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First time I’ve ever played Flats!

NYgiant

NYgiant

Sep 22, 2023
628
1,327
Virginia
#1
I started another thread in the Guitar section about a new P bass I just acquired. At any rate, all of my other guitars have round wound strings on them, usually stainless steel DR fat beams. Wanting something that was totally different, I figured why not put flats on a P, that’s a real classic sound right?

Researched a bunch of strings and settled on the Fender 9050L. Got my new bass, cleaned and set up, put the strings on then plugged it in and started playing. Holy crap I am in love! These things sounds so good and even better than I was imagining.

Can’t get over the nice smooth feel on them too. Like I said, I have never played flat strings in my life. I’m familiar with them on older music and wasn’t real sure what I was in for. I was imagining a very dull, muffled sound. Quite the contrary with these. They’re obviously not round wounds, but they do have some brightness to them and they just feel so good. So happy with them.
 

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#4
I played guitar for almost 50 and always disliked the zing noice rounds make, so I switched to flats very quickly. In mid 2013 I switched to ukulele and a year later I started playing bass, a 23" bass uke with polyurethane (also called rubber) strings, which I was not crazy about. A couple years later Kala/Galli flatwounds for bass uke came out, bought them and never looked back.
 
#8
Flats tend to get even better with age, but that's when most of them get into that "Thumpy, Motown-style" tone realm. If you dig brighter ones and want to try another brand, Rotos are very popular (Steve Harris uses them) and LaBellas are pretty classic (Jamerson's strings of choice). If you dig what you got, probably best to just stick with those :thumbsup:
 
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#9
Welcome to the club! I was actually taking stock of my basses yesterday, and almost all of them have ended up wearing flats of some kind. Funny how that works... I always intended to have a pretty even mix!

If you like them now, I think you'll love them in a few months after they start to break in more. I have an ancient set of Fender strings on my old Jazz Bass, and they still thump like crazy.
 
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#10
NYgiant said:
I started another thread in the Guitar section about a new P bass I just acquired. At any rate, all of my other guitars have round wound strings on them, usually stainless steel DR fat beams. Wanting something that was totally different, I figured why not put flats on a P, that’s a real classic sound right?

Researched a bunch of strings and settled on the Fender 9050L. Got my new bass, cleaned and set up, put the strings on then plugged it in and started playing. Holy crap I am in love! These things sounds so good and even better than I was imagining.

Can’t get over the nice smooth feel on them too. Like I said, I have never played flat strings in my life. I’m familiar with them on older music and wasn’t real sure what I was in for. I was imagining a very dull, muffled sound. Quite the contrary with these. They’re obviously not round wounds, but they do have some brightness to them and they just feel so good. So happy with them.
Click to expand...

FYI - These will take quite a few months, yes months, to break in. IME the lows will 'tighten' and the highs will diminish some and become 'sweeter.'
 
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#12
Yeah, the myth of "flats=muffled, thumpy" kept me away from flats for a long time. Flats can do that sound, but that's just a part of them.

I find that actually prefer flats for a lot of "bright" sounding bass parts. It's not that they're less bright, necessarily, it's just a whole different profile and dynamic response. My favorite thing is that I find flats a lot more responsive to playing style; for example, I can get a lot more difference between digging in versus light touch.

I use them for punk, heavy metal, all kinds of stuff.

And as other posters said, there's a big variety within flats. Fender 9050s vs LaBellas vs Steve Harris Rotos vs. Ernie Ball Cobalts, etc are a much bigger difference in sound, IMO, compared to different brands of rounds.
 
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#14
I like Fender Flats better than the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats, the Fenders feel smoother and sound better.
I got a set of Rotosound Flats on a used bass and they were really stiff and felt crappy.
Then I got a used bass with D'Addario Chromes on it and they have become my favorite strings, they're silky smooth and sound great.
 
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#15
58kites said:
I like Fender Flats better than the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats, the Fenders feel smoother and sound better.
I got a set of Rotosound Flats on a used bass and they were really stiff and felt crappy.
Then I got a used bass with D'Addario Chromes on it and they have become my favorite strings, they're silky smooth and sound great.
Click to expand...

When I acquired my Squier VM Amber P bass, it came with old Chromes... I had never left strings on a bass after acquiring but these just felt right. Yes, I cleaned them thoroughly (no boiling LOL)
 
#16
andymac said:
Yeah, the myth of "flats=muffled, thumpy" kept me away from flats for a long time. Flats can do that sound, but that's just a part of them.

I find that actually prefer flats for a lot of "bright" sounding bass parts. It's not that they're less bright, necessarily, it's just a whole different profile and dynamic response. My favorite thing is that I find flats a lot more responsive to playing style; for example, I can get a lot more difference between digging in versus light touch.

I use them for punk, heavy metal, all kinds of stuff.

And as other posters said, there's a big variety within flats. Fender 9050s vs LaBellas vs Steve Harris Rotos vs. Ernie Ball Cobalts, etc are a much bigger difference in sound, IMO, compared to different brands of rounds.
Click to expand...
You’re right, man! I feel really invigorated with the discovery of flats! It’s crazy! I want to play more but with the limited amount I’ve done since yesterday evening, I’m just loving them. Played with a pick too and it’s such a sweet dynamic!

I usually play DR fat beams which I love on my Spector. That grippy, rough feel compared to the smooth, slick, and glassy feel of these flats in comparison is mind blowing to me. So glad I discovered flats and had the idea of getting a P bass or I would have never tried the flats.

It’s nice to have different tools for the job and not be a one trick pony! Ha ha.
 
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#17
GrapeBass said:
FYI - These will take quite a few months, yes months, to break in. IME the lows will 'tighten' and the highs will diminish some and become 'sweeter.'
Click to expand...
This is consistent with my experience as well. I think they maintain a good mid range punch, and a bit of growl, for several years at least (haven't had to replace them yet). I like them some much I use them on my short scale basses even though they are for long scale.
 
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#19
NYgiant said:
I started another thread in the Guitar section about a new P bass I just acquired. At any rate, all of my other guitars have round wound strings on them, usually stainless steel DR fat beams. Wanting something that was totally different, I figured why not put flats on a P, that’s a real classic sound right?

Researched a bunch of strings and settled on the Fender 9050L. Got my new bass, cleaned and set up, put the strings on then plugged it in and started playing. Holy crap I am in love! These things sounds so good and even better than I was imagining.

Can’t get over the nice smooth feel on them too. Like I said, I have never played flat strings in my life. I’m familiar with them on older music and wasn’t real sure what I was in for. I was imagining a very dull, muffled sound. Quite the contrary with these. They’re obviously not round wounds, but they do have some brightness to them and they just feel so good. So happy with them.
Click to expand...
RE: Dull Muffled Sound

Give them time to “Bloom” to get the full effect. My experience with Fender Flats on a PB is that a distinct timbre which is very useful for certain genres, especially when recording. I’ve also found that they sound better with a lighter plucking technique than really reefing on them. Next to the tail piece cover with the foam strip, probably the best way to get them sounding dull and muffled.

Glad you are enjoying them.
 
#20
Welcome to the party. Beyond the feel under the fingers, there are a myriad of tonal possibilities from flats that I think most people don’t realize. I have TIs and Labellas on different basses, but there are so many options that can do so many things. As others have said, they get BETTER with time. As Jamerson would say “dirt keeps the funk!”
 

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