First time ever using Flats

[specs]

Hello folks!

After 22 years of playing, I have always stuck with many types of different rounds, currently my bass is in the music store workshop, being restrung with jazz bass, 77’s (45 -105). Flats. I have never touched a flat string in my life.

Not that I can’t restring myself, I have done so for many years, the reason being is I know they have high tension on them, and after they’ve been put on, it will be need to be set up and have the intonation done.

I play in a rock ‘n’ roll band, doing covers from the 50s all the way through to today, the main reason for this hopeful change is because after one gig, sometimes two, if I’m lucky, I’ve killed my strings.

No matter how much I carefully install them, seat them properly, stretch them, tune them up slowly, put in a 90° bend and then cut them to scale, wipe them down, clean them with fast fret, even boiling them, and soaked them in denatured alcohol, I always end up with the same dead string problem, so hopefully using flats and giving the lasting nature, well also being able to focus on the real low end of the instrument these in hope should work very well and last a very long time.

I’m sure some of you have some good experiences with this, and I was hoping to hear some stories and some insight to using flats for the first time.

Thank you very much!

 

[TomB]

You don’t mention what kind of rounds you were killing. Some rounds definitely have a short life relative to others. Still, regardless of the brand or design, I would guess from your one or two gig comment that you like the brightness of new rounds. So that’s a concern as few to no flats have that degree of snappiness - some more so at first than others, but all flats mellow as they break in.

You don’t mention the type of flats you’re installing. Some have and maintain more midrange bite than others. If you look you can find tons of threads on this very topic covering all brands of flats and half-rounds. Good luck!

 

[specs]

You don’t mention what kind of rounds you were killing. Some rounds definitely have a short life relative to others. Still, regardless of the brand or design, I would guess from your one or two gig comment that you like the brightness of new rounds. So that’s a concern as few to no flats have that degree of snappiness - some more so at first than others, but all flats mellow as they break in.

You don’t mention the type of flats you’re installing. Some have and maintain more midrange bite than others. If you look you can find tons of threads on this very topic covering all brands of flats and half-rounds. Good luck!

I didn’t did I?! Sorry! Rotosound swing 66, erine ball (all of the rounds, steel, cobalt, nickel) , dunlop super brights, I did mention Jazz bass 77, but I didn’t say from Rotosound (sorry, my bad)

 

[TomB]

I didn’t did I?! Sorry! Rotosound swing 66, erine ball (all of the rounds, steel, cobalt, nickel) , dunlop super brights, I did mention Jazz bass 77, but I didn’t say from Rotosound (sorry, my bad)

My only experience with the 77’s were that they were pretty bright and didn’t change much over time so here’s hoping you like them. Oh, and they’re stiff suckers too.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you play 77s long enough they will absolutely get a great Classic thump. Although they do start bright. As to chromes.
There’s no best string but I’ve got TI on most of my basses. I love them but it is a commitment due to the different feel and I’d never recommend them as a first flat due to cost. But they last forever and are consistent, every string, every position.

 

[specs]

My only experience with the 77’s were that they were pretty bright and didn’t change much over time so here’s hoping you like them. Oh, and they’re stiff suckers too.

No? Here’s hoping they stay that way for a long time then, Yes sir, here’s hoping with that.

Yeah, I’ve heard they don’t much much for love or money, with the monel metal they use.

Just had enough of having to change strings every month,

 

[Eli Brockway]

The Rotosound 77s fresh are your Steve Harris sort of sound.

Once they're well played in and mellowed out you get more like Geezer Butler on the early Black Sabbath albums, or John Paul Jones on the first two Zeppelin albums, or Roger Waters early on (possibly, anyways, he might have been using rounds even then).

Part of the fun with a lot of flats, especially on a P bass, is how they just find their own sonic space in the mix rather than feeling any sort of need to compete to get in there, fresh or old and "dead". Mids are your friend.

