105 E is thick sounding, the B is still too big and heavy sounding in comparison. It seems D'Addario only makes the B in the 132 gauge??? Very disappointing...
 
#1,037
Sundogue... By far the best thread i have read on tb yet!!! Hands down!! Well done.

It is really thought provoking and I really feel every person who plays in a rock band can relate.

I love the way you have shared with everyone and i can see why some might get righteous over rounds vs flats but in all honesty whats the big deal.. Try em if you like em great if not then so be it. The reason why it might strike a chord:D with some and maybe they dont wanna admit it is because we have all at some time struggled to CUT THROUGH THE MIX:spit:

I have the same problem at the moment - i gotta tweak the mids and highs to be heard and have been puzzling over this for a while now.

Many thanks. I am a semi - convert :hyper: Ordered a set of chromes which might take a week or so to arrive (small town South Africa :crying:) and hopefully i have the same epiphony you did.

Many thanks for the very insightful read - it was a pleasure reading everyones thoughts and comments. Just outta curiousity - what makes us so reluctant in the first place lol..

Comfort zone i bet:ninja:

Stay well Bassers!!!
 
#1,038
Thanks for the awesome thread!

I'm just getting back into playing after about 10-years off due to an injury. So far, so good...

Anyway, went to GC this weekend abought an Acoustic B200, which is good. But the Chromes I put on by Ibanex SR500 stole the show. Finally, the tone and feel I've been looking for for 32 years have arrived!

Now I just need to get my hands in playing shape.

Thanks for all the input.

-S
 
#1,040
I have a set of Lakland Joe Osborn Flats on my 55-94. They sound incredible all the way down to the B string. (Guess they are really GHS Precision Flats) Nice thick defined notes in the upper register without "thinning out" as rounds can which get lost with guitars and keys.
The thing I found with Flats is that every note counts....each note is authoritive. There is heft and punch behind them.

I also have TI's on my Pbass. Just great sounding and very punchy strings and I really dig them alot. I have no problem with the tension at all as I see some may have. The Joe Osborns are just slightly stiffer and of course their gauge is heavier.

**Does anyone hear have TI's on their 55-94/55-02 and how do you like them on it? Experiences? Do they fit on the 35" scale? Through bridge or body? Thanks.
 
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