Flatwounds with a pick?

[Space Pickle]

Flatwounds with a pick sounds like Come Together.

 

[nerkoids]

It also sounds like this:

 

[nerkoids]

Or this (although these are Rotosound 88s):


Or these (Labellas on a Jazz with no less Mr. Osborn pickin' away)

 

[Thumper19605]

Flats with a pick? Oh yes!

 

[Dlinqnt]

Has anyone tried half rounds? I got a set when I bought a EB/MM Sterling, but I have yet to put them on her. Sorry to piggyback the OP, but it seems to go with the thread.

 

[Illini10]

Flatwounds with a pick sounds like Come Together.

Oh, yeah, it does!

 

[Holdsg]

I tried half-rounds, more like half-a**ed to me. I like flats when I want that sound. I want rounds when I want zing. I don't need anything in the middle.
I have flats on 7 of my 9 basses (including, me upright, natch).

 

[mc900ftj]

It sounds like flats with a pick. You should try it! You might like it!

 

[physics]

You should definitely try it, as you might really like the sound. Even though I prefer finger style on my T'Bird with Chromes, sometimes I like to play it with a stiff nylon flatpick for the strong punch and attack, depending on the song.

 

[silky smoove]

Listen to Joe Jackson's first two albums (Look Sharp and I'm the Man). Graham Maby is all over the with flats and a pick. Sounds fabulous.

 

[pbassjbass]

Has anyone tried half rounds? I got a set when I bought a EB/MM Sterling, but I have yet to put them on her. Sorry to piggyback the OP, but it seems to go with the thread.

I started using picato half rounds on my '62 jazz around 1975. I tried several other brands, half rounds, rounds, flats, always came back to picato. They just work on that bass, for me. I do like dead flats on a p-bass (a friend has a '64 probably with original strings, or there about and it sounds great). To my ear all strings sound good new, then they go through a phase where they get weird. Then they go dead, and for flats that works for me. (the picato's break in after a couple of nights.)

 

[bonespatrol]

almost all the time.

 

[PWRL]

My Rickenbacker 4004L is strung with a nicely broken-in set of TI flats, and it sounds great when I use a pick on that one, especially with a bit of muting.

 

[David Slap Bass]

Hi all,

I have always used roundwound strings but have been interested in trying out flatwounds recently.

I play with a pick though, how do they sound with a pick? Am I better off sticking to roundwounds?

Hi I use Flatwounds on a Precision Bass, and on a Fretless Guild, I also play Double Bass, I use a pick (not on the Double Bass) and the sound is great very distinctive but so nice.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

What I have been using on my Precision since January.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hi all,

I have always used roundwound strings but have been interested in trying out flatwounds recently.

I play with a pick though, how do they sound with a pick? Am I better off sticking to roundwounds?

You might be interested in trying one of these...Wedgie rubber picks.

I use 5.0mm...hard, sounds great, lasts forever and with the thumb indent I can't remember the last time I dropped one. I wouldn't use any other pick even if Paul McCartney suggested I try out his favorite!

 

[Silas Stingy]

I play mostly 60s 70s stuff at the minute, so I love the sound of a fat pick with flats on a P Bass.

 

[chuckfalcon]

Both species are great. I may lean a little towards flats, but you can get pretty convincing flat sound with rounds while playing with a pick. Just turn your tone about half down on your bass (maybe lower), and rest your palm on the strings. You get a real fat, round, thump sound that way.

 

[JSpradBass]

My SB2 is strung with GHS Precision flats and I play 70% pick/30% fingers. It is pure vintage goodness.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I play the TI's with a pick and love 'em!

+1 on the TI flats. Expensive but worth it IMO. I have two fretless strung with them, so would be very rare for me to play those with a pick but I don't see any reason not to do so.