Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

[chadhargis]

Know what you mean. I was expecting the flats to sound...well....flat. But they are anything but. I ended up having to roll out nearly all of the high end and a good chunk of mids to get that smooth deep tone I'm going after.

I don't want any "rasp" or growl in my tone. I want it to be like liquid. Smooth and deep.

 

[Sundogue]

Know what you mean. I was expecting the flats to sound...well....flat. But they are anything but. I ended up having to roll out nearly all of the high end and a good chunk of mids to get that smooth deep tone I'm going after.

I don't want any "rasp" or growl in my tone. I want it to be like liquid. Smooth and deep.

Chromes are a different beast than most other flats. They are very mid forward and IMO, don't ever really "settle" where they ever sound like traditional flats.

I've had my Chromes on my bass for over a year now and even though I've taken them off a couple of times (tried some rounds occasionally ) every time I put them back on they were still brighter than the rounds they replaced. So even after a year they don't sound significantly different than the day I put them on.

So if you use Chromes and don't like that mid punch they offer, you'll have to EQ it out. But, I do believe it's always easier to EQ things out than to try and EQ something in that isn't there to begin with.

 

[chadhargis]

I do EQ out the mids quite a bit. On my bass, it's not really "punch" as much as it is "growl" when I turn up the mids.

I've discovered that playing very gently with my right hand gives me more of the sound I'm looking for. The smooth, fluid sound. I guess what I don't like is the high "attack".

Like you said, it's nice to have it if you want it, and EQ it out if you don't. That's what the Chromes are giving me. I'm thinking my Barts are just REALLY hot on the mids and highs. The bass would have a great slap tone if I knew how to do it. LOL!

 

[engedi1]

You may be surprised how much you like those mids in a live situation. I have found with TI flats that I might be tempted to dial down the tone knob in my practice room, but in the real world, those upper mids are what get heard!

 

[Sundogue]

You may be surprised how much you like those mids in a live situation. I have found with TI flats that I might be tempted to dial down the tone knob in my practice room, but in the real world, those upper mids are what get heard!

Without question, any judging should be done in a live gig setting. What sounds good at home very seldom cuts it on a gig.

And yes, mids are where it's at playing with a full band, but it depends on genre and volume levels. A typical hard rock band setting requires mids to cut through the mix and the Chromes are very mid forward, so even if one doesn't like their tone at home (I don't), on a gig they just punch you in the chest.

 

[chadhargis]

I've got plenty of mids, even with the mids dialed down.

I keep my amp mids flat, and on my bass pre amp, I have a selectable switch. I have it set at 500hz, so I have lots of good low mid punch.

 

[JackANSI]

I never really had a preference between flat or round.. Before..

I totally experienced what the OP said, except I've always wanted to just be part of a powerful rhythm section and didn't care one bit about standing out. Flats were just the missing piece of the puzzle. It was like someone took and out of focus picture and sharpened it up to perfection.

 

[Sundogue]

I never really had a preference between flat or round.. Before..

I totally experienced what the OP said, except I've always wanted to just be part of a powerful rhythm section and didn't care one bit about standing out. Flats were just the missing piece of the puzzle. It was like someone took and out of focus picture and sharpened it up to perfection.

 

[chadhargis]

I'm right there with you Jack.

At 38 years old, I'm more than a day late at picking up my first musical instrument. I realize that even if I practice for hours a day, I'll die before I ever become as good as a Victor Wooten or others who have played since they were kids. I'm never going to be Jaco or Geddy.

My goal is to be able to be part of said rhythm section. Get toes tapping and heads bobbing. Have fun enjoying playing music. As a singer, I've played the role of backup many times. Either singing backup vocals, or as part of a choir. While I'd give about anything to be the front man, I don't have the looks or the talent to pull it off, so I'm content to just be on the stage and do my part to make it a better show.

As a bass player, I'll be more than happy to play a support role. Let the guitar player or lead singer take center stage with all eyes on them while I pound out solid, simple, non flashy rhythmic bass lines.

I want my playing to be felt as much (or more) than it is heard. A deep pounding THUD, THUD, THUD like a pile driver hitting you in the chest. That's the sound I'm after. Deep, hard hitting bass. Leave the high up the neck noodling to the guitar player.

Thankfully I play a five string so I don't have to worry about it, but if I had a 4 string, it would get strung up BEAD.

The only G string I want to play should be on a sexy woman.

 

[engedi1]

Without question, any judging should be done in a live gig setting. What sounds good at home very seldom cuts it on a gig.

And yes, mids are where it's at playing with a full band, but it depends on genre and volume levels. A typical hard rock band setting requires mids to cut through the mix and the Chromes are very mid forward, so even if one doesn't like their tone at home (I don't), on a gig they just punch you in the chest.

In my last band, which was a rock/americana band consisting of loud drummer, elec guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals, I found myself boosting low mids and upper mids to get a great live sound. This sounded aweful when playing by yourself, but totally thumped live! This was with TI Flats, although I found the same setting were necessary I used DR HighBeams or Lowriders or whatever round I used.

 

[maestrovert]

My goal is to be able to be part of said rhythm section. Get toes tapping and heads bobbing. Have fun enjoying playing music.

THAT is what it's all about !

