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Flatwound vs. Roundwound poll

#81
GregT said:
Not to hijack this thread, but since it is recent, alive and viable, and as I don't want to wreak havoc from the TB hallway monitors for starting another thread about the bass strings we all find so necessary for daily life: I have a flatwound question: I have always used TI JF344 strings. Which of the La Bella Deep Talking Flat strings come closest to the feel and comfort of those. I am not concerned with the tone; I do understand they sound great and at about half the price, I want to try them. I know there are some of you who have tried way more strings than I care to purchase. I appreciate some experienced guidance.
Click to expand...

I have TIs and Labellas on a couple basses and have gone from Labellas to TIs on the same bass.

The Labellas I had were the lights which are 45-105. Compared to TIs the Labellas were way more stiff but still had a smooth surface to them.


The Labellas had more of a scoop where the TIs have a pronounce low-mid.

The only thing I suggest is trying the Labella extra lights which would probably make them less stiff feeling.
I am going to try them soon myself.

Oh and as far as which type of strings: I use both and love both. Can't get the slap I want with flats and can't get that deep deep fundamental type of sound with rounds. Both types are awesome!
 
#82
Oh good. I've been wanting to post somethinng polarizing, but couldn't find the opportunity.

I use flats because they sound more true bass than the slinky, zingy round wounds. RWs make it sound like a giant Telecaster with RW cables on it. Not musical at all. Just macho, testosterone charged R&R excuse for a bass thing. Really sound crappy. Can't believe people actually use the RW strings which distort, diffuse and bastardize the otherwise wonderful sound of their guitar


I didn't really mean any of that. just did it cause I'm bored, sitting here dringking whisky and watching Bigfoot shows on cable. OMG what a wasteland.

But I do use flats mostly because I'm kinda retro at heart.

g'nite
 
#84
Antonius said:
The landlord in a local pub is an expert in judging the IQ of the punters. One day a new face enters the pub, the landlord talks with him for a short while and says: "Well, you must have an IQ well over 140." He introduces him to a man on the other end of the bar. They get to talk about Einstein's special and general theories of relativity as well as the philosophical links of Kant and Hegel and both enjoy a great night out in the pub.

An other new face is estimated nearer 90. He is brought to a corner of the pub where another bloke is watching a football match on tv. They get to talk the game, football in general and of course women and have a great night.

The third new face takes a bit more effort, which is understandable since the man only scores an IQ of 30. He gets taken along to a table in the back and planted on a chair next to a man who has been sitting there in silence for a while: "Right, trust my word for it, the two of you will get along just fine."

The two men slowly sip their pints for a very long time while looking at each other suspiciously. Until one says to the other: "So, which do you prefer, flatwounds or roundwounds?"
Click to expand...
 
#90
Honestly I think round wounds were great before the amp and eq technology got so advanced. Now I don't think you need that to cut through. Flats seem to fit better in a mix and have there own sound and frequency. John Entwistle
and Geddy Lee both have a signature sound with the round wounds. I love Entwistle's sound and find Geddy Lee's to be grating. To each his own. I'm way old school Jamerson, Dunn and Babbit.
 
#91
Three Strings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One String to rule them all, One String to find them,
One Stringing to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
 
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#92
Pete Langford said:
Flat wounds are true bass strings. I've found the best for me are the 760C La Bella Copper WHITE Nylon Tape Wound. They rock. Round wounds are for wanna be guitar players.
Click to expand...

I think it is pretty clear and I am glad we can now end this thread with a final consensus:
Flats are for men, Rounds are for children, women and guitar players. That's it folks.
 
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#93
smiley-popcorn-image-jpg.jpg
 
#96
Pimpernel Smith said:
Three Strings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One String to rule them all, One String to find them,
One Stringing to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Click to expand...

Lords of the Strings?

MM
 
#98
bluesdogblues said:
...The third new face takes a bit more effort, which is understandable since the man only scores an IQ of 30. He gets taken along to a table in the back and planted on a chair next to a man who has been sitting there in silence for a while: "Right, trust my word for it, the two of you will get along just fine."

The two men slowly sip their pints for a very long time while looking at each other suspiciously. Until one says to the other: "So, which do you prefer, flatwounds or roundwounds?"...
Click to expand...
 
#99
I might as well chime in with my two cents worth. I have played GHS Boomers for about 30 years. I like the sound I get a cl, ear and well defined tone. I did play a friend's bass one night at church and the flats he uses were quite different. They played extremely fast and smooth, but I didn'tcare for the tone. Just a personal preference thing. The new bass guitar I have in the works for later this year will have GHS Big Core strings instead of the Boomers.

And no, I'm not a wanna be guitar player.
 
#100
I love how Rounds sound when I'm practicing on my own. Also, Rounds is the only choice if you play heavy rock music - metal, hardcore, etc. But Flats sits so much better in mix if you're playing more mellow stuff. I have Flats on my P and Rounds on my Jazz, but I'll be putting Flats on my Jazz very soon ;)
 

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