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Flats Advice

Lazarus.Bird

Lazarus.Bird

Mr. Personality
Aug 16, 2010
10,577
1,367
Pittsburgh
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#1
So I read the FAQ on the differences between flats and rounds and did some searching around and am still looking for some advice.

For as far back as I can remember I've always used D'Addario Nickel Wound XL Brights. I don't know why, I just remember buying them once and liking them and I've always bought them since.

The sound they make for the first week or so really makes me cringe. I like my strings dead and usually only change them twice a year or so. I also set up my basses with very low action and roll back my highs to avoid any clanging as I really dig into my strings, about as hard as anyone you've ever seen dig.

My main bass is an ATK 700. I play mostly stoner rock, stoner metal, doom, etc where I love lots of low end, boost my mids to cut in the mix and roll back my highs. I keep reading about how everyone loves flats. Obviously the best thing I could do would be to just go try a set, but does it sound like I might like flats? If so, which ones should I try? :)
 
#4
+1 try flats, I don't like chromes but they are the least expensive. If you like your rounds dead, your a closet flat player.

I love flats, ironically I just started using nickel rounds (with the treble rolled off to about 10-35%) for a rock project. (I usually play blues) It is a 3 piece and some songs are better with a flat sound, but the rounds can do a flat sound on my L-2000E better than flats can do a round sound.

But with bands that have or want that Black Sabbath sound which is what I think of when you say Doom. I think flats are perfect.
 
#5
Cool thanks for the advice I guess I'll try them out.

Not sure if this has anything to do with rounds vs flats but as this is the strings forum...

I play purely with my fingers. Whenever I load my gear (carry my cab/handle my speaker and instrument cables) I feel compelled to wash my hands before I will touch my bass strings. When I don't do this, sometimes I feel like my fingers "stick" to the strings and it makes it difficult to play faster. I use quotes for stick because nothing is actually sticky, it just seems like my fingers are not able to move across the strings with my normal... fluidity? Any insight on this?
 
#8
+1 on the trying out the Chromes.

And for an additional opinion offered:
Sometimes people don't care for the switch of a round to flatwound in terms of feel. If you find yourself not caring for the Flats (feel or response), I would offer another option of something like a set of DR Sunbeams. After a short wear-in period I think these strings are great. Lots of attack, punch, and presence in the low to low-mid range. Highs are very smooth, and they've got a nice bark/growl to them. Played regularly, I've left Sunbeams on my Jazz for probably a better part of a year before I felt they went too dead.

If you want to listen to some samples, check out this Ed Friedland review of DR's line (bear in mind that these are brand new strings so the "zing" will be there, but you can listen and compare the other strings to hear the mids boosted on the Sunbeams in comparison to the others):

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#9
ajunea3 said:
I think a good place to start would be a set of D'addario Chromes. Buy the medium or heavy gauge set if you plan on down-tuning.
Click to expand...

+1 and -1. Flats have WAY more tension than rounds. Well, except for TI's which have stupid low tension. TI's are floppier on my fretless J than the XL's that are on there now. I'd suggest the 45 to 100 gauge. Anything more than that and he will experience a massive change in tension since he is coming from rounds and has never used flats.
 
#10
Kael said:
+1 and -1. Flats have WAY more tension than rounds. Well, except for TI's which have stupid low tension. TI's are floppier on my fretless J than the XL's that are on there now. I'd suggest the 45 to 100 gauge. Anything more than that and he will experience a massive change in tension since he is coming from rounds and has never used flats.
Click to expand...

+1 to using a lightish gauge of flats- I have found that for me personally, heavier gauge flatwound strings tend to lack balance and definition compared to the lighter strings in the set. Depending on the brand, I have found that often the E string in a 4 string set of "standard gauge (.045-.105)" flatwounds will tend to be mostly "thud" compared to the rest of the set, no matter the tuning. For someone coming from a bright set of roundwounds I could see that being a huge turnoff.

I did used to use Rotosound .045-.105 flats for my old stoner/doom metal band on occasion (and for whatever reason, I don't remember the Rotosounds having the same kind of low E thud problem that some others do), though I usually preferred worn-in roundwounds for that band to get more sustain than the flats tended to give- specifically, I really liked the DR coated roundwounds. They start out sounding like a somewhat worn-in round, and stayed that way for a couple months for me. They also feel really nice to play faster runs. I used the Black Beauties, but any of the colors are the same string (black just looked the coolest on my basses).

I think a set of Chromes or Rotosound RS77s in .045-.100 gauge would be a good intro into flats- if you try them and find them a little too bright, the GHS Precision Flats are my faves for a very percussive and deep-sounding flatwound with just the right amount of sweet midrange cut. The TI Flats are fantastic strings, but their light tension WILL NOT sound good with very heavy-handed playing, and are they are super mid-heavy, which might not really fit quite right in that particular kind of mix. Or try the DR coated rounds for a worn-in roundwound sound that you don't have to wait for that will last for quite awhile!
 
#11
QUOTE :The sound they make for the first week or so really makes me cringe.

Funny , thats the best time for me , I cant stand it when my strings even think about dulling up , im forever doing the IPA wipes and washing my hands to keep them bright , you can always tone down , but never tone up !
 

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