Flats that sound like rounds?

[Lowendchamp]

The only basses in my stable that don't wear EB cobalt flats are my short scales and they have Rotosound 77 flats. I got EB cobalt specifically for the reason the OP said. They sound close to rounds but feel and play like flats. I can't say the same for the Rotosounds but those do sound good on a short scale bass.

 

[brianrost]

maybe some 1/2 rounds could be a "happy medium" of what you're searching for?
XL Half Rounds | Semi-Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario they used to make ground round strings, but maybe they arent manufactured anymore?

That was my first thought. I used to put XL half-rounds on my fretless basses. Some manufacturers call them half-round, some call them ground-wound...in any event they are smooth, like flats.

 

[woodyng2]

Wow. I have used these DR. I have cobalts currently.
I cannot disagree more, and rather shocked by this assertion.
Cobalts are nowhere near the DR. They are not rough at all. Feel like a flat wound. Sound is objective, so whatever. But saying the DR is smoother is nuts

Perception is Reality! Or as they like to say on TB, YMMV.
I dunno about nuts, (thanks), but my impression of the cobalts was immediate and couldn’t be any less subjective.
The tactile part was off putting, (maybe I got hold of a bad set?), but they felt loosely wrapped and rough. Hence my thinking they were poorly made. And sounded like the worst aspects of a roundwound string to my ears, too. (Brazenly bright -I can’t stand Rotosound swing bass strings,either, but that’s more because of the rough feel than the sound.)
I’ve used DR Sunbeams for decades, recently switched to their Pure Blues sets. While they definitely have a roundwound feel to the windings, they are one of the smoothest feeling strings I’ve played.

 

[drewphishesp]

Another Rec for eb cobalts. All my basses where them. I recently a /bd them on my 5 string P bass with la Bella's and Dunlop flats. I liked the eb the best. They still sound like flats but I think the tone knob really can make them sound like la Bella's when you roll it off and turn it up and they have a nice growl. I don't think they sound like rounds they just sound like bright flats. If you want clang and what not try pressure wounds or the like

 

[Grapevine921]

Perception is Reality! Or as they like to say on TB, YMMV.
I dunno about nuts, (thanks), but my impression of the cobalts was immediate and couldn’t be any less subjective.
The tactile part was off putting, (maybe I got hold of a bad set?), but they felt loosely wrapped and rough. Hence my thinking they were poorly made. And sounded like the worst aspects of a roundwound string to my ears, too. (Brazenly bright -I can’t stand Rotosound swing bass strings,either, but that’s more because of the rough feel than the sound.)
I’ve used DR Sunbeams for decades, recently switched to their Pure Blues sets. While they definitely have a roundwound feel to the windings, they are one of the smoothest feeling strings I’ve played.

I'm with you. It's great so many people love the cobalt flats, as there aren't any other strings like them. In my experience they are literally the only string I've tried (and I've tried a lot) that I can say I hated the feel of. Heck, the windings are so open that my arm hair kept getting pinched on the B string of my five strings set! They do get you a roundwound tone out of a flat, but it's a little generous to call them flatwounds.

 

[mcnach]

Wow. I have used these DR. I have cobalts currently.
I cannot disagree more, and rather shocked by this assertion.
Cobalts are nowhere near the DR. They are not rough at all. Feel like a flat wound. Sound is objective, so whatever. But saying the DR is smoother is nuts

agreed 100%, I also use DR Pure Blues on one of my basses. I wonder if woodyng2 was talking about roundwound cobalts by mistake, because his comments fit better with my own experience of those, but definitely not the flatwounds.

 

[woodyng2]

agreed 100%, I also use DR Pure Blues on one of my basses. I wonder if woodyng2 was talking about roundwound cobalts by mistake, because his comments fit better with my own experience of those, but definitely not the flatwounds.

Nope. They were cobalt flats….I did a double take when I saw that on the packaging.
Maybe a factory packing mixup?

 

[bdplaid]

Labella white nylon tape. They're roundwound strings wrapped in plastic flat wound covering.

 

[woodyng2]

Labella white nylon tape. They're roundwound strings wrapped in plastic flat wound covering.

Those, and especially the Labella Copper Whites, are fast becoming my favorite bass strings.
They have a rw top end sound, and a tubby thump bottom. And are the smoothest strings in creation.
(At least from what I’ve sampled).

 

[sean_on_bass]

Takes 5 secs to wipe off with alcohol prior to installation.

This tarnishing/buildup happened over time when playing, they were great out of the package. Maybe something to do with my own hand chemistry and the metals they use to wrap the strings. Chromes had never had this issue.

