Flats or Rounds?

[Sam Farnon]

Hello there

I'm going to be purchasing a Presicion type bass in the next few weeks, and I'm currently debating on whether I should put rounds or flats on it; I currently play in a blues/blues rock band, and use a Modern Player Jazz bass with Elixir stainless steel rounds on it, which has an amazing sound for rock/funk/fusion thanks to a combination of the strings and the pickups, but it does seem a bit aggressive sounding for the bluesy stuff I'm doing with the band (Which is one of the reasons I'm going for a P bass haha).

I am curious as to whether its better to put rounds or flats on it however; there are convincing arguments for both, and not all flatwound strings sound the same; the music is kind of 50/50 between standard electric blues sound and more hard edged Zeppelin/Hendrix sounding blues rock; my main concern is the flats being able to cover the heavier stuff as well as the more blues focused music. Its a three piece band btw.

What do y'all think?

- Sam

 

[Jason Harris]

Rounds without a question, got to have some character in the mix!

 

[michael_t]

I am curious as to whether its better to put rounds or flats on it however; there are convincing arguments for both, and not all flatwound strings sound the same; the music is kind of 50/50 between standard electric blues sound and more hard edged Zeppelin/Hendrix sounding blues rock; my main concern is the flats being able to cover the heavier stuff as well as the more blues focused music. Its a three piece band btw.

If you want true "character" and versatility, try the GHS Pressurewound. They do provide enough of the roundwound bite and crunch when you need it, but can also be tamed down to a full-bodied low-mid punch to fill the sonic space in a 3-piece band in a non-aggressive way.

Another approach would be to go the complete opposite to your Jazz with SS rounds by putting a set of GHS Precision flats for the old school thumpy goodness.

 

[Gorn]

Try both.

 

[Sam Farnon]

If you want true "character" and versatility, try the GHS Pressurewound. They do provide enough of the roundwound bite and crunch when you need it, but can also be tamed down to a full-bodied low-mid punch to fill the sonic space in a 3-piece band in a non-aggressive way.

Another approach would be to go the complete opposite to your Jazz with SS rounds by putting a set of GHS Precision flats for the old school thumpy goodness.

Hmm that could be an option; However as my sweat is pretty acidic, I tend to kill uncoated rounds super quickly (Which is why I use Elixirs these days lol), it wouldn't really be an issue with flats but with pressure wounds would they succumb to the general things that kill rounds?

 

[michael_t]

Hmm that could be an option; However as my sweat is pretty acidic, I tend to kill uncoated rounds super quickly (Which is why I use Elixirs these days lol), it wouldn't really be an issue with flats but with pressure wounds would they succumb to the general things that kill rounds?

The GHS Pressurewound uses Alloy 52, which is a nickel-iron alloy, which is supposed to be corrosion-resistant. The only way to find out what kind of affect your acidic sweat might have on it is to try a set. They may or may not work for you.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Even though I like rounds more, the flats could minimize the upper harmonics that might contribute to that 'aggressiveness'. Try both.

 

[maturanesa]

Since none of both are mandatory for those styles, i'll choose which i like more instead of trying to picking the one that fits.

 

[Blankandson]

It's easier to get a 'flats' sound with rounds that to get a 'rounds' sound with flats. i've thought about putting two flats on my fiver, the low B and E, but keeping rounds on the A, D, and G. Reasoning is when playing country I play the low B and E almost exclusively. But when playing blues or rock I play mainly the A, D, and G and occasionally drop down to the E. I may give this a try next time I change strings. Personally, rounds hide a lot of the 'zing' sound many rounds give. If your finger style isn't right on, rounds can hide a multitude of sins. JMTCW

 

[nilorius]

Put rounds.

 

[mikewalker]

I'm in the (minimum) "one-bass-for-each" camp: one for flats, one for tapes, one for rounds ( to start...)

 

[neilshane]

There is nothing quite as wonderful as flats on a good P Bass. I really like GHS flats on mine.

 

[eldorado2001]

Ken Smith Compressors use stainless steel, might be a longer-lasting option for you in a compression-wound string. His website states that they're nickel-iron alloy but the packaging reads stainless steel.

 

[Bodeanly]

I just registered to vote and there’s no poll?

 

[Bruiser Stone]

There is no satisfactory conclusion. I haven’t answered it myself.

 

[michael_t]

Ken Smith Compressors use stainless steel,

The Compressors are in fact Ken Smith's version of the GHS Pressurewounds, both made by GHS, and the outer wrap wire is Alloy 52, which is a nickel-iron alloy.

 

[FishDub]

Every bass I owned had rounds on them, bright rounds to say the least. Ever since I took the plunge with TI flats, they haven’t left my Squier CV 60s precision, and won’t. But I still do like a nice slap sound with flex steels on my Tune Maniac. If you try TIs, be prepared to love them

 

[eldorado2001]

The Compressors are in fact Ken Smith's version of the GHS Pressurewounds, both made by GHS, and the outer wrap wire is Alloy 52, which is a nickel-iron alloy.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Flats. I’m a contrarian. For a Precision Bass, there are two popular routes to go:

Motown/Vintage: LaBella 760 DTBs or GHS Precision Flats.

Rock: D’Addario Chromes or Fender 9050s.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

This could have been a great poll.