Chef
In Memoriam
i'm talkin' DA's.
i like them on some things, but, they're not the jamerson thing, if that's your goal.
i like them on some things, but, they're not the jamerson thing, if that's your goal.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Confessions of a Flatwound convert...
- Thread starter Sundogue
- Start date
- Status
Sadowsky flats give some nice low mid growl while still sounding a lot like traditional flats. They really work for me.
I agree. Like TI's, the D'Addario Chromes are kind of unique for a flatwound. They have almost a roundwound quality to them while still retaining that Flatwound character. But Chromes are not that 'thumpy', old school flatwound at all.
I'll be putting a little "initial reaction" review of the Chromes up tonight probably after I've played on them a bit more. Having gone from TI's to the Chromes I've got a pretty good idea how they are comparatively, though I haven't played the Chromes on a live gig yet...which is always the REAL test anyway.
One Drop - nice work on the Sadowsky flat suggestion.
Sundogue - Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the TI v Chromes.
Sundogue - Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the TI v Chromes.
I just recently discovered the glory of flatwound strings played with a pick. Just picked up my first pack of nylon picks at a local shop yesterday, came home and played my SX P-bass strung with Chromes. All I could manage to say at that point was "wow".
Or this one (my initial review of the Chromes)...
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521879
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521879
alrighty, this thread got me thinking, and I saw a good deal for some new TI's for sale here and I picked them up yesterday and put them on my Geddy Lee.
Wow! They sound better than my dead DR sunbeams - deeper, crisper, more high mids. Great for fingerstyle and slap, but I wasnt to happy with the pick sound I was getting (using a thin pick for that trebly Tool type tone).
I have yet to compare these to a new set of Sunbeams, but I think I'll save alot of money by using these for the next couple of years instead of replacing my sunbeams ever couple months.
Wow! They sound better than my dead DR sunbeams - deeper, crisper, more high mids. Great for fingerstyle and slap, but I wasnt to happy with the pick sound I was getting (using a thin pick for that trebly Tool type tone).
I have yet to compare these to a new set of Sunbeams, but I think I'll save alot of money by using these for the next couple of years instead of replacing my sunbeams ever couple months.
You replace your Sunbeams every couple of months? Mine are over a year old and still sound like the day they settled in. Sunbeams are nickel and not the brightest roundwound, but they stay that way for a very long time...for me anyway.
My TI's are still very bright after 3 years. I used a pick on both and prefer the pick tone on the TI's to the finger tone. Different strokes I guess (no pun intended(.
yeah, I know sunbeams settle in and stay that way for a long time, I just dont really like that tone as much as the fresh out of the box tone. It's to dead IMO. But I havent found another roundwound string that I really like new or old, so it's what I've been doing for the last 6 months or so.
Thanks for the links. I'm getting settled in with my LaBella flats now. I love the way they feel and I can't wait to get them in a full band setting. My ear keeps adjusting to them and I've started to hear new sonic doors opening. I'm beginning to love the way diads sound, particularly the standard root/5th.
It's quite enlightening to hear your bass with flats within the context of the whole band and how the bass fits in more as part of the rhythm section.
I wasted too many years being self-absorbed with MY "tone" that I didn't realize how powerful the rhythm section could be by focusing more on OUR tone as a complete rhythm section. The synchronicity of the drummer and bass playing as one driving force is really far more interesting to me now than I ever realized.
And it's interesting (once you separate yourself from the guitars), just how wonderful a bass can sound as a bass.
Yeah I've had several experiences of trying a set of strings that I love when it's just me in my music room, but when I take the bass to rehearsal they suck. That's what finally got me hooked on TI flats. They sounded so good in the mix.
This has been a great thread so far. I have TI Nickle flats on my bass, with a 36" scale. I like the old school tone they give, and at the same time as stated by Sundogue, they sit in the pocket, and stand out in the mix, according to recordings I've made with my Olympus LS-10. Plus I can play all night, and not have raw fingertips...
I like the fact that I can slide up and down the neck, and get a semi-fretless sound rather than fret zing. I have my action set as low as I can get it, and have no string clank that is typical with roundwounds.
I play in a variety of bands - Classic Rock, Old Blues, Funk, Easy Listening, and am able to get the tone and bite I need for any situation; it's just a matter of adjusting my amp eq, or adjusting my pickups a bit. I have Aero passive humbuckers, with a four-way switch, two volumes, and tone control, and it's amazing how much tonal variance I can get between my guitar, and the parametric-like eq section of the Walter Woods I play through.
I also agree with Sundogue in the sense that I am not a solo player; would like to be, but am not. I do work a lot around town though, because I'm known for making the rhythm section solid, and am a team, or band player. The sound and song after all, is driven by the sum of all the parts.
