Do flatwounds buzz less than roundwounds?

[konaaayukeeenee]

Curious if it's easier to get a lower action without fret buzz with flatwounds than roundwounds. I have a couple of Yamahas, both just over a couple of decades old. The one with flatwounds has been heavily used but I'm able to get the action to about 1.5mm on the B string (118 gauge) and dig in without any significant buzzing. The other one has hardly been used, has a 135 gauge B string and I can't get that lower than 2mm without too much buzzing on the lower frets.

So I'm wondering if the string type is playing any role here.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Depends on the gauge.

 

[iTzPrime]

Depends on the gauge, but generally since Flats have less highs due to being flat and are stiffer (with Thomastik being the exception), you would be able to get it lower without buzzing.

 

[ardgedee]

Depends on the gauge.

Depends on the stiffness. Gauge is loosely correlated but, for example, TI Jazz Flats are less stiff than Chromes despite being roughly the same gauges (TIJF A and D strings are larger than Chrome Regular, for that matter).

 

[Nebadon2000]

If buzzing on lower notes may be neck relief problem along with gage difference

With my Stingray Special I could get 4/64 E and 3/64 G with both Rounds and Flats same Gauge

Although I settled on 5/64 and 4/64 for best overall tone and playability with both types

Relief at .008 on both

 

[michael_t]

So I'm wondering if the string type is playing any role here.

It has to do stiffness/flexibility. As a general rule (with a few exceptions), flats tend to be naturally stiffer than rounds. The stiffer the string the less excursion when it vibrates, allowing a lower action without buzzing.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Depends on the stiffness. Gauge is loosely correlated but, for example, TI Jazz Flats are less stiff than Chromes despite being roughly the same gauges (TIJF A and D strings are larger than Chrome Regular, for that matter).

La Bella 760s. One is extra light gauge, the other is medium gauge. Which one has more tension?

 

[ardgedee]

La Bella 760s. One is extra light gauge, the other is medium gauge. Which one has more tension?

You're comparing like-with-like, the OP is not. Tension, along with string gauge, has only a loose correlation with stiffness when you're comparing different kinds of strings.

We don't know which strings OP is comparing, other than knowing one set is flats and the other is rounds. In their case, the higher-gauge strings are implicitly less stiff, which is contrary to your example.

 

[FullumMusic]

I'm of the opinion it's more the bass and how well it's set up and how good the frets are, and player technique. A luthier who knows better can verify or not.

I have incredibly low action on all my basses, and almost no neck relief if any at all, regardless of strings. And i use Flats, (Superpolished) Rounds, and even Tapes. Tapes are even less stiff than Rounds and i have them on a 5-string and the Low B doesn't buzz.

 

[moreblues]

I'm of the opinion it's more the bass and how well it's set up and how good the frets are, and player technique. A luthier who knows better can verify or not.

I have incredibly low action on all my basses, and almost no neck relief if any at all, regardless of strings. And i use Flats, (Superpolished) Rounds, and even Tapes. Tapes are even less stiff than Rounds and i have them on a 5-string and the Low B doesn't buzz.

Perfect answer here, I agree 100 %.
The biggest difference is finger noise, not buzzing.
Overall strings that vibrate, move... more when plucked could cause fret buzz easier then firmer strings...hex core vs round core… I usually can get lower action without fret buzz with hex core vs round core strings without changing the set up…. but it all really depends on what FullumMusic said above...just my personal experience...

 

[Geogio]

Well, there is a zing and a clank that is associated with roundwounds that you cannot get with flats.

 

[SpiderBass1965]

Depends on many. String brand. Bass type. Neck relief. Your technique.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

You're comparing like-with-like, the OP is not. Tension, along with string gauge, has only a loose correlation with stiffness when you're comparing different kinds of strings.

We don't know which strings OP is comparing, other than knowing one set is flats and the other is rounds. In their case, the higher-gauge strings are implicitly less stiff, which is contrary to your example.

The flats are the La Bella low tension ones (118-100-75-56-42) and roundwounds are D'Addarios (135-105-85-65-45).

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!

 

[Phaidrus]

I think it's rather a matter of playing technique and instrument setup than a matter of type of string. A certain string set may accentuate / not hide string buzz but it's not the cause of it.

 

[grubdumpling]

If buzzing on lower notes may be neck relief problem along with gage difference

With my Stingray Special I could get 4/64 E and 3/64 G with both Rounds and Flats same Gauge

Although I settled on 5/64 and 4/64 for best overall tone and playability with both types

Relief at .008 on both

It always triggers me when I see fractions of an inch expressed this way, haha... it's not 4/64", it's 1/16".

 

[moreblues]

The reason 64th’s are used for string height is simple:
4/64 vs 1/16
Most manufacturers also use 64th’s for string height because if you’re at 1/16 and then you go to 2/16…

2/16 now becomes 8/64 which is very high action.

I personally set my basses up to either
5/64 or 6/64 at the 17th fret which usually ends up slightly less if you measure at the 12th fret.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Curious if it's easier to get a lower action without fret buzz with flatwounds than roundwounds. I have a couple of Yamahas, both just over a couple of decades old. The one with flatwounds has been heavily used but I'm able to get the action to about 1.5mm on the B string (118 gauge) and dig in without any significant buzzing. The other one has hardly been used, has a 135 gauge B string and I can't get that lower than 2mm without too much buzzing on the lower frets.

So I'm wondering if the string type is playing any role here.

I’ve been using rounds wound strings for over 50 years now. I can say the general answer to your question it is no on a properly set up bass. Just keep in mind that changes in tension from string set to string set can require neck adjustment.

 

[ardgedee]

The reason 64th’s are used for string height is simple:
4/64 vs 1/16
Most manufacturers also use 64th’s for string height because if you’re at 1/16 and then you go to 2/16…

2/16 now becomes 8/64 which is very high action.

I personally set my basses up to either
5/64 or 6/64 at the 17th fret which usually ends up slightly less if you measure at the 12th fret.

This is why the rest of the world wonders why Americans don't use metric.

 

[micguy]

The reason 64th’s are used for string height is simple:
4/64 vs 1/16
Most manufacturers also use 64th’s for string height because if you’re at 1/16 and then you go to 2/16…

2/16 now becomes 8/64 which is very high action.

I personally set my basses up to either
5/64 or 6/64 at the 17th fret which usually ends up slightly less if you measure at the 12th fret.

I set my string heights to thousandths of an inch - typically .070 , .075, .080, .085, and .090 from G to B

 

[moreblues]

Basically, the same height as what I Do micguy… if I set the E string at 5/64 which is .078… I set that height for all of the strings , personal preference.