Go for the roundwounds, surface scratches are just cosmetic and shouldn't hurt the fingerboard, however it might add some mojo.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Flatwounds with roundwound sound.
- Thread starter Mark Ambler
- Start date
The Rotos seem to be the brightest of the flats I've tried.
Dunlop flats should be mentioned in any discussion on flatwounds just because they sound so durned good.
Agreed on both. My Kramer had Dunlop flats on it when I bought it. I had never played them before. Another set is due to arrive in the mail for my P Bass tomorrow.
Get your favorite round wound strings, install them on the bass, then wrap 400 grit sandpaper around them (one string at a time) and gently sand the rough edges off. The strings will retain their signature sound and supple feel, yet any sharp edges that may cause premature fingerboard wear will be eliminated. I've done this for years and haven't had a problem with wear or string failure.
Well you guys convinced me to try the cobalt flats. I think I'm going to try them on my stingray
If you want the sound of rounds, put rounds on it. There is no other way. Period. Finger board wear will take YEARS.
...besides, that's called mojo...
...besides, that's called mojo...
I've had a set for about a year and they are still bright for a flat wound.
Others have said it, but +1 for tapes.
I feel like I got more roundwound tone from tapes than from ground or pressures, which shocked me.
I feel like I got more roundwound tone from tapes than from ground or pressures, which shocked me.
I'd second a few notions already mentioned:
-Don't sweat roundwounds chewing up the board. In my experience they won't or its really negligible. If that's the sound you're going for, that's the only thing that will truly deliver. Jaco harmonics will never ring on flats quite like they will on rounds. Use nickel strings, they aren't as hard as steel.
-Virtually all flatwounds will be relatively bright and twangy when fresh. It all depends on how often you want to spend the bread to change to a fresh set.
-In my experience, TI Jazz Flats are great fresh with lots of zing, and might offer the most growl from a flatwound. The brightest flats out there have got to be Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Sadowsky Black or Blue label flats are really great too. Chromes are good but I didn't care for the tension, you might feel differently though.
-Don't sweat roundwounds chewing up the board. In my experience they won't or its really negligible. If that's the sound you're going for, that's the only thing that will truly deliver. Jaco harmonics will never ring on flats quite like they will on rounds. Use nickel strings, they aren't as hard as steel.
-Virtually all flatwounds will be relatively bright and twangy when fresh. It all depends on how often you want to spend the bread to change to a fresh set.
-In my experience, TI Jazz Flats are great fresh with lots of zing, and might offer the most growl from a flatwound. The brightest flats out there have got to be Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Sadowsky Black or Blue label flats are really great too. Chromes are good but I didn't care for the tension, you might feel differently though.
I've had DR Sunbeams on mine for two years with virtually no wear on the neck and there are times when I'm not a light player, my bass came with them and they're recommended for it, the funny thing is I have La Bella Deep Talkin' flats on my fretted P bass and love the sound but I tried them on my fretless P and didn't like them, also tried Chromes and TI's and don't like either string on anything. If you want round wounds try the sunbeams, they sound great are supple and don't eat the fretboard. When I was a kid I had an early Fender P fretless and destroyed the rosewood neck with Rotosounds, the nickle Sunbeams are nothing like those and sound great.
IMO D'Addario tapes are much better than Chromes for that sound. According to D'Addario they're supposed to be mellower, but I find them to be brighter, with better tension, and you can actually get a little of that piano string sounding E string.