I would say the biggest adjustment to playing flats is how there is more surface for your fingers to get caught on, and when I play roundwounds on my backup basses, it's like playing strings that have ball-bearings installed in them! So I find it helps to keep the strings clean, and hands and fingers clean and as dry as possible... which, here in Hawaii because of the humidity, can be a difficult thing to achieve!
I have thought of trying other flatwounds though, and the comments and impressions from the contributors in this thread are invaluable in deciding what other brands to try in the future. Plus, the link to the Lakland website, and the sound bytes comparing rounds to flats is a terrific place to compare strings to music styles. Great job Lakland! In fact, I played their Lt Gauge Roiundwound Nickels for a couple of years and liked them. I see they offer flats too, so that will be another brand to consider.
This is one of the most thought-provoking, and well written threads I've seen in a long time. It just proves what we've always known- bass players not only play deeper, they think deeper!
Aloha all,
Ian
I like the fact that I can slide up and down the neck, and get a semi-fretless sound rather than fret zing. I have my action set as low as I can get it, and have no string clank that is typical with roundwounds.
I play in a variety of bands - Classic Rock, Old Blues, Funk, Easy Listening, and am able to get the tone and bite I need for any situation; it's just a matter of adjusting my amp eq, or adjusting my pickups a bit. I have Aero passive humbuckers, with a four-way switch, two volumes, and tone control, and it's amazing how much tonal variance I can get between my guitar, and the parametric-like eq section of the Walter Woods I play through.
I also agree with Sundogue in the sense that I am not a solo player; would like to be, but am not. I do work a lot around town though, because I'm known for making the rhythm section solid, and am a team, or band player. The sound and song after all, is driven by the sum of all the parts.
I would say the biggest adjustment to playing flats is how there is more surface for your fingers to get caught on, and when I play roundwounds on my backup basses, it's like playing strings that have ball-bearings installed in them! So I find it helps to keep the strings clean, and hands and fingers clean and as dry as possible... which, here in Hawaii because of the humidity, can be a difficult thing to achieve!
I have thought of trying other flatwounds though, and the comments and impressions from the contributors in this thread are invaluable in deciding what other brands to try in the future. Plus, the link to the Lakland website, and the sound bytes comparing rounds to flats is a terrific place to compare strings to music styles. Great job Lakland! In fact, I played their Lt Gauge Roiundwound Nickels for a couple of years and liked them. I see they offer flats too, so that will be another brand to consider.
This is one of the most thought-provoking, and well written threads I've seen in a long time. It just proves what we've always known- bass players not only play deeper, they think deeper!
Aloha all,
Ian
I tried TI flats, but don't think I really gave them the fair, in-the-band shake that they deserved. My cart at one of our beloved bass stores is primed with 5 sets of Lo-Rider Nickles, but I think I might just hold off a bit, slap that set of TI flats back on my '72P and give them another whirl after what I've read in this thread especially that OP.
Maybe try a thicker pick.
I play Steve Harris series Rotosound Flats, finger style as well as with a 1.0mm Dunlop Tortoise pick for an aggressive attack on certain songs. I converted to flats in the early 90's. Welcome aboard fellas.
The jury is still very much out for me and flats. I love the heavy low mid, lack of sustain, and attack of dead flats. I hate the feel, though. So far I've tried LaBellas, Fenders, Rotos, TI's, and Chromes. I almost like the feel of the Chromes because they're fairly light and easy to work, but they're still not as easy to work as rounds, and they won't settle down and go as dead as I'd like. TI's were actually easier tension wise, but they feel creepy and sound like rounds to me. Rotos were less creepy but still too bright. Fenders and LaBellas sound the best to me but they're so stiff.
But I'm trying. When I hear the attack of flats as opposed to rounds, I get all warm and fuzzy and I feel like I'm on the right track soundwise, but if I could get them to have the flat attack, I'd much rather use rounds.
But I'm trying. When I hear the attack of flats as opposed to rounds, I get all warm and fuzzy and I feel like I'm on the right track soundwise, but if I could get them to have the flat attack, I'd much rather use rounds.
Hey Jimmy have you tried GHS flats?
low mid heavy and when broken in they sound and feel very "dead"
they're a lot like fenders but with lighter tension and go dead faster
but no where near as light tension as TI's or 760FL's
maybe more like chromes...
cheers
low mid heavy and when broken in they sound and feel very "dead"
they're a lot like fenders but with lighter tension and go dead faster
but no where near as light tension as TI's or 760FL's
maybe more like chromes...
cheers
Really? I never tried GHS's. Nobody carries their flats around here. But it sounds like they'd be more up my alley from your description. Thx for the tip...I'll look into them.
- Status
