I'm quite sure they were actually very old roundwounds. Like, dead roundwounds. They do have that clank, in fact. Dead roundwounds played aggressively and with overdrive have a very middy tone.
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Flatwounds for Rock
- Thread starter Memphis Soul
- Start date
TI Flats. They're only $20 more on Amazon than La Bella's, sound GREAT when played with either fingers or pick, and you'll likely never have to change them ever again. I have TI Flats on 5 of my basses, two of them for 10+ years (several TBr's have had them on their basses for more than 20 years.) They're the best investment you can make, and they feel amazing.
Yes and No that’s why I have four basses two with rounds and two with flats. My jazz and P with flats my 54P amd PJ with rounds and I finally feel I’m covered.
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Steve Harris of Iron Maiden has a precision bass strung with his own signature RotoSound flats. R77’s I believe is the number but don’t quote me on that
I use TI flats on my fretless basses. They wear forever!TI Flats. They're only $20 more on Amazon than La Bella's, sound GREAT when played with either fingers or pick, and you'll likely never have to change them ever again. I have TI Flats on 5 of my basses, two of them for 10+ years (several TBr's have had them on their basses for more than 20 years.) They're the best investment you can make, and they feel amazing.
Try some Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats.
I'm getting back in to playing more bass again after a little break and strung up my stingray with heavy rotosound 77 (LE's with the 110). They are a lot smoother to the touch than I remember them being. I know rotosound 77's don't get a lot of love, but I've never had a rotosound string fail on me. I've had to talk to D'Addario and La Bella for replacements here and there and they've been great about doing it when a winding slips off a core but it hasn't happened to me ever with the rotos. Installed through the body, no trouble yet.
He does but I think he also chooses to play what's appropriate like the pro he is. He's also a MM fretless guy which he wraps with 100% rounds. There's a few interesting interviews with him, one regarding the Who. Same with Jon Button.
On our album "Fleeting Moments", I played a Reverend Watt with LaBella LTFs. As of today, you can find the link in my signature.
On our forthcoming album, "Fellow Traveler", I played a Guild Starfire II with LaBella LTFs. We're working on final mixes now, should be released by March or so.
On our forthcoming album, "Fellow Traveler", I played a Guild Starfire II with LaBella LTFs. We're working on final mixes now, should be released by March or so.
I often use flat (most of the time) for my rock gigs. I just did a two month tour and I played flats every single night. There were a couple tunes that wanted rounds, but I usually stayed with flats because I was lazy I didn't want to switch basses.
Nylon coated flats on my Mexican P bass using fingers, playing everything from ACDC to ZZ Top. Plus alternative punk, ska... It works for me...
I chose this set up because rounds and chromes produce to much top end, brightness for my liking.
Never had any complaints either.
I chose this set up because rounds and chromes produce to much top end, brightness for my liking.
Never had any complaints either.
The archetypal one: Rotosound 77. Roger Waters, John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Steve Harris.
La Bella Olinto, Fender 9050, and Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats are also good options. You could also try tapewounds, which are brighter with more growl than typical flats.
La Bella Olinto, Fender 9050, and Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats are also good options. You could also try tapewounds, which are brighter with more growl than typical flats.
Well...
Yeah; I do. And, for the last 50 years, I pretty much always have. However, what I mostly play is Rock; Rockabilly" C&W; Blues; R&B; and a little Mo-Town, that was written before 1972 or thereabouts. So, a lot of it was originally played and recorded with a bass wearing flats. Pretty much every new bass came from the factory with flats, when I learned to play, in 1967. That's what I learned on, so that's what I play... All but 3 of my 27 basses wear flats; 2 wear tapes, and only my '93 Gretsch Broadkaster wears rounds (TI Jazz Rounds). And, if it didn't sound like absolute horse-
with anything else? It wouldn't be wearing them. Even my guitars wear flats...So... could you "pull this off" with La Bella DTF's on your bass? That depends on the bass; which La Bella's you bass is wearing; and what kind of Rock you're going to be playing. Flats can run from "Old School Thump" to "Sorta like rounds". Just depends what you want. And, they also run from "frickin bridge cables" stiff, to " feel kind of... limp" not-so-stiff. Just depends what you want. The Roto Flats that come with the Steve Harris P-Bass? Very heavy gauge signature SH77LDs. Even stiffer than the regular RS77LDs. Which are the poster child for "Bridge cables". The La Bella 1954 "Traditional" flats are a close second. I've had the Roto RS77LD's on my '78 Fender P-Bass; I liked them, but... not the sound I was looking for. They worked much better on my '18 Gibson Thunderbird... And yes, I pretty much had to use a pick...
However... while you can probably get away with using any flat wound set you want, the question will likely be; what do the other band members want to hear from you? More input is needed, I'm afraid...
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Eq and brighter flats will be fine for rock. I'd try diadarrio chrome flats rotosound flats labella Ltf flats or Ernie ball cobalt flats and eq for the rest and you should be in great shape. Lots of awesome rock bassists used flats when we all thought they were rounds. Even some of the guys who played round wounds later played flats. If I didn't love the grindy tone of stainless rounds like I do I'd have already tried flats.
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No idea what strings Geezer actually played but the clank comes from playing very hard over the end of the fretboard, along with the harmonics. Flats sound pretty much like his tone played that way. But I guess it also depends on the gauge and setup. Plus all the studio gear and engineering
Cobalt Flats and LaBella LTF's 'cuz that's what I bought. I just like the feel (lighter gauges) under my fretting hand, nothing else.
Riis
Riis
Bottom line, you can use whatever serves the song/genre/band that you hear in your head... it's personal preference.
