Flat wounds question

[Nedmundo]

I play rock almost exclusively and have mostly used rounds. I generally haven't liked flats on my J-basses, but I loved flats on a couple of basses. First up, GHS Precision Flats on a P-bass provided totally classic old-school P-bass tone, and were wonderful for recording. I did prefer rounds on that bass for playing live though. On a DiPinto Belvedere semi-hollow, Ernie Ball flats enhanced the "thud" factor, but weren't muddy at all. Sounded fantastic, and I liked the feel too. I think I swapped them out only because they didn't get along with a drop-tuner.

I briefly tried DR flats on my G&L M-2500 and liked them, but took them off quickly because they weren't working for a recording project. I still have them, and might try them again. Thing is, I love the wicked MFD growl at high volume, and have no desire to smooth it out!

 

[stringtapper]

I think I have rounds on one bass at this point. Everything else has flats.

For rock/pop music I use the Ernie Ball Cobalts. My Stingray HH 5 has had the same set of Cobalts on it for probably five years now and I'm constantly amazed at how much high end they still produce.

For old school thump and high tension on my P basses I use the Ernie Ball Custom Gauge Flats Group I, which have the heaviest G string I think anyone makes at a 55. If you turn the tone knob all the way up and maybe even use a pick they can cut through with the highs for more modern stuff too.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I have one of my Ricks strung with RotoSound TruBass 88 Tapes. Not sure how to describe them only as I love them, they are extremely versatile based on which pickups are selected, and always seem to have a nice attack, and have nice feel that’s smooth and flexible to play. Someone said they are rounds underneath.

I tried the D’Addario tapes a while back, they had a standard guage so you didn’t have to file the nut, but they were meh compared to the Rotos.

 

[mexicanyella]

I put a set of D’Addario chrome flats on my Squier P about a year ago. I’d been using an old set of Dunlop nickel rounds. The flats felt great but sounded weird at first; smoother overall but with less going on in the upper mids. I wasn’t sure I liked them but they have mellowed a bit and gradual EQ adjustments have helped. I like them a lot now. I feel like I don’t need to boost and cut various frequencies as much and I have the option of digging in harder without ugly clacky sound up top.

 

[J-Mags]

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

I play only rock, and I play flats 90% of the time. Played with a pick, they're awesome for rock. Their sonic space is more separate from the guitars, so you have a little more of your own space. The pick hits them cleaner than roundwounds. Unless you're looking for Entwistle grind, it's the way to go. I came to bass from guitar, initially sounding a lot like a guitar player. I never thought I could have such a focused, percussive sound until I started playing flats. I use Dunlop Flats 40-100 on my Mustang, 45-105 on my big basses. They have a high end that cuts through if you need it and a tighter butt than some flats, while still sounding like flats.

Lucas Skinner from King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard anchors a large band that plays every kind of rock up to metal. He plays a Musicmaster Bass with flats, and it sounds amazing, and it fits into a zillion different contexts. Also Steve Harris (although he plays bright, new flats), Paul McCartney, etc. Every era of rock has someone kicking butt on flats.

 

[bassfreakah]

FLATS RULE!!!!!

 

[Outshined91]

What tone are you looking for?
Zing fade to thump - D'Addario Chromes
Round fade to thump - DR

"Fade to Thump" - Bass cover of "Fade to Black"

 

[Danny O Danny]

Flats work great for rock music, unless you're intentionally seeking a bright "zingy" sound.
I prefer GHS Precision Flats.
You might also want to try GHS Pressurewounds, which are a nice halfway point between roundwounds and flatwounds.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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

I’m not a fan at all of flatwounds having used them in the distance past, so I’m not going to be much help other than to say, don’t be afraid to go back. Good luck in your search however.

 

[GIBrat51]

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

An awful lot of "rock type music" was played and recorded with flats - and still is - up 'till the time Rotosound more or less "invented" roundwound bass strings. Since then, an awful lot of music has been played and recorded with rounds - and still is. Both work; it just depends on whether you want low and thumpy, or brighter and growlier. And there are flats (and rounds) that will cover the sonic space in between... Personally, I dislike bright and growly; and most of what I like to play was recorded with, and sounds better (IMO) when played with flats. So, that's what I (mostly) use. And, I also dislike strings that go dead in a month or so - like rounds do (more or less). With 23 basses? I'd go broke, replacing round wound strings every time I turn around. However... rounds, flats, tapes, or anything else, will work for playing Rock. You just have to decide what type of strings work best for you. For me, what works best (mostly) is flats...

 

[wishforbass]

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

Fender flats can be good option,
Well My bass is aggressive so it sit in mix well ,I had a passive one and with flat It lost in a mix so much .
So you have to try it out and see if it can do the job .
plus when I have flat I usually play back to bridge pickup that neck pickup so get that high mid sound that usually flat wound doesnt have it .

 

[Herbie Chesnutt]

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).

View attachment 3658737

I was gonna say this too. They sound like rounds but with no finger noise. I was kinda torked cuz I thought I was gonna get thumpy. Not thumpy. But very cool otherwise.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This guy:

Plays these:

I believe he uses them to play the rock type music

 

[Pocket4]

My number 1 had TI Jazz Flats but the winding on the E ball failed unexpectedly. I can't say the fall back Fender 9050s are in any way a disappointment. After break in they have all I'm looking for in tones. Never bonded with the DA Chromes either early or later during break in.

 

[BOOG]

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

I have a Spector Legend Classic strung with Chromes. It doesn’t sound so great to me while playing/practicing at home but with the band they’re awesome for a hard driving tone.

edit:this is not to say that chromes are the be all/end all flats for me. They just work really well on that bass for that purpose. Every bass I have wears a different type of string. Just depends...

 

[Altitude]

I'm hearing a lot of recent "rock" music that sounds like it has a P-bass with flats, some tube overdrive, maybe some chorus or phase, and a bunch of compression. Examples might be "Dangerous" by Big Data and "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon, and let's not argue whether those are rock.

It's a completely different thing than the dark mellow tone people associate with flats. I like it a lot.

 

[southpaw723]

For rock I like d’adarrio chromes or Ernie ball cobalt flats, rotosound 77’s are good but are pretty stiff. The first two are very good “first flats”

 

[edencab]

can anyone comment on the feel of Roto flats?..I've hear they have more of a roundwound or halfwound feel...ie more "bumpy"....how does it affect slides, finger zing, overall smoothness compared to most flats

I've tried Fenders, Dunlops, GHS, LaBellas and D'addario tapewounds...I like them all for different reasons....Chromes and/or Rotos on the next up list

 

[FLAT EARTH]

Thank you all again I’m gonna put a set and give them a run. Worse comes to worse I’ll switch back I’m gonna put them on this.

 

[DJ Bebop]

can anyone comment on the feel of Roto flats?..I've hear they have more of a roundwound or halfwound feel...ie more "bumpy"....how does it affect slides, finger zing, overall smoothness compared to most flats

I've tried Fenders, Dunlops, GHS, LaBellas and D'addario tapewounds...I like them all for different reasons....Chromes and/or Rotos on the next up list

I didn't find them bumpy but you can see and slightly feel the wrap of them if you focus on that but once you get to playing them you don't feel them. This video has the sound of them right out of the pack. As with most flat wounds, the zinginess will subside. Chromes are another nice string, IMHO.
JAZZ BASS 77 | ROTOSOUND