Flats - Do I need to man-up?

[Old P Bass Guy]

Bit of background - I play in a Country Rock band, a 60s band, and a Blues Rock band. All fairly traditional stuff, with not an ounce of slapping in sight, fingerstyle (and palm mute) only..! I normally play a Fender Jazz with old D'Addario nickel rounds on it (45-105), either both pickups or front pickup only, but also occasionally take my P with the same type of rounds. The sound I am going for is deep, defined and muscular.

I decided, as everyone seems to love them these days, and specifically due to the vibe of the 60s band, to purchase a set of Flats - Fender 45-100 to be specific, after a little bit of research on here and elsewhere.

Played a gig with them tonight on the P (as I didn't want to muck about with the setup on my Jazz, which is my baby) - very disappointing..... The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables, and sticky so hard to move around on. Also felt like harder work to fret; the sound - the boom is there, but almost too much at times. It seems like there is little of the "finesse" that I get with the rounds. It's hard to describe, and could be to do with readjusting my ears.

So, my question is, do I need to just admit defeat and go back to my rounds, or am I missing a trick? All reasonable suggestions considered!

Change is always hard. It feels different so it must not be better. I have a P with flats and a J with rounds. I set the P down and start playing the J and love the bright growl the J gives me. I start to think the J will become my go-to bass. After a few weeks I go back to my old friend the P and realize how much I missed it. They both sound and play different, thats why I have them both.

 

[John6]

as bass players we understand nothing sucks like new strings.
After 6 years I put new strings on, the same size and brand and it took me a month of playing 20 hours a week to where I could tolerate them.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Thanks - The problem may be that I don't sweat much, and it was a very hot night so there was a little bit, just enough to make it "sticky". As JG says above ,I think it's more to do with more surface area = more friction.

I can't be bothered making adjustments to the nut etc, so I'll persevere with them on the P for a while, as the J is my main bass anyway. If it doesn't do it for me I'll switch it back to rounds and mark it down to "experience"

yeah, same IME. I too, listened to all the hype & gave flats a try, cuz, FOMO (fear of Missing out). I'm Big on how things "feel", and I just couldn''t get over the tackiness/sticky strings while I was playing (it made my toes curl). and the whole tight/stiff tension was a big deal breaker,too! I missed the bounce/spring & roll of rounds. i figured i could sacrifice the preceived tone gain of flats for the known comfort of what i was used to& loved. I tried Finger ease, but I didn't like the greasy/slippery feeling while i played. I guess i'm Really tactile sensitive (A real prinecess & the pea) i even tried ground wounds (GHS brite flats) hoping for a happy middle ground, but I didn't think they offered enough of a difference or were worth, any "cool" thumpy tone "gains" (& not enough plusses)! I just really missed the zinginess & "brightness" of a fresh set of rounds!
However, I did find that a set of old/broken in Coated round wound strings got the similar effects (deadness/ mutedness) of flats.

I say there's no shame in Not liking the flavor of the month (you're not alone)! You gave it a shot and did not like it. but, at least you tried! and now you know what you like/prefer. I guess I just never understood what all the hype about flats was about. SOrry, I just don't get it. dead to my ears, unruly to my fingers especially if it's true"tone is in your hands"). I just can't do flats! : ) I'd rather just EQ all the high end out of my tone.

 

[FishDub]

Bit of background - I play in a Country Rock band, a 60s band, and a Blues Rock band. All fairly traditional stuff, with not an ounce of slapping in sight, fingerstyle (and palm mute) only..! I normally play a Fender Jazz with old D'Addario nickel rounds on it (45-105), either both pickups or front pickup only, but also occasionally take my P with the same type of rounds. The sound I am going for is deep, defined and muscular.

I decided, as everyone seems to love them these days, and specifically due to the vibe of the 60s band, to purchase a set of Flats - Fender 45-100 to be specific, after a little bit of research on here and elsewhere.

Played a gig with them tonight on the P (as I didn't want to muck about with the setup on my Jazz, which is my baby) - very disappointing..... The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables, and sticky so hard to move around on. Also felt like harder work to fret; the sound - the boom is there, but almost too much at times. It seems like there is little of the "finesse" that I get with the rounds. It's hard to describe, and could be to do with readjusting my ears.

