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For those that use rounds and flats..
- Thread starter Swerve
- Start date
I've used nickel round wounds for a long time as for me they're the 3 Bears Choice:
Stainless rounds are too snarky for me.
Flatwounds are too rubbery shapeless
Nickel rounds I keep more bass than stainless, and more edge and tone than flats.
Stainless rounds are too snarky for me.
Flatwounds are too rubbery shapeless
Nickel rounds I keep more bass than stainless, and more edge and tone than flats.
EB Cobalt flats is what I use now and what I would use if I had one bass. They sound like broken-in rounds out of the package and that lasts for a long time. They feel like flats and with the tone rolled off, they sound like old school thumpy flats.
Cobalts are probably closest and sound like some rounds with the tone partially rolled off. But that’s as close as I’ve heard. I went with them because rounds have too much zing for most of what I play, unless I eq them to death.
Funny how this thread came up! The other night, I experimented with my two Rickenbacker 4003s (one with D'Addario Chromes and one with D'Addario NYXLs). I wanted to see if the one with rounds can emulate the one with flats and vice versa. I found that the rounds can't produce the same darker tones that the one with flats can. I also found that the flats can produce brighter tones well, but not well enough to want to switch to Chromes for everything.
Plus, I don't use the darker tones as often as I do brighter ones. So I voted for rounds.
This is me, except I would replace Rotosound 66s with NYXLs.
I've been playing flats for a few years because of the gauge-tension-tuning balance, but I would actually choose rounds if it was only about the "feel" of the strings.
I’ve been digging D’Addario Half Rounds on my main electric bass lately. Been considering trying them on others.
I very much enjoy flats and half rounds, however, if I could only use one type of string it would be stainless steel roundwounds.
They’re definitely the most versatile - they can do everything from soft warm thump to gritty thrash metal.
They’re definitely the most versatile - they can do everything from soft warm thump to gritty thrash metal.
You're a double bass player, not surprised you don't use rounds, it's the thing Hadrien Feraud pointed out "when upright players switch to electric bass for the first time, it's always a pecision with flats.... meh."
Speaking solely for myself and the kind of sound that I like and the type of music that I play and like..............................
FLATS
In particular, TI Flats.
"To each his/her own!"
FLATS
In particular, TI Flats.
"To each his/her own!"
The same one I’ve been playing for the last 22 years. A N series MIA Fender PBj with VVT controls.
Rounds, because you can make rounds sound kinda like flats but you can’t make flats sound like rounds. I use a foam mute and EQ to make the rounds sound more flatly.
I'd have to give up flats, but I wouldn't be happy about it.
I like old rounds, and they do the flats job better than flats do the round job in my estimation.
I like old rounds, and they do the flats job better than flats do the round job in my estimation.
My preference is actually a J bass with rounds. I just like the Half Rounds because they already sound broken in.
