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Flatwounds For Funk?

#21
If you want Larry Graham's funk sound from tha '70's use flats. He actually used tapewounds. I don't like that sound of dead strings. Marcus Miller's sound is more to my taste, bright and lively. He uses roundwounds.
 
#23
I used to think the same thing. I've been using Thomastik Jazz Flats for years. They sound awsome when slapping. In fact I like their "slapping" tome better than rounds. Switching to flats may be the smartest "bass gear" decision I've ever made. Thomastiks are a bit expensive but well worth it. They last a very long time and some even say they even sound better with age. I'm hearing good things about Chromes too.
 
#25
Fender 9050 flats. I can slap with flats but I find the issue is bounce and sustain- getting them to rebound off of the fretboard quick enough. I used Chromes for along time, but it took work to slap on them. I found slapping with the Fenders to be easier, and i like the tone, better -more mids. You could try the D'aD halfwounds, and smooth them with a non abrasive scouring band, like the Mr. Clean pad. I use them on a Tobias style JJ bass, and I can get a nice flat wound sound by reducing the treble.
 
#27
I you're going to be doing some slap, I would seriously consider Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats. They are very slap friendly because of their tension and nickel (as opposed to stainless steel) outer wrap. Also, you'd be able to cop a superb finger style tone out of them for more old school applications. The post that pointed out Chuck Rainey slapping in the Peg chorus is the perfect example of a good slapped flat tone. Also, some older Sly Stone (although they may have been nylon tapes).

The TI's are pricey but last forever. Plus, you wouldn't be dealing with the tension issues that would accommodate putting a set of Chromes on your six string...unless you like a fairly higher tension.
 
#32
billgwx said:
Chromes still have enough brightness to sound good to my ears when slapping on a J-bass, even when broken in, though they certainly won't have the same steely snap you'd get when slapping with stainless steel rounds. They also have a midrange emphasis that you can get away with on a J because it compensates for the midrange scoop you get when both J pickups are on full, but IMO does not work for my ears on a P-bass whose pickups already emphasize the mid-range.
Click to expand...

BS alarm. To avoid midscoop on J-bass with both PU's full in parallel, the midboost should take place AFTER the pickups, not before (in the PU's, strings for example).
 
#33
aprod said:
If you want Larry Graham's funk sound from tha '70's use flats. He actually used tapewounds.
Click to expand...

I was going to recommend trying tapewounds myself - they are a bit brighter sounding than many flats, and also much lower tension (which is my main reason for using them).

Edit: the bass track on the song currently in my soundcloud player below was recorded on a Jazz with Fender tapewounds. No slap, just fingerstyle.
 
#34
Jon Lucas said:
What's up guys! Question, so I'm debating on getting some D'Addario Chromes for my 6 string, but I'm concerned that I may not be able to get a good slap sound out of them, because their flats, does anyone know if they are ok for slap? And if not, are there any flatwound sets out there that are? Thanks for reading!
Click to expand...

In my experience flatwounds aren't good for anything "punchy". I am sure someone will have an exception to show me, though. Their sound is rounder and is dampened a bit more than roundwounds.

So to answer the thread title: Yes, you could potentially get a good funk sound out of flats. Listen to early James Brown records, the bass doesn't have that mid-range punch that emerged in later forms of funk.

To answer the post body question: Probably not a good slap sound, but your results might differ.

You have essentially asked two different questions, by the way.
 
#35
Regarding Bernard Edwards. Until about mid '78, Music Man shipped StingRay basses with GHS flats. Starting they shipped them with any of Precision Flats, Brite-Flats (modified rounds), or Boomers. Seemingly no pattern to which set went on which basses. I dimly recall a Musician Magazine ( TIP to the only good music mag there ever was...) article at the time that did indeed report flats.

BTW, Abe Laboriel used GHS Brite Flats on his MM Saber fretless for most of his TV and movie session work.

John
 
#36
I bought into all the talkbass flatwound hype a while back and threw a set on my stingray. Took it to a few rehearsals and a gig or 2 and its been sitting in its case since. If it were my only bass I might be more committed to falling in love with them, but I've just got way too many years on roundwounds to be excited about the change. And now I keep thinking one day ill want a bass with flats.... So I don't change them. If I think about it, flats essentially killed my stingray....
 
#37
zfunkman said:
I used to think the same thing. I've been using Thomastik Jazz Flats for years. They sound awsome when slapping. In fact I like their "slapping" tome better than rounds. Switching to flats may be the smartest "bass gear" decision I've ever made. Thomastiks are a bit expensive but well worth it. They last a very long time and some even say they even sound better with age. I'm hearing good things about Chromes too.
Click to expand...
May I ask what specific type of Thomastik bass strings you use?
Thanks
 
#38
You can Slap with those strings. They are among the brighter flats anyway. You won't get a Victor Wooten/Marcus Miller "Tink", but more like a Larry Graham/Verdine White "Blurnk". A cool Slap sound regardless.
 

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