Does pick use affect flatwound lifespan?

[Bajo Clarkko]

If anything, pushing them down on metal frets will do more to wear them out, than a pick will.
And even at that, I certainly wouldn’t worry about it.
Enjoy them! That’s why you bought them.

 

[Killing Floor]

It’s still a good question.
I don’t know. And I’m mostly a ham fisted oaf finger player but have always used a pick as needed in some songs.
But recently I fell in love with pick and mute on TI flats. So I suppose I’ll find out.
As far as physical wear, I doubt a pick would damage the winding any more than your skin funk would corrode it. But let’s find out. Because it’s a cool sound. Picks don’t seem to damage guitar strings in that way.
With TI you shouldn’t have to hammer the string to get a strong tone. And like I said I’m an oaf. And I haven’t broken a bass string from playing in 40 years.

 

[bobalu]

IME, pick use only impacts coated strings. I have never noticed any wear issues from using a pick on either flat wounds or round wounds. On coated strings the picked area will begin to wear/peel off over time. This is my experience with them.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Flats have a string life?

 

[gln1955]

Unless you are using metal picks, no.

 

[bassdude51]

A plastic pick is not going to do anything to flat wound strings. Now, if you going to be using a metal pick, probably will. (Sorry to repeat JohnnyBottom)

 

[Ric5]

I’ve generally been a fingerstyle player, but I’m using a pick more often these days. Wondering if pick playing has any long-term negative affects on flatwounds. I have new-ish TI Jazz flats, and I don’t ever plan on changing them LOL. Will using a pick have any negative affect on them, unravel them quicker, shorten their lifespan, or anything like that? I’m gigging around five nights a week, so I’d be looking at at 10-20ish hours a week of playing. I don’t abuse the strings, no aggressive punk rockin. More classic rock, blues etc. Thanks!

if you use a metal pick that could damage the strings, otherwise I say metal strings trump plastic picks all day long.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I’ve generally been a fingerstyle player, but I’m using a pick more often these days. Wondering if pick playing has any long-term negative affects on flatwounds. I have new-ish TI Jazz flats, and I don’t ever plan on changing them LOL. Will using a pick have any negative affect on them, unravel them quicker, shorten their lifespan, or anything like that? I’m gigging around five nights a week, so I’d be looking at at 10-20ish hours a week of playing. I don’t abuse the strings, no aggressive punk rockin. More classic rock, blues etc. Thanks!

As long as they aren’t coated like DR neons or have plastic covering like elixers which the pick can “eat into” using a pick actually has the opposite effect from my experience. The strings actually last longer.

 

[sethlow3]

Just like with fingers, a lot of people play too hard when playing fast for years until they develop a lighter touch. This can take years of practice.

The same goes for pick. Once you’re used to it, you develop a much better touch without having to play as hard. The muscle memory and dynamics reach a certain level of development at fast tempos which eat away at strings less.

 

[JRT64]

I play with a pick almost all the time. The answer is no. Playing with a pick will not hurt the tone or the lifespan of any flatwound bass strings. I play LaBella 760FL's on my P Basses, EB Cobalt flats on my Schecter, Dunlop flats on my Hofner basses, and D'Addario Chromes on another. All do just fine.

 

[RCH]

I play with a heavy plastic pick on TI flats that are currently about 6 years old. The picks wear out. There is no noticeable degradation of the strings. You don't need to worry.

 

[Bobbylon]

I play with a heavy plastic pick on TI flats that are currently about 6 years old. The picks wear out. There is no noticeable degradation of the strings. You don't need to worry.

OK great thank you! And thanks to everybody else for the responses!

 

[Lenny JG]

Practicing and gigging 3 nights a week had me changing strings monthly when things were jumping, but I was on EB Power Slinky's and playing fingerstyle. I agree that the consumable in the equation is the pick, not the string unless your right hand attack is supremely aggressive.

That's because EB suck, js

 

[Dirk Diggler]

If you're so concerned about killing your flats (which to me is comical to start), why not switch to these? LOL

Once you touch it, it's been felt!

 

[mdogs]

Another one for the list of myths that exist only in the minds of TBer’s.

TI Jazz flats on my main bass for my main band, they get played hard with a pick and put away wet. Pretty sure the only thing that will ruin these strings is soaking them in water for a few months.

 

[Jefenator]

In my experience TI flats can sometimes unravel where other strings might not - like when trying to use an adapter on a headless bass.
Using a pick, I'm not sure. I've never had a string break in the picking zone. (But for a long time now I have been using flats that are more rigid and probably more rugged.)

 

[Bobbylon]

If you're so concerned about killing your flats (which to me is comical to start), why not switch to these? LOL
View attachment 4570549
Once you touch it, it's been felt!

Thanks?

 

[Sam Dingle]

I doubt it

 

[Leif Dering]

You could lower flatwounds into a volcano, hold them in there for half an hour, pull them back out, dunk them in motor oil, have them be mauled by a grizzly bear, sneak them into my dinner and have me digest them, and they would still sound great.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Are you worried about making them sound dead? If so, I wouldn't worry since flats sound dead when they are new.