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Confessions of a Flatwound convert...

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#141
OK, I switched out my slightly dead-ish SS LowRiders for Chromes on my Sadowsky 5 last night, tried it out at low volume through my Eden/DB112 rig.

I love the smooth feel, almost makes me feel like I'm playing an upright. I was surprised how similar they sounded to the rounds though. There's a bit more extra "woof" on the bottom, and the high range on the G and D strings is rounder. But the sustain and highs are not as different as I thought they would be. Motown licks sound nicer, and a solid groove seems more focused, but so far they sound as bright as I would need (On a Jazz, I tend to be a bridge-pickup-burp-with-boosted-lows kind of guy).

Sundogue, I'm really glad you posted this thread, lots of us are being inspired to take the leap. I can't wait to try it out next week, got rehearsals with 2 different bands and a jam.
 
#142
Sundogue said:
My intent was for it to be more of a declaration of what it means for me to be a bass player. It just so happened that rediscovering flatwound strings enlightened me. Part of what being a bass player is all about is to lose one's ego. I don't care to be a star. I don't play bass to get accolades from anyone, I just want to share the beauty and power of rhythm...that force that makes people move involuntarily.
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Not me...had I known the bass player would be so ignored by people, I'd have practiced guitar more ;) I just use flats now because I like the attack. I'm still every bit as much a ham as I ever was...fortunately I can croak out some lead vocals so that takes some of the sting off being ignored as a bassist :bassist:
 
#145
JimmyM said:
Not me...had I known the bass player would be so ignored by people, I'd have practiced guitar more ;) I just use flats now because I like the attack. I'm still every bit as much a ham as I ever was...fortunately I can croak out some lead vocals so that takes some of the sting off being ignored as a bassist :bassist:
Click to expand...

Well, as a bass player I have no ego. As an entertainer, with A LOT of good looking women shakin' it on the dance floor, I am ALL EGO...with a wireless!!! ;)
 
#147
I'm a life-long flatwound guy. I never cared for rounds, but I agree that some players get amazing tones from roundwounds. I like the LaBella 760FM's ... the tension, feel, basically everything about them is great IMO ....

I got an email last night from a younger bassist that was at my Friday night gig last week. He was asking how I got the tone that I did ... actually, here is the relevent portion of his email:

"What is causing your bass to be so defined? I mean, they are smoking basses and I'm sure they cost a fortune, but I never herd [sic] a tone like that. Or is it that small amp set up with the yellow front? [he's talking about a MarkBass CMD121P with a Traveler 151P cab] You weren't to loud or anything, but your bass sound was like I got hit in the stomach with a bat"

I had a one word response to those questions:

"Flatwounds" ... :cool:
 
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#148
Sadowsky Flats are my favorite flatwound.
I've only used four string sets in the 105.
Great medium tension and nice mids, great feel.


I've tried Chromes, DR, TI, Lakland which are all nice.

DR were really nice sounding but I didn't care for the feel and that butt ugly gold wrapping.

The Lakland flats sounded very good on my Lakland Joe too.

Chromes were just ok.

TI's loved them when I first put them on then straight down hill from there. Sound good but don't care for the light tension. Very middy.
 
#149
smeet said:
I tried TI flats on a bass years ago, and as I remember they were VERY low tension even compared to rounds. If you play with a heavy touch, the string will "bottom out" on every note.
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I retried my TI flats again on my P and remembered why I took them off in the first place. The tension on them is horrible. Even with the action raised way above reasonable they do bottom out on the frets, especially lower down. They're off again and can now be finally disposed of. I guess I need to seek out another brand and give flats another shot. I had thought that TI flats were the schniz, but they don't seem to work for me.
 
#150
Sufenta said:
I retried my TI flats again on my P and remembered why I took them off in the first place. The tension on them is horrible. Even with the action raised way above reasonable they do bottom out on the frets, especially lower down. They're off again and can now be finally disposed of. I guess I need to seek out another brand and give flats another shot. I had thought that TI flats were the schniz, but they don't seem to work for me.
Click to expand...

I play my TI flats with low low action. They pretty much lay on the fretboard. Play with a light touch and (assuming you've got nice level frets) you get effortless fretting for hours and no buzz, just fat tone. But they do require a light touch, so if that's not your thing I can see why you'd ditch them.
 
#151
Mastermold said:
I play my TI flats with low low action. They pretty much lay on the fretboard. Play with a light touch and (assuming you've got nice level frets) you get effortless fretting for hours and no buzz, just fat tone. But they do require a light touch, so if that's not your thing I can see why you'd ditch them.
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Yeah, I dig in pretty hard with a pick most of the time. No other roundwound string at low action has ever buzzed like the TIs do. So what are the higher or highest tension flats?
 
