Flatwounds that cut through

[shoulderpet]

Hi

Have been having trouble cutting through recently, I at first put it down to changing to a seymour duncan vintage pickup, it has very recently dawned on me that around the same time I changed to Ernie ball flatwounds. I do recall at first finding the eb strings sounded great but were a little muddy in the lows/upper bass frequencies so I am thinking it is the strings that are causing the issue so am after suggestions for some flatwounds that cut through the mix, thanks

 

[lz4005]

Vintage voiced pickups and flats are basically the opposite of what you need to cut through.
The purpose of both is to blend in, not cut.

 

[shoulderpet]

Vintage voiced pickups and flats are basically the opposite of what you need to cut through.
The purpose of both is to blend in, not cut.

Ok maybe I didnt phrase my post correctly , I can barely hear my playing, it almost sounds like i have eq'd my bass for dub reggae, I know flats are meant to have less highs than rounds but I think the EB flats seem muddy in the mids and i am sure there must be flats that have better presence out there

 

[Passinwind]

Ok maybe I didnt phrase my post correctly , I can barely hear my playing, it almost sounds like i have eq'd my bass for dub reggae, I know flats are meant to have less highs than rounds but I think the EB flats seem muddy in the mids and i am sure there must be flats that have better presence out there

Which Ernie Ball flats are you using?

 

[michael_t]

Assuming by "EB Flats" you mean their regular flats, why not try the EB Cobalt Flats for more mid-range and "growl"?

 

[shoulderpet]

Yes the regular Ernie ball Group iv flats not the Cobalts , I think the Cobalts would be too bright

 

[michael_t]

Yes the regular Ernie ball Group iv flats not the Cobalts , I think the Cobalts would be too bright

Then try the D'A Chromes.

 

[michael_t]

Or, the new Sadowsky BLUE LABEL Flats.

 

[Bassworship1]

From my splurge of trying many different sets of Flats I have found out that Cobalt Flatwounds and TI Flats stand out in the mix better than anything I've used in the past. I've tried about all of the others and spent a small fortune on strings and these are the strings I like the best. I also have just recently found a set of Labella Copper White Tapewounds to sound as good as any string I've ever played. These set in a full band mix better than any other strings I've played with. I think alot of your tone comes from the bass and the amp EQ settings though.

 

[lz4005]

Ok maybe I didnt phrase my post correctly , I can barely hear my playing, it almost sounds like i have eq'd my bass for dub reggae, I know flats are meant to have less highs than rounds but I think the EB flats seem muddy in the mids and i am sure there must be flats that have better presence out there

What are your amp EQ and instrument tone knob settings?

 

[shoulderpet]

What are your amp EQ and instrument tone knob settings?

Hi, tone knob is maxed, amp eq is slightly mid boosted with bass and treble flat

 

[JMacBass65]

TI Flats stand out in the mix better than anything I've used in the past.

This has been my experience as well, same set on my jazz for six years, two years on my P. NEVER any problems hearing myself.

 

[Bassworship1]

This has been my experience as well, same set on my jazz for six years, two years on my P. NEVER any problems hearing myself.

Not only can you hear yourself but the tone is downright Heavenly...

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hi

Have been having trouble cutting through recently, I at first put it down to changing to a seymour duncan vintage pickup, it has very recently dawned on me that around the same time I changed to Ernie ball flatwounds. I do recall at first finding the eb strings sounded great but were a little muddy in the lows/upper bass frequencies so I am thinking it is the strings that are causing the issue so am after suggestions for some flatwounds that cut through the mix, thanks

I usually try not to suggest oranges when asked about apples, but, if you're willing to consider nylon tapewounds, I'm having a good experience with them.

Especially (recently discontinued, still available in stores) GHS tapes.
Or, to be precise, especially with the GHS tapewound E string my bass VI -like object is currently wearing - the rest of the strings are a D'Addario tapewound A, three wound strings from a Galli guitar tapewound set, and a metal flatwound "high" E: yeah, I'm weird like that. (Also, the rest of the sets still sit unused, but that's gonna change in the near future).
Anyway, I've noticed I need less overall volume to hear myself - and make out the note I'm playing, most importantly. They, the GHS in particular, must have something going on in the mids where it counts; in comparison to the E, the D'Addario A sounds a wee bit mid-scooped to my untrained ear, but nothing terribly different from the lower and higher strings.

 

[Felken]

How about you try semi-flatwound?

 

[Crazy Otto]

Cobalts are garbage quality-wise, they've snapped on me and others here, stear clear. For higher presence flats +1 on TI Flats or D'A Chromes. Both are great but play quite differently - Chromes are stiff, TIs are flexy.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Then try the D'A Chromes.

I agree with this. I use the D'A light gauge chromes and they are bright. They will cut through depending on your eq. They are very very comfortable on the fingers.

 

[Marial]

Cobalts are garbage quality-wise, they've snapped on me and others here, stear clear. For higher presence flats +1 on TI Flats or D'A Chromes. Both are great but play quite differently - Chromes are stiff, TIs are flexy.

You so crazy! Experiences vary widely. I bought the EB cobalts as soon as they came out when they were supposedly having QC issues and never had any issues with them. If you want to cut through while still using flats, and get heavenly punch in the bargain, they would be my first suggestion. I'm not currently interested in any other flat and I've tried a bunch (data point: I play Jazz basses). Outside of that, maybe try the Steve Harris Rotos? He certainly never has any issues cutting through two/three guitars.

 

[ChainGang70]

Chromes are my favorite flats. They feel good and they can be eq'd to "cut" a little if needed.

 

[ThePresident777]

I can't slap/pop to save my life (no loss to me), but the EB Cobalts sound to me like they can slap/pop. I figure that if it's bright enought to slap/pop then it's bright. Not sure how pro slappers would rate them but they definitely have a pop/slap tone if one wants. Can't say that about any other flats I have tried and I've tried at least 7 models of flats.