Did ernie ball flatwounds save my bass ?

[GodPlayedBass]

I just switched to Ernie ball flatwound cobalts last night, and it completely eliminated the fret buzz i had on my yamaha rbx170ew. Like the fret buzz was so bad when i had round wounds on it that I was almost embarassed to play it in front of people. These cobalt flats are bright sounding, but still feel smooth as silk on your fingers. Im baffled.

 

[el jeffe bass]

If they are a higher tension string it might have put enough relief into the neck to cause the buzzing to go away.
Edited to say that I just reread your post (still early and major cog fog).
The tension with most flat wound strings is higher than most rounds so yup, probably solved your problem. Enjoy the flats.

 

[Gorn]

Your action probably went up a little and flats move around less than rounds. If you set it up and lower the action you'll probably get some buzz back and it won't be as bad.

 

[Yahboy]

If OP use Cobalt flat 2814. 45-100 gauge , it is just little stiff than roundwound 45-105. Less than GHS pressure wound ML7200.

 

[MRV]

It's definitely worth learning the effects of different string types and gauges on your bass. Keep an eye on the nut, action at the bridge, and neck relief - I've found that changing between rounds and flats almost always requires slight truss rod and saddle adjustments. You want to be able to maintain consistency with your instruments, and to dial things in for the exact sound/playability you're going for.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I've been playing nothing but flatwounds for more than 10 years. I was never able to get low action/string height like this with rounds. Glad it worked out!

 

[TheArchitect]

It's definitely worth learning the effects of different string types and gauges on your bass. Keep an eye on the nut, action at the bridge, and neck relief - I've found that changing between rounds and flats almost always requires slight truss rod and saddle adjustments. You want to be able to maintain consistency with your instruments, and to dial things in for the exact sound/playability you're going for.

Most definitely. I had to make truss rod, saddle and intonation adjustments when I switched to flats. I had to tweak them a bit more about a week later after everything settled in.

The irony is that I don't like the sound of flats "soloed" all that much. But in a mix they punch through like a beast with very little additional EQ or compression needed. I want to put labella's on the 6 string also but I think I need to keep one with rounds. Maybe I put flats on the 6 and go back to rounds on the 4 since its a better fit for slapping

 

[fourstringbliss]

Most definitely. I had to make truss rod, saddle and intonation adjustments when I switched to flats. I had to tweak them a bit more about a week later after everything settled in.

The irony is that I don't like the sound of flats "soloed" all that much. But in a mix they punch through like a beast with very little additional EQ or compression needed. I want to put labella's on the 6 string also but I think I need to keep one with rounds. Maybe I put flats on the 6 and go back to rounds on the 4 since its a better fit for slapping

Couldn't agree more! Depending on the flats you can get most of the overtones of rounds and a lot of the sustain. I've been using Sadowsky flats for years and they sound great in the mix and settle in so well.

 

[GIBrat51]

I just switched to Ernie ball flatwound cobalts last night, and it completely eliminated the fret buzz i had on my yamaha rbx170ew. Like the fret buzz was so bad when i had round wounds on it that I was almost embarassed to play it in front of people. These cobalt flats are bright sounding, but still feel smooth as silk on your fingers. Im baffled.

Yes, flatwounds did, indeed, save your bass. This is just one of the many benefits of flat wounds, that the sinister, dark forces of the International Round Wound Cabal work tirelessly to suppress any knowledge of. But, true believers in flat wound goodness have always known, and fight a never ending battle to spread the good word, and foil the evil rounds conspiracy....

 

[TheArchitect]

Yes, flatwounds did, indeed, save your bass. This is just one of the many benefits of flat wounds, that the sinister, dark forces of the International Round Wound Cabal work tirelessly to suppress any knowledge of. But, true believers in flat wound goodness have always known, and fight a never ending battle to spread the good word, and foil the evil rounds conspiracy....

Yes, their leader, Luke Fretscraper yields his PJ Saber with great wisdom and power

 

[pie_man_25]

Yes, their leader, Luke Fretscraper yields his PJ Saber with great wisdom and power

May the flats be with you.

 

[nilorius]

It is only because of flatwounds.

 

[JaseOfBase]

I just switched to Ernie ball flatwound cobalts last night, and it completely eliminated the fret buzz i had on my yamaha rbx170ew. Like the fret buzz was so bad when i had round wounds on it that I was almost embarassed to play it in front of people. These cobalt flats are bright sounding, but still feel smooth as silk on your fingers. Im baffled.

Break out the Eucerin baby and knock out all that zing!

 

[sawzalot]

I think when you changed to flats you probably put more tension on the neck, which put more relief into the neck and eliminated your buzzing. If you like the sound of them then it's a win all around.

 

[jamersonburton]

The same thing happened to my pbass when I put rotosound flatwound strings on it (45-105).

I took it in for a setup with roundwounds and when I got the bass back there was a really bad buzz from frets 3-5 on the G string. I couldn't fix it. Took it in again and the tech couldn't fix it either and actually suggested that I switch to a lighter guage. I decided to throw the flatwounds on just to see what would happen because I couldn't afford a new set and I had the flats just laying around not being used. No more buzz since then (weird that the tech suggested light strings and then high tension strings seemed to fix the problem).

 

[diegom]

Your action probably went up a little and flats move around less than rounds. If you set it up and lower the action you'll probably get some buzz back and it won't be as bad.

Flats move around less than rounds??!??
Interesting... I never thought of that.
Your post is sending me to YouTube, to search for high-speed bass string videos...

 

[Gorn]

Flats move around less than rounds??!??
Interesting... I never thought of that.
Your post is sending me to YouTube, to search for high-speed bass string videos...
View attachment 3830467

High speed videos aside, I think it's true, generally speaking for rounds vs flats on electric basses. I don't know anything about uprights. I could be wrong.

 

[Camarillo]

Fret buzz it’s a matter of setup. Changing strings changes the tension on the neck. That as well it’s a matter of setup.

 

[TheArchitect]

The same thing happened to my pbass when I put rotosound flatwound strings on it (45-105).

I took it in for a setup with roundwounds and when I got the bass back there was a really bad buzz from frets 3-5 on the G string. I couldn't fix it. Took it in again and the tech couldn't fix it either and actually suggested that I switch to a lighter guage. I decided to throw the flatwounds on just to see what would happen because I couldn't afford a new set and I had the flats just laying around not being used. No more buzz since then (weird that the tech suggested light strings and then high tension strings seemed to fix the problem).

not much of a tech if they couldn't fix that

 

[Element Zero]

Yes, flatwounds did, indeed, save your bass. This is just one of the many benefits of flat wounds, that the sinister, dark forces of the International Round Wound Cabal work tirelessly to suppress any knowledge of. But, true believers in flat wound goodness have always known, and fight a never ending battle to spread the good word, and foil the evil rounds conspiracy....

Ah yes. The IRWC. As a middle groundsman, the Flat Wound World Order are just as evil in suppressing the truth that Rounds have JUST AS MANY benefits but in different amounts. Besides. Flats started the war. Just saying...