#152
Sufenta said:
I retried my TI flats again on my P and remembered why I took them off in the first place. The tension on them is horrible. Even with the action raised way above reasonable they do bottom out on the frets, especially lower down. They're off again and can now be finally disposed of. I guess I need to seek out another brand and give flats another shot. I had thought that TI flats were the schniz, but they don't seem to work for me.
Click to expand...

It doesn't make sense to me that you had the fret problems with the TI's. Granted, you may have that problem with any flats you try, but I have TI nickel flats on my bass, and have the action as low as I can get it, with no buzz. My bass is a 36" scale five string though, so that might have something to do with it.

There are a number of P players in this thread, and although I don't recall them having as much of a problem with TI's and the action problems you mentioned. It's too bad, because flats have their place, especially on a funk and groove machine like a p-bass.

Any P players out there that have encountered what Sufenta went through, especially with TI's?
 
#153
Sufenta said:
Yeah, I dig in pretty hard with a pick most of the time. No other roundwound string at low action has ever buzzed like the TIs do. So what are the higher or highest tension flats?
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Flats generally are high tension -- TIs are the exception. But if you want higher tension flats I'd suggest La Bellas 760FS or 760FM flats or Fender 9050M flats. Both companies make lighter guages but those guages are really stiff.
 
#154
sixway said:
It doesn't make sense to me that you had the fret problems with the TI's. Granted, you may have that problem with any flats you try, but I have TI nickel flats on my bass, and have the action as low as I can get it, with no buzz. My bass is a 36" scale five string though, so that might have something to do with it.

There are a number of P players in this thread, and although I don't recall them having as much of a problem with TI's and the action problems you mentioned. It's too bad, because flats have their place, especially on a funk and groove machine like a p-bass.

Any P players out there that have encountered what Sufenta went through, especially with TI's?
Click to expand...

TI flats + P-bass = magic tone. IMO.
 
#157
I looked at my TI package, and they're Jazz Flats, with the gauge being a medium according to the numbers on the back. They are a tad stiff, especially with the 36" scale, but as I've read in other threads throughout TalkBass, I think with flats it pays to turn up the volume on the amp, and play a little softer on the strings. I do tend to dig in at times, as I play in loud rock groups on occasion, but the flats are ideal for the semi-unplugged blues bands I play in also. In other words, let the amp do the work, i.e. volume, for you, and you'll get less buzz from the frets, as the strings don't have to vibrate as much.

Of course, I know that won't always work, but it is a rule of thumb. It works for Jeff Berlin! :)
 
#158
sixway said:
It doesn't make sense to me that you had the fret problems with the TI's. Granted, you may have that problem with any flats you try, but I have TI nickel flats on my bass, and have the action as low as I can get it, with no buzz. My bass is a 36" scale five string though, so that might have something to do with it.

They are a tad stiff, especially with the 36" scale…..
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Thanks, sixway. I didn't know how the TI's would fit on my 5-string 35+" scale bass. I have a good idea now. I attempted to try Chromes on my bass, but the B-string was not long enough. So I also had reservations about the TI Jazz Flats.

Also, I've heard time and time again about the tension issue of the TI strings. This, I believe, also has to do with the scale of the bass.

So, I'm going to go ahead a try them out and see how they are.
 
#159
idoker said:
Thanks, sixway. I didn't know how the TI's would fit on my 5-string 35+" scale bass. I have a good idea now. I attempted to try Chromes on my bass, but the B-string was not long enough. So I also had reservations about the TI Jazz Flats.

Also, I've heard time and time again about the tension issue of the TI strings. This, I believe, also has to do with the scale of the bass.

So, I'm going to go ahead a try them out and see how they are.
Click to expand...

If you use Chromes on a 35" scale bass, you need the Super Longs. I have the Regulars on my 34" scale and I could see how they'd be a tad short on a 35". Chromes have a very solid, tight low B that doesn't sound like it's out of place with the rest of the set.
 
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#160
Welp, after tonight, I think I'm sold on the Chromes. I brought my 69 SVT to its first gig in over 11 years after getting it restored, and I saw God! The bottom end was massive but never muddy, and there was just enough extra treble with the 810's as opposed to the 215 rig I've been using to make it sound snappier on the attack but not twangy. So I think I'm going to stick with the Chromes and the SVT...back trouble, here I come!
 
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