 

[jbhaugh]

Steve Harris uses Rotosound flats and doesn't seem to have any trouble getting an aggressive sound.

 

[Chicken Wing]

I've used EB Slinky Flats for the past two years. To my ear, they sound like rounds with a bit more fundamental and no finger noise. If anyone wants some sound samples please DM me and I'll send a link to some recordings with them.

 

[JimmyM]

Ah, one of my favorite subjects...physics-defying strings. Most flats sound like rounds when they're new and don't when they're dead. A handful of exceptions but generally that's the case.

 

[Hounddog409]

Perception is Reality! Or as they like to say on TB, YMMV.
I dunno about nuts, (thanks), but my impression of the cobalts was immediate and couldn’t be any less subjective.
The tactile part was off putting, (maybe I got hold of a bad set?), but they felt loosely wrapped and rough. Hence my thinking they were poorly made. And sounded like the worst aspects of a roundwound string to my ears, too. (Brazenly bright -I can’t stand Rotosound swing bass strings,either, but that’s more because of the rough feel than the sound.)
I’ve used DR Sunbeams for decades, recently switched to their Pure Blues sets. While they definitely have a roundwound feel to the windings, they are one of the smoothest feeling strings I’ve played.

We're all nuts....but meant statement only.
Pure Blues are nice.

I think you got a bad set, IMO

 

[Hounddog409]

Steve Harris uses Rotosound flats and doesn't seem to have any trouble getting an aggressive sound.

With all those effects, shoes strings would sound aggressive.

 

[StayLow]

I love playing with flatwounds, my artist fingers are probably more made for it. I play sometimes with and sometimes without a pick. But aggressive rock doesn't sound right with normal flats.
Tell me, which flatwounds are the closest to roundwounds in terms of sound? What can you do to change the sound with distortion or something similar in the direction of roundwounds?

My first though was to wonder how this thread went past “Cobalt flats” in the 3rd reply, but I’ve played very aggressive rock with very dark flats, finger style, and it sounded fantastic.

If you must have high-end *zing* though, especially if the guitar(s) EQ for ego rather than to benefit the music, my +1 goes to Cobalts with fresh Chromes a 2nd.

 

[Cowboy0071]

They might but most people seem to hate them and it's also worth noting that they're not really flats. They are "groundwounds", meaning they start out as roundwounds and are ground down to a smoother surface (but very grabby when new!).

If strings that aren't really flats but have a smooth surface are an option it would perhaps be worth checking out the GHS Pressurewounds instead. They're not my personal favourite but lots of people love them, unlike the GHS Brite Flats which are almost universally disliked.

I still think the only true flats that will sound even remotely like roundwounds are the Roto 77s. Personally I find them very stiff and uncomfortable but they sound amazing! Great mids!

This is how Roto 77s can sound like when played with a pick:

I can't think of any other flats that will provide those grindy, roundwound-ish mids. You can find other flats that are "bright" of course but they will be very different to Roto 77s. Both D'Addario Chromes and TI Jazz Flats can be considered bright but they won't sound even remotely like roundwounds. Roto 77s can get pretty close (they won't "feel" like roundwound though, not even close!).

Roto flats won't stay bright for very long though and the tone across the strings will get a bit unbalanced with age. E+A will stay bright for weeks, or even months, but D+G will mellow out pretty fast.

The Brite Flats were not really my cup of tea either, I was just throwing them out there as an option the OP could try out. Strings are such a personal taste item. Just too many variables. I'm sure we all would love to have the $$$ back for all the strings we've tried and later pitched in the trash.

 

[fourstringdrums]

When I want a flat that sounds enough like a round to make me happy but still gives me flatwound qualities, I put on TI Jazz Flats, which is where I am right now.

 

[Doug4321]

The Rotosounds are kinda clanky for sure. Not quite like a round, but a sort of mid range brightness. The 45-105 are high tension stiff, 40-100 more reasonable.
The short scale version is not bright at all strangely.

Also worth looking into, GHS Brite Flats, which are actually a ground round. I haven’t tried.

Speaking of which, it seems like the EB Cobalt Flats are ground rounds or something rather than actually flatwounds. Based on what I saw in magnified pictures and that they are very flexible. Definitely sound growly.

Brite flats demo:

 

[Mister Mo]

This is how Roto 77s can sound like when played with a pick:

I can't think of any other flats that will provide those grindy, roundwound-ish mids. You can find other flats that are "bright" of course but they will be very different to Roto 77s.

„Mm-hmm! This is a tasty burger!“ (Pulp Fiction Quote)

This is that simple great bass line in that Pink Floyd performance that I really love, including the remarkable sound. Will that get through my Yamaha BB Bass and my Markbass amps and still sound like this?