Flatwounders, In What Context Would You NOT Use Flats?

[Beginner Bass]

I always use rounds. Always.

I recently started using DR FatBeams and *love* them. Not too much zing, lots of roar...

If I want a muted tone, I turn down my tone control or I mute the strings.

The title pretty much says it all. In what musical context would you rather use rounds then flats. This is for those who typically use FW, or FWs and RWs. That is outside of Stanley Clarke.

You fall into neither category.

yes, and I thought my answer was appropriate.

You're clear. You answered with, essentially, "None of the above."

 

[bassist4dalord]

I'm a big fan of flatwounds, and try to use them quite a bit. However, I play in church a lot, so there I like the punch of rounds. But that's really the only situation I tend to prefer rounds in.

 

[somegeezer]

I only recently moved to flats and I'd use either for any sort of style. I'm more bothered about what I like, not what the style likes. There are more things than just my strings giving my tone. ;D I can get a tone from either type of string to make it fit.

 

[BassInUrFace]

Slappin Da Bayyass Mon

 

[Billnc]

I like TI flats for everything, fretless and fretted. I use a foam mute on fretted. If I were to slap take the mute out. Even practicing alone I love the sound of flats. The high end you get from rounds is not needed on bass. I've always turned horns off on cabinets. I do like a very clear, no distortion sound, no mud, and I want distinct notes. You can get a hi fi sound with flats, just not all the ring.

 

[mccartneyman]

I would definitely not use flats in a Yes tribute band. Probably not in a Rush tribute band, or a Who tribute band.

 

[JonPol]

Depends where I want to sit in the mix. Rounds for the front with guitars or flats if I want to kick it with the drummer. This is all sonically of course.

 

[fourfinger]

The title pretty much says it all. In what musical context would you rather use rounds then flats. This is for those who typically use FW, or FWs and RWs. That is outside of Stanley Clarke.

To repeat the title, as a flatwounder, in what context would I prefer rounds:

1) On a bass kept in my arsenal only as a "change-up" (i.e. to sound deliberately different than my other instruments)
2) On a recording if the engineer or leader requests a bright bass tone
3) If I had a gig where slap was the main thing.
4) If auditioning for a tribute band, such as for the Who or Yes or RHCP tributes, where the band being covered features a "lead bassist" who must have an aggressive, up front tone much of the time
5) If I owned a bass that simply refused to sound better with flats.

I haven't been a "flatwounder" all that long yet, but I have tried them on all my basses and prefer them.

 

[fretlessguy]

I use flats when playing old style country, blues, Jazz, Southern Gospel, and folk.
I use rounds when playing contemporary Christian, some jazz, modern country, ballad-ish type stuff and more modern rock sounding music. That's not to say I may use flats or rounds with either group, but that is generally what I use and when.

 

[Beginner Bass]

Keep 'em coming.

 

[Pilgrim]

I would only use rounds if I played bass for Dick Dale. He insists that his bass player change strings for every performance; Sam (his current bass player) uses Dean Markley Blue Steel rounds.

Otherwise, flats...or rounds that are more than a year old.

 

[guroove]

I use flats for everything. I may be in the minority, but I actually find LaBella flats to be very bright - almost excessively bright when new. They also take a really long time to "break-in." Also the "break-in" time also seems to be about as long as some round wound strings take to "get old."

 

[jaywa]

I would only use rounds if I played bass for Dick Dale.

I didn't know Dick Dale was even still alive... much less playing.

 

[lmfreeman9]

I am a caveman blues bassist with flats on almost every bass I own. I prefer TI's, Pyramids and LaBella FL's. I like nickel. All my basses are old school G&L, Fender, Peavey.

Recently traded for a modern active bass. Lakland Skyline 44-01. It came with rounds (Dean Markley Nickels) and before I could change the strings, I gave it a chance in a power trio rock band I'm in and it sounded better; especially on songs like Cheap Sunglasses.

I have been tempted to put Nickel Lo-Riders or Dunlop Nickels on another bass, probably the Peavey T-45 with the Darkstar.

 

[Makatak]

If want definition , clarity , presence etc I wouldnt use flats ...... cant stand them , they seem to stifle all the hard work Ive done making my rig sound killer .

 

[Beginner Bass]

If want definition , clarity , presence etc I wouldnt use flats ...... cant stand them , they seem to stifle all the hard work Ive done making my rig sound killer .

Please refer to post #21.

 

[tahoebass92]

Flats generally aren't as good for slap as rounds. I would prefer rounds in any funk setting.

 

[CBgaragebassist]

Flats generally aren't as good for slap as rounds. I would prefer rounds in any funk setting.

It's really not a question of what's better. It's preference. Early Larry Graham was flats and i wouldn't put his tone down.

 

[guroove]

It's really not a question of what's better. It's preference. Early Larry Graham was flats and i wouldn't put his tone down.

Agreed

Flats generally aren't as good for slap as rounds. I would prefer rounds in any funk setting.

Also, slap does not equal funk. In fact, most funk was recorded on flatwounds.

 

[mulambo]

I use both, FW and RW. I will not use flats where i need a agressive and dirt sound of bass, where the noises of roundwound are not relevant, and actually, are an important factor of tone!
Also, and one dude said, not to play Rush, Yes, or The Who. Level 42 is also not the type of sound u can got with flats....