Could I get peoples opinion on flat wound strings for rock type music? I’ve never tried them and am curious as to people’s opinion on them? Thank you
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Flat wounds question
- Thread starter FLAT EARTH
- Start date
I'm a flatwound fan , but I like a nice woody old school thump for a bass sound . I also have fresh rounds on basses , and old dead sounding ones too . My #1 has roundwound strings that are over twenty years old and they are just as thumpy as flatwound strings get .
I really like Labella flats. Better mids than GHS Precisions but still thumpy, without the clack of Ernieball Groups/Chromes.
I converted to flats on everything a few years ago once these came out. Colbalt Flats. They have more high end than any other flat or ground wound (which is what I used to use).
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and TI Flats are my favorites .
This is the age of Flats! A new era!
If you do go the LaBella DTB FS route, they take a long time to break in. But all the great Motown and Blues stuff was done with them as was a fair bit of Rock.
Probably the most used flat wound string.
If you do go the LaBella DTB FS route, they take a long time to break in. But all the great Motown and Blues stuff was done with them as was a fair bit of Rock.
Probably the most used flat wound string.
I'm a HUUUUGE flatwounds fan and only play Rotosound Flats because they are relatively bright for flats and sound great. I play grunge-type rock and alternative metal, but also a little funk/jazz and they sound great. IME the best flatwounds for rock are the bright ones so check out Rotosound RS77LD's. I prefer them over rounds because they have a really smooth feel and I do a lot of sliding and flatwounds have almost no finger noise. They also have a really warm sound.
Flats give a warmer sound with less attack to my ears, I love Em.
In the 60's flats were the default. Seeems like we're coming full circle and those who play on a regular basis at least consider flats. Most new basses are shipped with rounds, so many new players stick with them.
I started playing in the 60's and my first P-bass still has the flats on it that were installed in 1972 or so. The rest of my basses have flats ranging from 20 years old to 2 years old.
My favorites are Labella Deep Talkin' flats. I have also been known to play Chromes or tapewounds.
I started playing in the 60's and my first P-bass still has the flats on it that were installed in 1972 or so. The rest of my basses have flats ranging from 20 years old to 2 years old.
My favorites are Labella Deep Talkin' flats. I have also been known to play Chromes or tapewounds.
I've used nylon tapewounds for everything for a couple of decades, before that I used flats.
When flats were hard to come by I bought some used basses just for their flatwound strings, replaced the strings with roundwounds and sold the basses. I still have a few sets of those flats.
When flats were hard to come by I bought some used basses just for their flatwound strings, replaced the strings with roundwounds and sold the basses. I still have a few sets of those flats.
What tone are you looking for?
Really growly - EB Cobalts
Growly - Fender 9050
Slightly growly - EB Stainless
Zing fade to thump - D'Addario Chromes
Round fade to thump - DR
Woody - GHS (but they aren't quite as woody and organic as "real" Fender flats from the golden era)
Smooth tone and last forever - La Bella
Boutique Aficionado - Sadowsky, your flavor of black or blue
'60's Rickenbacker OEM - Optima
Early Beatles, Dead, etc., dark round tone with presence - Pyramid
Flexible feel with fluidity - Thomastik Infeld
Crispy - Rotosound monel
Really growly - EB Cobalts
Growly - Fender 9050
Slightly growly - EB Stainless
Zing fade to thump - D'Addario Chromes
Round fade to thump - DR
Woody - GHS (but they aren't quite as woody and organic as "real" Fender flats from the golden era)
Smooth tone and last forever - La Bella
Boutique Aficionado - Sadowsky, your flavor of black or blue
'60's Rickenbacker OEM - Optima
Early Beatles, Dead, etc., dark round tone with presence - Pyramid
Flexible feel with fluidity - Thomastik Infeld
Crispy - Rotosound monel
I play La Bella tape wounds (760N 60-115), not as bright as chrome flats with a present mid range. Many flats players keep strings on forever, i found every 6 months is my sweet spot. I like the thump and depth of flats but i also like some presence, i found tape wounds have the best of characteristics of flats and the presence of round wounds, playing finger style.
La Bella white tapes - brightest, stainless roundwounds under the nylon wrap
La Bella gold tapes - like worn in nickel rounds
La Bella copper tapes - more mids
La Bella black tapes - darkest
D'Addario black tapes - like darker version of XL with mid scoop
GHS black tapes - growly but subdued mids
Rotosound Tru-Bass - thumpy bloom to emulate an upright bass, G string really tight compared to rest of set
Nylon tapewounds only need to be changed when you notice divots in the wrap from the frets.
I recently recorded some rock tunes with LaBella flats. While they sounded nice, they are a very warm string. I switched to TI flats, and have been loving the different sound they give. If you do end up getting TI flats, get the discounted ones on Amazon UK.
Sadowsky flats...IMO very similar to La Bella with slightly less tension. Excellent strings
What is your definition of Rock? Rock is like an umbrella of dozens of music styles. Overall, I find that I can use flats for everything I play.
