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Educate me on Flat wounds on P-basses

#24
As the links have suggested, flatwounds on a P-bass are amazing. It's such a classic tone that can fit into so many genres, and there's a reason P-basses with flats haven been used for all of these years. Honestly, I'm not much of a Fender guy, but this combination with a rosewood board would be the only Fender I'd get.
 
#27
Thanks for all the clips and advice guys. I'm still a new player but I do try to do my research and of the three music stores here in my town only one shop has a single set Fender flatwound strings and when you ask questions about flats on a p bass they give you this look. :eyebrow: Everything I can find that is sold new has rounds on it so I was just wondering.

Gunner
 
#28
Yup roundwounds are going to be the std mfg strung with for most all basses. Cause theyre the most popular type of strings, P pup bass or whatever. I'm not a fan of flats on anything, but they are popular with some people. No reason flats would sound better or worse on a P pup bass compared to anything else imo.
 
#30
stuonbass said:
In the past, anytime I would pick up a bass with flats and play it, I would think, "ugh". I like that Entwistle zing. But now that I am much older and have been around the block once or twice, I have tried and used flat wounds in gig settings with awesome results. What you lose in high frequencies is more than well compensated by the chunky lows and warm mids. This tone is essential for me when playing classic rock. It sits in the mix much fatter and richer sounding and truer to the original recording of most 60 & 70's rock.
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I'm finding this to be true as well, as I have gradually switched over to flats on all my Fenders and--really--my Stingray (awesme punch with flats without the clangy ring). I'm an older player, and my refernece points tend to be the older Motwon, Stax, roots rock sound.
 
#31
Based on what I've heard from youtube videos and various sound clips, as well as a very brief IRL playing experience, I've noticed the following about P basses with flats or rounds:

P bass with flats and tone knob down: All fundamental

P bass with flats, tone knob up: Classic P tone but slightly subdued, strong fundamental, less harmonic overtones

P bass with rounds: Classic P tone, more harmonics, more fret/finger noise

My conclusion? Get a P with extra bright flats like Chromes. :D

Edit: Also, always leave the tone knob up unless you like your bass to sound lifeless. This doesn't apply to a lot of basses, but definitely to P basses.
 
#32
Gunner77 said:
I'm not sure if this belongs in basses or strings. Sorry if I got it wrong. I am sure a lot of this is personal preference but I read about a lot of people putting flat wound strings on their p basses. What kind of tone are you going for when you do that? Are there any rules of thumb like flat wounds on a rosewood board and not with maple? Does it matter other than personal preference? I have an American Standard Rosewood and an 83 Squier Rosewood and soon I will have a MIM maple. Any advice about which one to try the flats on?

Gunner
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I use flats on ANY bass that I want a more percussive, "thumpy" tone (as opposed to a clear, piano like tone). P-basses, Jazz basses, Rics, G&Ls, hollowbodies, etc... whatever bass you have will sound different with flats.

It just so happens a lot of folks like P-basses with flats because that's a classic old-school tone combo, but you can use flats on any bass.
 
#33
Mastermold said:
I use flats on ANY bass that I want a more percussive, "thumpy" tone (as opposed to a clear, piano like tone). P-basses, Jazz basses, Rics, G&Ls, hollowbodies, etc... whatever bass you have will sound different with flats.

It just so happens a lot of folks like P-basses with flats because that's a classic old-school tone combo, but you can use flats on any bass.
Click to expand...
right, I have flats on my modified squier, and my MIM fretless jazz. Rounds on my G&L

my father has rounds on his modified (active with badass bridge) precision (maple fretboard)
 
#37
Din Of Win said:
Not to thread-jack... but does anyone have any clips of someone using a pick w/ flats?
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Not yet :) But I'm mostly a pick guy and I started using a Darkstar'd P with TI flats for the past few weeks; it's fast becoming my #1, so there should be some clips soon.

A couple of observations (note that I'm new to flats, having played exclusively roundwounds for almost 40 years).

- I don't hear a huge difference between pick and finger with flats, or at least not as much as I do with rounds. It's like the sound is more "compressed" and you hear less of the detail of flesh vs plastic.

- so far, I find flats much less forgiving than rounds. If you miss a note, or you're timing isn't quite right, it seems more obvious. Mistakes are amplified, and you have to be right on top of things to make em work; no coasting.

- the rewards for hard work are there however. They cut and allow me to drive the groove better

/rick
 

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