 

[dagrev]

...Well, to make a long story short, they did. That said, I am very intrigued, to say the least, about how different brands of flats would sound in my situation. My issue is this - one of the things I like about flats is the fact that I've had them on for about six months now and they sound the same every time I play them, they just don't wear out. Buying a bunch of different brands of flats would defeat the purpose of saving money by never having to change my strings, like I did with rounds.

Right now, I only have one bass, my trusty Fender J. I'm saving my pennies to pick up a P so I can truly have the "P bass with flats" tone everybody raves about.... I'm doing my best to avoid the urge to try out every brand of flats out there in search of flat wound tone heaven. I tell you what, I have the willpower of a junkie in a crack house. Every time I go to the music store I get pulled toward the string display. I need a twelve step program for G.A.S.

Don't resist the urge. Go ahead and try the TI's. My favorite on a Pbass by far, and I really like them on my Jazz too (They sound good on my '55 Pbass as well). They have good bottom and punch like nothing else. The tension works great and actually feels really, really good. If you don't like them you can always sell them here.

 

[Sundogue]

^^^^THAT, is an awesome looking bass!!!^^^^

 

[JSK5String]

Don't resist the urge. Go ahead and try the TI's. My favorite on a Pbass by far, and I really like them on my Jazz too (They sound good on my '55 Pbass as well). They have good bottom and punch like nothing else. The tension works great and actually feels really, really good. If you don't like them you can always sell them here.

Dude, you're no help at all! Every set of strings I'd buy puts me that much farther away from buying a new 5-string P Bass. I'm going to try to hold off until I get the P, THEN I'll pick up some TI's, as I'd have to get a set of flats anyway.

Remind me not to choose you as my sponsor if I ever have to join AA!

 

[Sundogue]

Dude, you're no help at all! Every set of strings I'd buy puts me that much farther away from buying a new 5-string P Bass. I'm going to try to hold off until I get the P, THEN I'll pick up some TI's, as I'd have to get a set of flats anyway.

Remind me not to choose you as my sponsor if I ever have to join AA!

I have both TI's and Chromes and while the TI's are great strings, they settle in and become more mellow (in a good way) whereas the Chromes maintain that punch far longer. In fact, my Chromes are about a year old and they are still pretty much as bright as the day I put them on. The TI's sound more like (but not just like) traditional flats now (they did not at first).

Of course the tension is different between the two and I prefer tighter strings, but the Chromes are reserved for my classic rock and the TI's are for my mellower projects.

Chromes are just a different type of flatwound. They are like an aggressive, roundwound-like flat in that they seem to have more punch, clarity and can even sound clanky and bright when slapped. Yet they also have that killer thumping punch to them like all flats do. Even after a year! If someone is looking for Chromes to settle down and give them that traditional thump of an old school flat, good luck with that.

Chromes are THE perfect string for classic rock IMO because they give one most all the benefits of both flats and rounds and do so for a very, very long time without string changes.

Wanna know how to keep from buying new roundwounds once a month? Use Chromes! Seriously, for a flat they are bright, and unlike a round they keep that brightness literally forever.

Just another opinion.

 

[CamiloDíaz]

Being a LaBella type of fellow, I'm dying to try some Chromes. But, I need another bass first (fatherhood left me with just one bass and we all know that isn't enough, we need at least two). Thing is both the new bass I'm after and the Chromes don't sell here in Chile, so I have to import directly, which means I'm gonna be horribly ripped off by the authorities in terms of entry taxes and the likes. But I don't care if it is for a good cause: A P-bass in Chromes. I just hear that tone every time I'm writing new stuff. I need it!!!!

 

[dagrev]

I hate to be the first one on this thread to somewhat disagree , but...I find that my Chromes remain bright--no doubt about that--but my TIs have more mids that stand out like no flat I've tried. These mids seem to add some punch unlike other flats I've tired. In fact I won't use them on a couple basses because they are already a little heavy in the mids (L2Ks). The TIs don't seem to be as deep in the low end as the Chromes, which is why I think they sound great on Pbass. That being said I like them both really well. I recently bought some LaBellas and they have a different kind of mid presence and my least favorite of the three (I think). All three are very different and can be great choices.

Sorry to ruin the thread my being the first to have a contrary opinion!!

 

[Sundogue]

I hate to be the first one on this thread to somewhat disagree , but...I find that my Chromes remain bright--no doubt about that--but my TIs have more mids that stand out like no flat I've tried. These mids seem to add some punch unlike other flats I've tired. In fact I won't use them on a couple basses because they are already a little heavy in the mids (L2Ks). The TIs don't seem to be as deep in the low end as the Chromes, which is why I think they sound great on Pbass. That being said I like them both really well. I recently bought some LaBellas and they have a different kind of mid presence and my least favorite of the three (I think). All three are very different and can be great choices.

Sorry to ruin the thread my being the first to have a contrary opinion!!

It's OK. You're entitled to be wrong.

jk.

 

[blowabs]

Theres's a 1st time for everything.....but hey,Dog, Dog, you don't think this guy Dagreve is right???!!!!!!

 

[Deep]

What I think is cool about Chromes and TI's is that we have a choice of flats that aren't a typical flat in tone. Not a one trick pony flatwound. They get into that roundwound territory too. Brightness..midrange growl..sustain. They are both great strings.