So, my question is, do I need to just admit defeat and go back to my rounds, or am I missing a trick? All reasonable suggestions considered!

I will agree that most flats need a "break-in" period but I had a similar experience with the Fender flats. I put sets of them on both my P and J and had them on for a good year. Since I never tried GHS Precision flats I figured to give them a try. Long story short, I put GHS P Flats on both and the Fenders are gone.

 

[Not yet]

Same as many...tried Flats and went big, TIs, which cost 2X or more than others.

Hated em. Kept em on for awhile cause too cheap to just waste, then gave it up and went back to happyville

 

[Eilif]

Bit of background - I play in a Country Rock band, a 60s band, and a Blues Rock band. All fairly traditional stuff, with not an ounce of slapping in sight, fingerstyle (and palm mute) only..! I normally play a Fender Jazz with old D'Addario nickel rounds on it (45-105), either both pickups or front pickup only, but also occasionally take my P with the same type of rounds. The sound I am going for is deep, defined and muscular.

I decided, as everyone seems to love them these days, and specifically due to the vibe of the 60s band, to purchase a set of Flats - Fender 45-100 to be specific, after a little bit of research on here and elsewhere.

Played a gig with them tonight on the P (as I didn't want to muck about with the setup on my Jazz, which is my baby) - very disappointing..... The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables, and sticky so hard to move around on. Also felt like harder work to fret; the sound - the boom is there, but almost too much at times. It seems like there is little of the "finesse" that I get with the rounds. It's hard to describe, and could be to do with readjusting my ears.

So, my question is, do I need to just admit defeat and go back to my rounds, or am I missing a trick? All reasonable suggestions considered!

I play in a group with a fair amount of traditional country. I've not felt the need for flats, except on my fretless bass. I do however tend to play nice dead Pure Nickel strings.

I might give them a bit more chance to win you over, but there's no shame in deciding flats aren't your thing.

 

[Lava]

I had to try a few different brands before I figured out that I like tapewounds more than flats, but the Sadowsky flats that I tried were not sticky at all.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Bit of background - I play in a Country Rock band, a 60s band, and a Blues Rock band. All fairly traditional stuff, with not an ounce of slapping in sight, fingerstyle (and palm mute) only..! I normally play a Fender Jazz with old D'Addario nickel rounds on it (45-105), either both pickups or front pickup only, but also occasionally take my P with the same type of rounds. The sound I am going for is deep, defined and muscular.

I decided, as everyone seems to love them these days, and specifically due to the vibe of the 60s band, to purchase a set of Flats - Fender 45-100 to be specific, after a little bit of research on here and elsewhere.

Played a gig with them tonight on the P (as I didn't want to muck about with the setup on my Jazz, which is my baby) - very disappointing..... The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables, and sticky so hard to move around on. Also felt like harder work to fret; the sound - the boom is there, but almost too much at times. It seems like there is little of the "finesse" that I get with the rounds. It's hard to describe, and could be to do with readjusting my ears.

So, my question is, do I need to just admit defeat and go back to my rounds, or am I missing a trick? All reasonable suggestions considered!

Here is a great trick- get a piece of foam and stuff it under your strings right at the bridge. Easier to play than hand muting, deader than flats, you can remove it on the fly between songs and you can keep your rounds. I use this technique for sets where i need to go back and forth between the flat sound and the round sound song after song and don't wanna keep changing basses.

 

[4StringDave]

Well.....….they're off the P Bass...……. and are now on a Fenix J Bass I have as a backup. So far the sound is far more pleasing to me than they were on the P, so that's a good start, but then I am a J Bass man.....

Seem easier to play, but then I prefer J necks too. The neck will need adjustment but I'll do that and see how low the action can get.

In the meantime, Jazz bass no1 stays with the dead rounds

Edited to add - I really prefer the sound of broken in rounds on a P Bass. Is that a first?

 

[scowboy]

No use what you like.

 

[brett adams]

i have chromes on every bass i own. did have a set of fender flats on a bass when i bought it. they seemed fine but they were a lighter gauge than i prefer so when i took it in for a set-up, i switched to chromes. haven't tried anything else because i'm happy with how they feel and sound.

