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First time flats - And I love it!!

vbchaos

vbchaos

Sep 5, 2011
774
130
Groningen, The Netherlands
www.breakpointnine.com
Disclosures
Uncompensated endorsing user: fEARful
#1
Last week, I put flatwound strings on my Ibanez SR 605 - for the first time ever I now play flats, and I have to admit: I DAMN LOVE IT!!
I had no idea, but these d'addario chromes do feel very good! I play with a lot of slides (especially chords) and on roundwounds, you always here these slide-noises and the string gets damped... With flats, you only here the tone sliding higher, but no RRRRRRTSCH on the strings!
The sound is something I have to get used to - It is different... not that I don't like it, but it's just different.
I guess I will try half-rounds also to compare, but the flatwound world has one more happy citizen now!!
 
#6
BROKEN OHMS said:
Welcome Brother. Did you learn the secret handshake yet?
Click to expand...

Well, I got the manual ;)
Secret Handshake

I have to admit that my picking fingers have to get used to it - strange enough I sometimes hit the wrong string or miss it completely. May come because I am used to these cheap Warwick red Labels ;)

BROKEN OHMS said:
Who rigs every Oscar night? WE DOOOO
Click to expand...
HEHE :) I only know that song in german, but probably recognise it in every language :)
 
#7
well, if your Chromes are new, you wont have to get used to the sound for very long, probably about 8-10 hours of play time, and then it will start to change a bit ... about 30+ hours they will start to become more 'solid', and then from then on you will be noticing they will be coming even smoother to the touch and upwards of 50-60 hours or so you can be deciding if they are your cup of tea or not soundwise as they continue to become even more solid ... enjoy :)
 
#11
traxeman75 said:
what did you used to play, forum starter? wondering about switching myself
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I used to play Warwick red labels usually, because they are cheap (10 euros for a 5string set). But hmmm, your fingers feel like glued to the strings, fast sliding is nearly impossible. I later bought one set of ROTOSOUND SWINGS for my Washburn bass for recording in studio - they feel much better, but if I listen to these records now, I do not like the sound. I have to admit I never really mind the strings these days, but since I formed a new band in 2010 I am on the look-out for a new/other sound of mine!

I now play the chromes on my Ibanez and have the red labels on my washburn. While practicing at home, I sometimes switch the instruments for direct compare. Quite funny that my picking fingers do fancy the roundwounds, while my left hand and my ears fancy the flats :) I guess that's a question of training
 
#12
Flats and rounds sound pretty similar early on....give it a month or two and you'll decide where you draw the line on "thump". With an active bass like that, I'm sure you can dial in and out the undesirables, but be ready for some serious thump lol
 
#13
I started with DR chromes on a passive fender jazz baandroid years ago and loved what they brought as I had always used rounds. They do settle in and flats just get better with time. I'll say this though, since that first set I've tried a few different brands always returning to the chromes and about six months ago I put a set of Thomastik-Infeld JF344 flats on that same bass and was blown away with the improvement of tone and feel. I hadn't tried them sooner because they're more expensive, but I'd heard so much about them I figured to go ahead instead of spending more on other strings to try that cost so much less per set. They aren't quite as stiff as the Chromes, which bothered me at first, but I'll probably never use another type of flatwound string.
 
#15
Welcome aboard. I just put Chromes on my passive Jazz about two weeks ago, and love 'em. I've put many hours on them, and three gigs so far. They still sound like new to me. I'm coming from nickel rounds. I like the extra tension so far.

Still an apprentice, so don't have my handshake yet, but I have seen the light.
 
#16
tjh said:
well, if your Chromes are new, you wont have to get used to the sound for very long, probably about 8-10 hours of play time, and then it will start to change a bit ... about 30+ hours they will start to become more 'solid', and then from then on you will be noticing they will be coming even smoother to the touch and upwards of 50-60 hours or so you can be deciding if they are your cup of tea or not soundwise as they continue to become even more solid ... enjoy :)
Click to expand...

True! I guess the strings now have somewhat around 20 hours of playtime and they sound a bit more present - which I just like even more :)
 
#17
I have Chromes on my fretless Ernie Ball Sterling and never bought I would want flats on a fretless. But they are a joy to play! Lots of growl and bloom in the notes, smooth feel, good sustain and punch. I am still blown away as I always thought rounds were mandatory on a fretless to get that classic fretless tone.
 
#19
I'm also a recent convert to flats (about 2 weeks) and I'm really happy too! My left hand has needed some adjustments as I was used to the feel of finding notes without looking when using rounds. I find it's slightly different with flats because there's a lot less friction when moving. I'm getting used to it though and I'm really enjoying the results!
 

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