flat or round?

[mlafrancis]

Okay so I've been hearing how flatwoudns can add alot to the rhythm section of a band, you know, make it mroe powerful.

I Play in a 3 peice hard rock band, so theres alot of responsibility thrown on me to make sure the rhythm section is powerful.

I using Dean Markley Blue Steel round wounds (well D'Addario right now cause they were out of the Blue Steels at my local shop) right now. and my main bass is this:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...eluxe-P-Bass-Special-4String-Bass-?sku=515201

I also use a pick. When i started playing bass, my influences were people Like Nikki Sixx, Peter Steele, and Lemmy so I saw them using a pick, and i used a pick. I'm working on my finger strenght thouhg.

The only thing I'm not sure about, is I've heard flatwounds did not sound good on there own, that they just sound good playing behind a guitar. I have a few intro's and spots where its just bass, or just bass and drums playing, and there's no rhythm guitar playing during his solo's.

Was the info i heard wrong and they will sound fine alone? What do you think? Would flatwounds make it even mroe powerful and help the sound more than roundwounds?

thanks for any help!

~Mike

 

[grifff]

It's not that they don't sound great alone, it's that they produce a completely different tone than rounds. Flats will sound more dull and punchy IME. I say give them a try you might like the tone, and if you don't then you're only out like $30.

 

[stflbn]

For me, it entirely depends on the bass.

A bass I love with flats may not sound as great with rounds. A bass that sounds great with rounds in a mix may not sound as good with flats.

Just gotta try it.

 

[snyderz]

The only way to know is to try them, and see if you like them. Or, of course, you could let some guy on the internet tell you if you like them. Up to you.

 

[IpseDixit]

I've got D'Addario chromes on my Fender P/J at the moment, and for flats they're quite lively sounding. Others have said it before in different threads, but if you want a good compromise between round's tonal brilliance and the 'typical' oomph provided by flats, they might be your best bet.

 

[fearceol]

Take a look at this thread. Someone came up with the great idea of a string "library", where people can swap strings, therefore trying them out at no expense.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544798&highlight=library

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

Sadowsky flats also exhibit a high end flair. You might try them....or half rounds.

 

[rhapbus]

I threw on a set of Fender 9050 Stainless flatwounds i got at a local music shop.

They have a roundwound sound, like a dead round, but not quite as boomy and punchy as other flats. I like them alot, i find myself cutting through alot better as well, and as for the feel, can't go wrong

 

[walknbluez]

I've got D'Addario chromes on my Fender P/J at the moment, and for flats they're quite lively sounding. Others have said it before in different threads, but if you want a good compromise between round's tonal brilliance and the 'typical' oomph provided by flats, they might be your best bet.

+1

I play in a rock trio as well and have D'Addario chromes on a Fender Jazz and our band has been described as having a thick, fat sound. There are some songs with just bass and drums as the intro and I think it sounds good. I've been playing some of these same songs recently with a Fender P strung with roundwounds, black beauties to be precise, and in all the recordings the Jazz with flats sounds better.

 

[blendermassacre]

+1 on the 9050's. just put them on my sx, and she sings.