Flats sounds good for rock genre?

[Linnin]

I've bought the GHS precision flats. I let you guys know how its going later.

Groovy Baby!

 

[RattleSnack]

I have a P-bass with bassline spb3 and a humbucker pickup.

I really hate to be "that guy", but it is quite possible that you will hate the sound of flats on your bass. SPB-3 are mid-scooped, and flats are typically used with more "even" sounding pickups.

Start with flat amp EQ and give it time to get used. I hope they work out for you!

 

[Stranger Danger]

And almost all after that weren't.

Hence the poor quality in comparison:0)

 

[sissy kathy]

I like my bass tone to stay in its sonic corral and not venture into guitar territory, hence one of the reasons I like flats. My bass has a narrow and fast neck and with the extra low action and neck relief that I put on it, my Chromes sound really good and play nicely. The higher tension of the Chromes, in combination with my light touch, tends to minimize fret buzz and lends itself well to my attempts to get more precise and clean in my fingering.
The Cobalt flats by Ernie Ball look interesting and I might try a set someday in the same gauge as my current Chromes(45 - 100)

{SHARPE INTAKE OF BREATH} You opened the can of worms I have been tempted to open on every thread I've seen about strings, and basses with more than 5 strings. If nothing else you, my friend, have the largest cojones (cahones) on TB. We hear a lot of rants about others stepping into and violating the bass sonic region, this is the first acknowledgement, I have seen, that we have a responsibility to stay the he77 out of the guitars way. Well done.

 

[Flabass]

I use Chromes and GHS Precision Flats. Love them both.

 

[Ric5]

I have found that good palm muting skills pretty much eliminate the need for flat wound strings.

 

[cnltb]

Flats sounds good for rock genre?
Yes, I think they can very well sound real good for anything.

 

[Holdsg]

I prefer flats, and have them on the majority of my basses, including the upright, naturally.
I do keep rounds on several basses, when I'm in the mood for bite and sizzle.
find something you like, and play it loud.

 

[Rycebag]

Flatwounds are fantastic - if thats the sound you want.

I love flats because of no string noise and I love the their thump.

If you're going to go with flats, don't screw around -- TI Jazz Flats are simply the best. They cost a lot but they last a long time

Yup TI changed the game for me!

 

[pbass2]

I have found that good palm muting skills pretty much eliminate the need for flat wound strings.

If you're just trying to simulate a muted thump sort of flat wound sound (which not all sound like) then sure, it often does the trick, especially live. In the studio where it's more critical sonically you'll still hear a big difference. The tone of flats is still way different from rounds--what's going on harmonically, etc. There's a different kind of focus to them, whether the string is ringing out, being muted, whatever.

 

[twinjet]

I have never played before with flats so i'd like to give them a try. I have a P-bass with bassline spb3 and a humbucker pickup.
Something i do not like on rounds is that they sound floppy after a while. I'm seeking for a stable rock tone. Sometimes i use to play a little hard while on hype and rounds does not respond so well.
Also i've heard that Cliff Williams uses D'Addario flats, a sound that i'd like to have in combination with my ampeg amp .
I'm between D'addario Chrome and Rotosound RS77LD (45-100). What do you guys think?
Thanks

I heard a gal play a GSR200 with chromes. She plays for a rock group and makes those strings sound great. But this is more about what you like.

 

[morgansterne]

I tried labella deep talkin flats on my jazz in a modern type rock band. They sounded amazing on my hofner beatle bass but kinda bland on the jazz. I really missed the rounds after a while and switched back. The chromes I put on later have a much more rock sound to my ears. It's an expensive process but try a few different kinds and I'm sure you'll find some flats that you like.

 

[Ric5]

If you're just trying to simulate a muted thump sort of flat wound sound (which not all sound like) then sure, it often does the trick, especially live. In the studio where it's more critical sonically you'll still hear a big difference. The tone of flats is still way different from rounds--what's going on harmonically, etc. There's a different kind of focus to them, whether the string is ringing out, being muted, whatever.

With rounds I can mimic the sound of flats ... but with flats I cannot mimic the sound of rounds ... so my string choice is easy ... ROUNDS.

also most people who listen to music cannot tell the difference between flats and rounds and most don't care.

 

[Smit_Dogg]

Used flats in my P a few times. Always found they get lost in the mix. Tried Daddario Chromes and the EB Cobalts. The EB Cobalt are initially very bright straight from the packet but tail off after a few months. I found Chromes keep a more consistent tone over time.

 

[Thumper19605]

Flats can be used for any type of music, good solid fundamental without the noise.

 

[prd004]

Yes flats work great for rock, especially on a Precision.
Rotosound and Chromes in particular.
The tension on your neck will change and you will need to adjust the relief. If you're not up for this yourself, take it to a pro.
Stick with em for a while, the feel and sound will seem strange at first.
The first time I put flats on a bass, I though I could never play with these.
Fortunately I did not take them off right away because the sound grew on me and I learned to love them!
Now my P is always strung with flats and my J with rounds....
I use the P 80% of the time and for many styles

 

[hintz]

Anything that's rock n' roll enough for Steve Harris is rock n' roll enough for me... He uses Roto Flats

He also has them changed after *every* gig to keep that zingy roundwound-ish tone...

 

[pbass2]

Now my P is always strung with flats and my J with rounds....
I use the P 80% of the time and for many styles

IMHO when doing sessions if you show up with a P with flats and a J with rounds you are sonically covered. Of course even more options are great but with just those two you can handle pretty much any request the producer may throw at you. There's gads of classic tones on tap with just those two basses and your fingers, pick, and thumb.

 

[affprod]

Yes flats work great for rock, especially on a Precision.
Rotosound and Chromes in particular.
The tension on your neck will change and you will need to adjust the relief. If you're not up for this yourself, take it to a pro.
Stick with em for a while, the feel and sound will seem strange at first.
The first time I put flats on a bass, I though I could never play with these.
Fortunately I did not take them off right away because the sound grew on me and I learned to love them!
Now my P is always strung with flats and my J with rounds....
I use the P 80% of the time and for many styles

Funny, you sound just like me. I started with flats on one P and soon had them on all precisions, but kept rounds on my jazzes. Now, I have flats on all my jazzes too, except for one that just sounds too good to mess with. I also play P 80% of the time.

 

[Jay2U]

I have never played before with flats so i'd like to give them a try. I have a P-bass with bassline spb3 and a humbucker pickup.
Something i do not like on rounds is that they sound floppy after a while. I'm seeking for a stable rock tone. Sometimes i use to play a little hard while on hype and rounds does not respond so well.
Also i've heard that Cliff Williams uses D'Addario flats, a sound that i'd like to have in combination with my ampeg amp .
I'm between D'addario Chrome and Rotosound RS77LD (45-100). What do you guys think?
Thanks

See what works for you and the mix. I like Ernie Ball flatwounds. I use them on my BEAD tuned Ibanez. With some fuzz I think they sound awesome. The feel is rather stiff, compared to roundwounds