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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#1,401
I'll make this a little more interesting. Listen to "A Town Called Malice" by the Jam or any song on the "Look Sharp" and "I'm The Man" albums by Joe Jackson, especially "Sunday Papers", "I'm the Man" and "Baby Stick Around."

All songs recorded on passive Fender J Bass with BLACK NYLON ROUNDWOUNDS!

Tell me the sound isn't killer!
 
#1,402
TRichardsbass said:
I'll make this a little more interesting. Listen to "A Town Called Malice" by the Jam or any song on the "Look Sharp" and "I'm The Man" albums by Joe Jackson, especially "Sunday Papers", "I'm the Man" and "Baby Stick Around."

All songs recorded on passive Fender J Bass with BLACK NYLON ROUNDWOUNDS!

Tell me the sound isn't killer!
Click to expand...

I agree. It is killer. Of course, I also think Squire's and Geddy's tone is killer too (for what they are doing). Before I went full out to flats, I used tapewounds (which are in fact rounds covered in nylon tape) and they cop a great flat tone, although they keep some of the characteristics of rounds (longer sustain for one).

But I still prefer the tone of my Chromes to tapewounds. You gotta go with what works best for whatever you're playing.
 
#1,404
CapnSev said:
I've done it with Sadowsky, TI, and EB flats with zero issues.
Click to expand...

I'm certainly not saying it will be an issue 100% of the time.... I've run TI's and Fender flats through body with zero issues. All I'm saying is the design doesn't lend itself well to it. It wasn't until I did it with the chromes on my P that I experienced an issue.

The radius created by the corner of each winding driving into the core is tighter than the radius of the break angle, which results in stress risers on the core. It makes sense if you think about it...... and like I mentioned, it's probably the reason Labella recommends against it on their traditional flats.
 
#1,406
I usually practice on a bass with either Labella 760FS or, currently, rounds. But I have been practicing with my bass strung with Chromes. I love the Chromes in a rock band, but I don't like how they sound straight to the mixer.

I guess what I am trying to say is: don't judge Chromes by how they sound at home. You have to use them in a band setting.

Surprisingly, I love the sound of Labella's, either 760FL or 760FS, at home.
 
#1,410
engedi1 said:
Yeah. Flats are for suckers. ;)
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Well then, count me as the suckiest sucker who ever sucked! :D I just finished converting both my basses over. I have a set of TI Jazz Flats on the EBMM Sterling Classic that is really a Stingray (pickup swap) and the new Fender 9050's on the Ric. I have only played each for a few minutes, but based on feel I am DONE! I can't wait to try them out at the next jam session!
You know, this thread has really been a revelation for me. There are so many string posts about how to "cut through in the mix" and I think they are almost exculsively written by folks who play rounds. Here we are, the bass players, fighting over sonic territory with the guitars when we have a nice comfy place tailor made for us that flats settle us into just right. Playing rounds and ignoring flats is like having the keys to a nice, big house with plenty of space, but refusing to move in because we would rather live in a tiny, crowded apartment and fight for every inch of space that we usually can't hang on to anyway! It's madness, I say! Pure madness! :spit:
Well, with all this talk of conversions and revelations, I say Sundogue should be known as St. Sundogue, patron saint of cutting through in the mix, and that this thread should become a sticky, his shrine, if you will.
Enough typing, time to go put these fingers on some flats. AMEN! :bassist:

LEL
 
#1,411
Low End Lover said:
You know, this thread has really been a revelation for me. There are so many string posts about how to "cut through in the mix" and I think they are almost exculsively written by folks who play rounds. Here we are, the bass players, fighting over sonic territory with the guitars when we have a nice comfy place tailor made for us that flats settle us into just right. Playing rounds and ignoring flats is like having the keys to a nice, big house with plenty of space, but refusing to move in because we would rather live in a tiny, crowded apartment and fight for every inch of space that we usually can't hang on to anyway! It's madness, I say! Pure madness! :spit:
Click to expand...

Well put.

Low End Lover said:
Well, with all this talk of conversions and revelations, I say Sundogue should be known as St. Sundogue, patron saint of cutting through in the mix, and that this thread should become a sticky, his shrine, if you will.
Click to expand...

Aw shucks. :cool:
 
#1,413
I'm a beginner (but experienced musician) and I bought two basses:

a Steinberger synapse fretted and a Godin A4 semi-acoustic fretless.

The Steinberger came with rounds, the Godin with flats. The two basses (as one would expect) sound totally different. Though I like the Steinberger a lot, it tends to sound on the brittle-synthy side. I tend to favor a more earthy sound (which I get on the Godin). I'm into jazz and roots music mostly.

Anyway, I just received a set of flats that I ordered for the Steinberger and I'm going to try them to see if I like its sound better (I suspect I will). This string thing is a real eye opener....

bigtiny
 
#1,415
Hi Guys! :hyper: I used to use roundwounds but now i'm using the flatwounds and guess what i'm no longer getting lost in the mix. Don't get me wrong, roundwounds are good for slapping and tapping but there's something with the flatwounds that makes me want to come back for more. You get that solid bottom I believe Jaco and James Jamerson used flatwounds on their basses.:bassist:
 
#1,417
I've had flats on my squier 50's CV for about a year now. Chromes to be exact. Loving them ever more, in fact they just get better.

Lately, they have been starting to feel very "slinky" - dunno how to put it, but it feels great. Also, they are evening out in tone. At first, the E sounded quite diffrent from the rest, and the G was quite twangy, wich is almost gone now. I feel they are really broken in now. I hope they last for years to come.

When I pick up a bass with rounds it feels so weird now. Like barbed wire.
 
#1,420
what's the best low-tension flats or half wounds. Just bought a bass with flats and I dont know what I was thinking all these years but man just the fact that I dont get that string squeak has me hooked. I am playing country/southern rock now and I think tahts all I will ever play from here on out.

Little help folks, much appreciated.
 
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