If you want ones that will stay very bright for a long time, grab the Ernie Ball cobalt flats. Otherwise, you might find you really like the sound of a set of six month to four year old Roto 77s and how they just fit into the band's sound. Or maybe you'll decide you like them, but you still want rounds, so you grab another bass like a lot of us on here.

Good luck, have fun, don't let the stiffness throw you off, just use it to your advantage and set those Rotos really low to the board.

 

[ebo]

You say you’ve never touched a flat in 22 years? Get ready for a completely different FEEL. I love the smooth feel of flats versus rounds. I bet you will too.

 

[GTHintz]

Hello folks!

After 22 years of playing, I have always stuck with many types of different rounds, currently my bass is in the music store workshop, being restrung with jazz bass, 77’s (45 -105). Flats. I have never touched a flat string in my life.

Not that I can’t restring myself, I have done so for many years, the reason being is I know they have high tension on them, and after they’ve been put on, it will be need to be set up and have the intonation done.

I play in a rock ‘n’ roll band, doing covers from the 50s all the way through to today, the main reason for this hopeful change is because after one gig, sometimes two, if I’m lucky, I’ve killed my strings.

No matter how much I carefully install them, seat them properly, stretch them, tune them up slowly, put in a 90° bend and then cut them to scale, wipe them down, clean them with fast fret, even boiling them, and soaked them in denatured alcohol, I always end up with the same dead string problem, so hopefully using flats and giving the lasting nature, well also being able to focus on the real low end of the instrument these in hope should work very well and last a very long time.

I’m sure some of you have some good experiences with this, and I was hoping to hear some stories and some insight to using flats for the first time.

Thank you very much!

My question is did you try both nickel and stainless and did you notice a difference? I ask because i kill off nickel strings quick, they give me an allergic reaction in my fingers and they discolor. Stainless hold up great for me. So if you haven't thought about it check that out. If you're like me and kill nickel then you're going to probably kill any flats that are nickel or nickel steel too. The 77s are stainless i believe so see how long they last and if you kill them fast. If not then whatever rounds you get make sure they are all stainless.

 

[specs]

The Rotosound 77s fresh are your Steve Harris sort of sound.

Once they're well played in and mellowed out you get more like Geezer Butler on the early Black Sabbath albums, or John Paul Jones on the first two Zeppelin albums, or Roger Waters early on (possibly, anyways, he might have been using rounds even then).

Part of the fun with a lot of flats, especially on a P bass, is how they just find their own sonic space in the mix rather than feeling any sort of need to compete to get in there, fresh or old and "dead". Mids are your friend.

If you want ones that will stay very bright for a long time, grab the Ernie Ball cobalt flats. Otherwise, you might find you really like the sound of a set of six month to four year old Roto 77s and how they just fit into the band's sound. Or maybe you'll decide you like them, but you still want rounds, so you grab another bass like a lot of us on here.

Good luck, have fun, don't let the stiffness throw you off, just use it to your advantage and set those Rotos really low to the board.

Interesting. I thought all flats were that same with different names to them.

Mids.

mids mids mids, must remember that.

6 months to 4 years?! Wow.

Oh I’ve asked the wizards at the workshop to keep my action were it was before it went in, Lowwwwww.

Thanks man.

 

[specs]

You say you’ve never touched a flat in 22 years? Get ready for a completely different FEEL. I love the smooth feel of flats versus rounds. I bet you will too.

Yup. 22 years & not a single hint of a finger to a flat sir.

Here’s hoping!

 

[specs]

My question is did you try both nickel and stainless and did you notice a difference? I ask because i kill off nickel strings quick, they give me an allergic reaction in my fingers and they discolor. Stainless hold up great for me. So if you haven't thought about it check that out. If you're like me and kill nickel then you're going to probably kill any flats that are nickel or nickel steel too. The 77s are stainless i believe so see how long they last and if you kill them fast. If not then whatever rounds you get make sure they are all stainless.

