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Flatwound Club

#341
Some of you who play thumpy flats like GHS and LaBella have probably noticed a tone imbalance between some of the strings. For me sometimes the E (and B) are the outliers and sometimes the D or G or both.

This seems to vary from bass to bass for me and I wonder if it's the string sets that I happen to install on those particular basses or if certain pickups and/or woods tend to bring out the thump or zing of certain strings more than others.

Very frustrating considering how expensive strings are. Half the time it seems like I end up throwing new strings in the trash because of the uneven tone from string to string.

As we speak I have a brand new set of 1954 LaBellas on a bass strung BEAD. The B & E match and the A & D match but the two pairs are from different universes. It's really pissing me off.
 
#342
Doner Designs said:
This seems to vary from bass to bass for me and I wonder if it's the string sets that I happen to install on those particular basses or if certain pickups and/or woods tend to bring out the thump or zing of certain strings more than others.
Click to expand...

It is my experience that flats are harder to match with the right bass than rounds; it is also my experience that certain basses are fussier with flats than other basses.

I've tried and tried to love the sound of flats on my Fender Jazz but simply couldn't find the right match. Then, when I got my new Am Std P bass, I dressed it up with a set of La Bella 760FL and BAM! Good as gold from day one!

Doner Designs said:
Very frustrating considering how expensive strings are. Half the time it seems like I end up throwing new strings in the trash because of the uneven tone from string to string.
Click to expand...

Flats are definitely not for the impatient as they need a lot more time than rounds to "fully mature".
 
#343
Re: "sometimes the E (and B) are the outliers and sometimes the D or G or both."

I've noticed the same imbalance between some sets of flats and don't have the patience to play them that way for months to see if they'll eventually balance out (some say they will).
As you said, it's usually the E and B that are much deader (or sort of hollow) sounding than the others, but if the lighter strings loose their brightness eventually, and the heavier strings settle in the lows and mids, they'd probably be nice. One day I'll get to play a set of really broken-in flats like that, and maybe it'll give me reason to sit them out.
 
#344
michael_t said:
It is my experience that flats are harder to match with the right bass than rounds; it is also my experience that certain basses are fussier with flats than other basses.

I've tried and tried to love the sound of flats on my Fender Jazz but simply couldn't find the right match. Then, when I got my new Am Std P bass, I dressed it up with a set of La Bella 760FL and BAM! Good as gold from day one!

Flats are definitely not for the impatient as they need a lot more time than rounds to "fully mature".
Click to expand...

I just ordered a set of Ernie Ball Group I flats which are my go-to for bright flats. Have only used the 1954 LaBellas of late, but maybe they aren't right for this bass.
 
#348
Kcarlson said:
Yeah :/ or at least I'm pretty sure, when I first put on the strings they kept pulling the neck, so I've had to adjust it multiple times. The last time it was pretty resistant to turning so I didn't wanna push it much farther.
I will admit I've only been playing about a year though so my knowledge of doing a set up may not be perfect.
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If it's a Fender, search for a thread on the washer trick. I did that with my Squier a few times but eventually had to get a new neck.
 
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#350
The Ibanez SR truss rods I've seen are NOT like the Fender truss rods that have a nut compressing the wood.
The Ibanez rods are either single or double action rods depending what they are in. It may be possible to run out of travel, but I haven't seen it. Usually the threads get stuck if someone uses the truss rod to bend the neck instead of just keeping the adjustment. Forcing the rod when stuck can easily break the rod either at the beginning of the threaded section, or at the other end where the round and rectangle rods are welded together.
The nuts on some of the single action rods are removable. At least back it loose a little and get a drop or two of light oil (3-in-1 or gun oil) to the threads and let it penetrate before forcing it past where it easily goes.
 
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#355
I had to switch one bass off of LaBellas because of uneven tone across strings, so am taking the opportunity to put brighter flats on all four so I can hear the difference between pickups better.

Going from 1954 Jamerson flats on all to Ernie Ball Group I flats (55,75,90,110,130). The Ernie Balls sound about the same to me as Daddario and Roto but I always go for the EB for that brighter tone because they come standard in the thicker size range I prefer. Almost the same sizes as the Jamerson flats except that the A is 90 instead of 95.

Can't wait to get them all on and hear the pickup distinctions a little better than I can with the LaBellas.

IMG_0565.JPG
 
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#357
Kcarlson said:
I have yet to try Ernie ball flats! Hopefully they're awesome though, I wish i could handle thicker gauges, gotta work my way up I suppose
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Very similar to Daddario as I recall. As for thicker gauges, the higher the tension the closer the strings can be to the frets without buzzing. With super low action, left hand work is easy. For the right hand, the key is to play with a light touch which some folks don't want to do for various reasons. If you crank the amp and caress the strings it's easy on the fingers.
 
#359
In the process of going back to brighter flats (from LaBella to Ernie Ball) I think I've discovered why a lot of folks tend to think flats (especially thumpy flats) sound great on a P but less great on a J.

A P bass doesn't scoop the mids, but any bass that has multiple pickups (like a J) will scoop the mids when both pickups are on full at the same time (because of phase cancellation). With a J, it's common for players with pure single coils to want them both on full/equally in order to eliminate single coil hum (unless they have noiseless pickups). It's a pleasing sound but, all else being equal, the mids are scooped vs one pickup soloed.

While wearing LaBellas, I tended to solo pickups and even use EQ to boost upper mids. With the brighter EB flats (they almost sound like mellow rounds to me) my basses sound great with multiple pickup combinations and the upper mid boost EQ is no longer needed.

The LaBellas are definitely not going in the trash. They will be stowed for another day.

100609000000000-00-500x500.jpg lb_1954original.jpg
 
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