• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Flats with punch?

#61
@Nebadon2000

> I am not a Flats Guy [..] But with Music Band was playing I thought flats might work but being cautious I choose Cobalt Flats They sounded Great

Not that surprised for a "not a flats guy", despite them having a flat (wider spaced) outer wind, I don't find them to sound particularly like flats.

> With long rehearsals/Gigs they got 'Sticky' and also left this Black goop all over my hands and on the Bass Have they fixed that [ bought in 2019]

Wipe them (or most new strings for that matter, these are not the only ones with production residues) down with a cloth dampened with 99.9% Isoproanol alcohol (not types with a higher water content). That gets rid of the "black goop" and playing time (and oily fingers or some type of fast fret type oil based lube if you choose) reduces their slight "grabbyness" with time.

If I remember correctly, Tina Weymouth used to put a small dab of vaseline behind her ear to keep her fingers lubed during concerts, a little goes a long way.

-Henry
 
Last edited:
#63
HHudson said:
@Nebadon2000

Wipe them (or most new strings for that matter, these are not the only ones with production residues) down with a cloth dampened with 99.9% Isoproanol alcohol (not types with a higher water content). That gets rid of the "black goop" and playing time (and oily fingers or some type of fast fret type oil based lube if you choose) reduces their slight "grabbyness" with time.

If I remember correctly, Tina Weymouth used to put a small dab of vaseline behind her ear to keep her fingers lubed during concerts, a little goes a long way.

-Henry
Click to expand...

Oh I did the wiping sometimes after every song, used string cleaner, washed my hands frequently at rehearsal and after every set at a Gig; after 1 month of this I sold Bass with String's

Didn't try the isopropyl alcohol or maybe give enough time.

They did sound great; maybe with new info may try again and 'Stick[y]' it out until time fixes it

I though Vaseline behind the ear was a Baseball thing not a Baseplayer thing:)

PS; Been playing since 1975 changed string's God only knows how many times never any 'Goop' or stickyness with NPS or Steel Rounds; Yes I used standard Fender wipe towel beginning after stringing and after every time used also use Music Nomad special string cleaning tools frequently
 
Last edited:
#64
tminus10 said:
In my opinion, "Punch" has been so grossly over used that it really doesn't mean anything anymore. But in my mind if I want what maybe "punch" means to me, I wouldn't be reaching for flats to begin with. It's just not what they do.
Click to expand...
I actually think modern flats eg Fender 9050s) "punch" better than rounds, so I suppose it depends on the individual's definition of punch
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way, bassobrutto, Nebadon2000 and 3 others
#66
LHbassist said:

>The RS77's used to be available in the single VERY high tension, that are also branded now as the Steve Harris set. Those are stiff, and sound amazing... but on one of my basses with a Gotoh 201 'high mass' bridge- they BENT the tailpiece part!

****Yeiks!*****

Roto Steve Harris SH77 (50-110), I would not go above the normal RS77s (45-105) .. and now only on a bass with a hefty neck... with low action quite playable and do sound great for harder forms of rock after the post clank/break in/balance period.... unless you like that sound as Harris does and change strings before every concert reportedly... fortunately not my taste, my wallet could not afford that..
-Henry
 
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 271037 and Phaidrus
#68
Danny O Danny said:
Of the flats I've used (TI, GHS, D'Addario, EB Slinkys, etc.) I like La Bella Low Tension Flats the best. I've used them on active and passive basses (they really kill on a passive bass through a good compressor). They are not "thuddy" imho. Soundwise I would liken them to the tone of the bass on Supertramp's Breakfast In America album (which was a Stingray w/ flats): really strong fundamental, round and punchy--at least that's what I get out of them. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Great Strings!:thumbsup:
 
#69
@Nebadon2000

[QUOTE="PS; Been playing since 1975 changed string's God only knows how many times never any 'Goop' or stickyness with NPS or Steel Rounds; Yes I used standard Fender wipe towel beginning after stringing and after every time used also use Music Nomad special string cleaning tools frequently[/QUOTE]

Not sure if it is production residue or something they add to conserve the strings/stop corrosion afterwards... have noticed it recently with the EB Cobalt, Dunlop & Pyramid flats (the latter also for E2 flatwound guitar strings).

Have been playing E2 guitar since the same, bass only since 2005 (our bassist decided to turn to drums, I thankfully volunteered to take over bass)... lol, am still waiting to become as good as Jimmie (Blanton) to be able to call myself a bassist... until then I'm just a hack guitar player on bass in an average hard rock band (whose members now span 5 decades), playing mostly music written after my best by date ;) .
-Henry
 
  • Like
Reactions: EatS1stBassist
#70
2a34d8_d1713cd9c3044338bc92eef356fcbd25mv2.jpg


How about a nice Hawaiian punch? Remember that ad?

On a more serious note, cobalt strings seem very dependent on the chemistry of the player's hands. For some players they corrode rapidly and leave a black residue and odor. For other players (like me, with my dry hands), they don't seem to corrode at all. They do have a unique midrange character to them that suits some instruments (I had them on a G&L SB-2T and on a Sterling Stingray 4) but, to my ears at least, they're don't have as elegant a midrange character as do the Thomastik flats.

D'Addario Chromes and Ernie Ball Group flats are very similar in character: rather bright at first but settling down to a present but warm character with more attack and presence than Labella DTFs or GHS Precision Flats. They all have their place, even if I don't personally know what punch is (other than the Hawaiian variety).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bassobrutto, EatS1stBassist and Phaidrus
#75
4StringDave said:
I actually think modern flats eg Fender 9050s) "punch" better than rounds, so I suppose it depends on the individual's definition of punch
Click to expand...

I don't know what Fender Flats are on New American AV 54P with single coil but a couple demo's I heard is the Best tone I have come across in my many years. Yes what my perception of Punch is; it has is spades with Flats

A tone that I would be happy with with any type music coming from my Amp no matter if it not actually right for genre. Again I am not a P with Flats fan until I heard the AV54P

When I get a chance to try one out and can get tone similar to what I heard online[Also similar to Gabe Nelson with Band CAKE] I won't be able to get my wallet out fast enough:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phaidrus
#78
Nebadon2000 said:
I don't know what Fender Flats are on New American AV 54P with single coil but a couple demo's I heard is the Best tone I have come across in my many years. Yes what my perception of Punch is; it has is spades with Flats

A tone that I would be happy with with any type music coming from my Amp no matter if it not actually right for genre. Again I am not a P with Flats fan until I heard the AV54P

When I get a chance to try one out and can get tone similar to what I heard online[Also similar to Gabe Nelson with Band CAKE] I won't be able to get my wallet out fast enough:)
Click to expand...
Looks like it's 9050L (45-100) stock on the AV 54P.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nebadon2000

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back