 

[ixlramp]

The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables [...] Also felt like harder work to fret;

Flats have a stiffer construction so feel more rigid for a similar gauge/tension.
1st thing to try is a set of flats in lower gauges, like 40-95, to lower the tension, this will also make them more flexible.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Thanks - The problem may be that I don't sweat much, and it was a very hot night so there was a little bit, just enough to make it "sticky". As JG says above ,I think it's more to do with more surface area = more friction.

I can't be bothered making adjustments to the nut etc, so I'll persevere with them on the P for a while, as the J is my main bass anyway. If it doesn't do it for me I'll switch it back to rounds and mark it down to "experience"

Glass smooth and supple : LaBella Low Tension Flats

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Flats take much longer to break in and generally sound and feel like poo straight out of the pack. Give them a bit of time before you write them off.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Flats suck.

I second that.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I discovered how sticky new flats can be, especially when there are hot lights (thank god for the general move to LEDs for close lights) and your fingers are sweaty when I put new ones on the afternoon before a gig.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

My initial thought too.

@4StringDave - unlike rounds, flats do have a break-in period before they fully open up to sound and feel like they’re meant to. It can take a few weeks of moderate amounts of playing before that happens.

As far as boom goes, that’s something that’s more a function of your playing technique than the string. Like rounds, flats need to be played as what they are. And with lighter gauge flats, there's going to be significantly more punch than you’d expect because there’s the potential for greater string excursion while plucking due to the lower mass and (usually) greater flexibility when compared to a regular flat set. And that string motion is what the pickup translates into sound. So strange as it may sound, light gauge flats are often boomier than heavier sets. It’s just something you need to be aware of and adjust your playing style to either deal with or take advantage of.

And if it turns out that flats (or maybe just Fender’s flats since each brand has its own tone, response, and feel) isn’t your thing then so be it. There’s no fault or foul in that. If flats don't work out for you there’s plenty of other strings that may work better. Theres nothing magical or intrinsically superior with flats. They’re just another option.

Luck!

Cobalts or TIs, although I did see a UK brand (not Rotosound, and relevant for me, not the OP) for much less than either but I have so many strings I haven't bought any.

 

[overit]

Nice that you gave it a shot to see if it works for you. Doesn’t sound like the flats you tried worked out but there are a bunch of other flat options and also tapewounds. I find the Labella White Nylon tapes much easier to play than most medium gauge flats, unless they are specifically low tension flats. Maybe try tapes, low tension flats or lighter gauge flats. Or nothing at all if you are fine with your old rounds.

 

[Drucifer]

DiAddario chromes are the smoothest flats I’ve used, but have a little more tension. They were my favorites until I found the cobalt flats. They last a long time, but seem to get the dreaded thud going after they break in and die.

Chromes changed my opinion about flats.

 

[7615]

Bit of background - I play in a Country Rock band, a 60s band, and a Blues Rock band. All fairly traditional stuff, with not an ounce of slapping in sight, fingerstyle (and palm mute) only..! I normally play a Fender Jazz with old D'Addario nickel rounds on it (45-105), either both pickups or front pickup only, but also occasionally take my P with the same type of rounds. The sound I am going for is deep, defined and muscular.

I decided, as everyone seems to love them these days, and specifically due to the vibe of the 60s band, to purchase a set of Flats - Fender 45-100 to be specific, after a little bit of research on here and elsewhere.

Played a gig with them tonight on the P (as I didn't want to muck about with the setup on my Jazz, which is my baby) - very disappointing..... The bad bits: the feel - they feel like cables, and sticky so hard to move around on. Also felt like harder work to fret; the sound - the boom is there, but almost too much at times. It seems like there is little of the "finesse" that I get with the rounds. It's hard to describe, and could be to do with readjusting my ears.

So, my question is, do I need to just admit defeat and go back to my rounds, or am I missing a trick? All reasonable suggestions considered!

Sound like new strings (flats sound crappy for a week or 2) and the wrong type of flats. Thomastiks are very soft, low tension. Rounds are more versatile BUT they don't sound like flats.