Flatwounds are just not for me

[forrestlaw]

I decided to take my third attempt at putting flats on my P-Bass in February. I had tried GHS Precisions and Rotosound 77s in the past and just couldn't bond with them. This time I tried Chromes and they only lasted about 6 weeks before I went back to Boomers. As much as people rant and rave about the feel of flats I actually like the feel of rounds better, possibly because that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I need to quit spending money trying out different strings... in the end I always end up back at Boomers and EB Slinkys.

 

[Gorn]

You could resell them if they're not mangled or cut too short.

 

[dramatwist]

I decided to take my third attempt at putting flats on my P-Bass in February. I had tried GHS Precisions and Rotosound 77s in the past and just couldn't bond with them. This time I tried Chromes and they only lasted about 6 weeks before I went back to Boomers. As much as people rant and rave about the feel of flats I actually like the feel of rounds better, possibly because that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I need to quit spending money trying out different strings... in the end I always end up back at Boomers and EB Slinkys.

...I'm with you, mate...

 

[forrestlaw]

You could resell them if they're not mangled or cut too short.

I plan on it. I put the chromes in the paper sleeves that came with the new boomers and plan on listing them in the classifieds once it's safe to be out and about and going to the post office again.

 

[capnjim]

I agree. I just put some roudwounds on my fretless Birdsong.
I liked the sound of flatwounds, but it felt so limited.
I was playing Californication on the flats and its just not the same.
With roundwounds and the tone rolled off, you can get almost the same tone, plus a whole other spectrum of punchy good brightness.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Try EB Cobalt flats before you give up, the sound of rounds!

 

[Gorn]

Try EB Cobalt flats before you give up, the sound of rounds!

The OP doesn't like the feel of flats. He didn't say anything about the sound.

 

[GIBrat51]

I decided to take my third attempt at putting flats on my P-Bass in February. I had tried GHS Precisions and Rotosound 77s in the past and just couldn't bond with them. This time I tried Chromes and they only lasted about 6 weeks before I went back to Boomers. As much as people rant and rave about the feel of flats I actually like the feel of rounds better, possibly because that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I need to quit spending money trying out different strings... in the end I always end up back at Boomers and EB Slinkys.

No worries, mate. That just means: More Flats For MEEE!!!

 

[jmlee]

Flats always sound uninspiring to me at home, and during social isolation I’m hating my basses with flats. But on stage with a band—Bingo! It has always been so.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I decided to take my third attempt at putting flats on my P-Bass in February. I had tried GHS Precisions and Rotosound 77s in the past and just couldn't bond with them. This time I tried Chromes and they only lasted about 6 weeks before I went back to Boomers. As much as people rant and rave about the feel of flats I actually like the feel of rounds better, possibly because that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I need to quit spending money trying out different strings... in the end I always end up back at Boomers and EB Slinkys.

I think flats have their place but for the styles I play with the band it’s all roundwounds. I think it’s different for everyone depending on the style and the makeup of the band (trio vs having multiple guitar players, keys and horn players and stuff. Flats work well in a dense mix. Rounds in a simpler mix.

 

[diegom]

"I will only paint with primary colors", said some painter, somewhere, sometime...
"I will only write sonnets", said some poet, somewhere, sometime...
"I will only play fingerstyle, picks are for 'lesser' players", said some bass player, somewhere, sometime...
"I will only play rounds, flats are for 'old-school' players", said another bass player, somewhere, sometime...

I you choose to only play rounds, good for you! No big deal. You have found YOUR sound!
Me, I'm a tinkerer at heart. Pick, fingers, thumb, slap, rounds, flats, bring it on!
Remember, this is NOT a competition. Do what makes you happy!

Diego

P.S. I guess I haven't played any "half-rounds" I like... Neither hot, nor cold...

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I still don’t quite “ get” flats, other than being easy on the frets and fingers. It seems like just EQ’ing most of the treble out on rounds = instant flats, but no amount of fuddling will coax that round wound Zing out of flats. My son got a set of flats for his Jay Turser Hofner clone, and they play and sound great on a bass that has a pretty limited tonal palette like that, pretty much thump or thumpier. I must be missing something, but not missing it much. The one that really mystifies me is flats on a Ric, like wrapping a knife blade in cotton and trying to cut rope with it. Why would you spend 2k on a bass legendary for treble bite and then muzzle half it’s range?

 

[forrestlaw]

I do like GHS Presurewounds on my Ric 4003.

 

[Charlzm]

I decided to take my third attempt at putting flats on my P-Bass in February. I had tried GHS Precisions and Rotosound 77s in the past and just couldn't bond with them. This time I tried Chromes and they only lasted about 6 weeks before I went back to Boomers. As much as people rant and rave about the feel of flats I actually like the feel of rounds better, possibly because that's what I'm used to. Anyway, I need to quit spending money trying out different strings... in the end I always end up back at Boomers and EB Slinkys.

I feel you. I had flats on a fretless for years and never liked the feel or the sound. Currently have half-rounds on a fretless and I like that much better.

 

[Discount Bassy]

Less posting = more practice.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Pressurewounds I Get. Most of the round wound zing, but much easier on the fingers and frets, that’s what I have on my fretless. Flats? Nope.

 

[ChrisBowsman]

I put Chromes on my fretless Warwick. For a few days, I thought I liked them, decided I didn't, then tried them on my P bass. Realized what I didn't like was the feel. Don't like the stiffness, either. After trying a ton of strings, my favorites are Dunlop Super Brights and SIT Foundations, both of which are extremely flexible.

I posted a similar thread after my experience. The responses were much like the ones here. Some people love them, some people don't.

 

[Manticore]

I've tried them many times over the last few decades. They aren't for me either.

 

[jerry]

I bought a nice 5-string P-bass that came with a nice set of flats on it, I couldn't take them off fast enough.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

I don’t think anyone is going to be interested in buying someone’s used strings these days....