Yes, both metals. Nickel/Cobalt does like no other for me, 3 hours later after a show fresh on, dead.

The stainless last a little longer for me.

I must point out to all that I use a pick most of the time, & I hit hard (1.00mm) and fingers some of the time. In Eb tuning.

 

[GTHintz]

Yes, both metals. Nickel/Cobalt does like no other for me, 3 hours later after a show fresh on, dead.

The stainless last a little longer for me.

I must point out to all that I use a pick most of the time, & I hit hard (1.00mm) and fingers some of the time. In Eb tuning.

You probably only want to get stainless. Id say look for cryo treated like blue steel or apex cryos. The cold tempered process definitely is a noticeable improvement in lifespan. There's also coated strings like DR black beauties that seems to keep the impurities from dulling the string out. You'll probably get long life from the Rotosound flats but if yoy decide to go back to rounds the longest lasting strings ive had have been Blue Steels, DR strings and Fodera strings. All have given me at least 6 months of regular playing and abuse. I play hard typically and some strings just don't like it as much.

 

[specs]

You probably only want to get stainless. Id say look for cryo treated like blue steel or apex cryos. The cold tempered process definitely is a noticeable improvement in lifespan. There's also coated strings like DR black beauties that seems to keep the impurities from dulling the string out. You'll probably get long life from the Rotosound flats but if yoy decide to go back to rounds the longest lasting strings ive had have been Blue Steels, DR strings and Fodera strings. All have given me at least 6 months of regular playing and abuse. I play hard typically and some strings just don't like it as much.

I remember dean marklys, Never tried DR’s, I’ll certainly keep that in mind when time rolls around.

The flats are going on a Fender jazz by the way, my p bass has rounds.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Give them a fair chance. We’re talking at least 2-3 months. Roto Jazz flats have a little more zing than what I prefer for the style of music I use my P bass for, but they are still fine flats. Articulate and stiff enough to get really low action

I think all flats need enough maturation time to know what they can do over the long haul. Some flats are deceptively adept at handling distortion and slap technique (lighter gauge Rotos and Fenders especially IMO), so it depends on you how you wish to utilize them.

As for your setup issues, do you string body-thru or top-loaded at the bridge?

 

[GTHintz]

I remember dean marklys, Never tried DR’s, I’ll certainly keep that in mind when time rolls around.

The flats are going on a Fender jazz by the way, my p bass has rounds.

I see. I've tried so many roundwounds that there's almost nothing Ive not seen. Flats though i have never tried. Im curious to see what you think about them once you play on them for a bit. I like brightness and definition in my notes so Ive never thought about flats having what i need but hey you never know.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Roto flats are alright. Kind of round wound feeling and rough. I think labella make the best flats. So smooth, so nice sounding

 

[HardNHeavy]

Same boat. Never used flats till I just put DAddario medium flats on a new build last month..Smooth strings with an acoustic/woodsy flavor..Never thought i'd take to them, but they are growing on me.

 

[specs]

Same boat. Never used flats till I just put DAddario medium flats on a new build last month..Smooth strings with an acoustic/woodsy flavor..Never thought i'd take to them, but they are growing on me.
View attachment 5156691

Here’s hoping I can let them grow on me too, time for a new favour!

Love the reverse headstocks! Where did you get those from?

 

[specs]

Give them a fair chance. We’re talking at least 2-3 months. Roto Jazz flats have a little more zing than what I prefer for the style of music I use my P bass for, but they are still fine flats. Articulate and stiff enough to get really low action

I think all flats need enough maturation time to know what they can do over the long haul. Some flats are deceptively adept at handling distortion and slap technique (lighter gauge Rotos and Fenders especially IMO), so it depends on you how you wish to utilize them.

As for your setup issues, do you string body-thru or top-loaded at the bridge?

I’m a patient man. I’m sure I’ll get to grips with them over time. I like the zing, once that dies down the sound will hopefully stay at a level for ages I can work with.

Thanks for the info, string thru